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Susan Olasky

Susan is a book reviewer, story coach, feature writer and editor for WORLD. She has authored eight historical novels for children and teaches twice a year at World Journalism Institute. Susan resides with her husband, Marvin, in Austin, Texas. Follow her on Twitter @susanolasky.

Tell me a story

Children’s Books | Four recent picture books
by Susan Olasky
Posted 7/04/17, 12:20 am

Coat of Many Colors 

Dolly Parton

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Suspenseful stories

Summer Reading | Good old-fashioned mysteries to ponder and puzzle over
by Susan Olasky
Posted 5/25/17, 04:39 pm

Although publishers put out a steady stream of new mystery titles, finding stories that are clean and well-written can be difficult, especially if you don’t want to read about deranged serial killers or rapists. The mystery website “Stop, You’re Killing Me!” is a good place to find new writers and oldies that you may have missed. Here are a few older series worth checking out:

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Adventure awaits

Summer Reading | Books that take readers to different places, times, or ways of thinking
by Susan Olasky
Posted 5/25/17, 04:38 pm

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Anne Fadiman

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Recent nonfiction books

Books

Susan Olasky | 5/22/17, 09:28 pm

Scratch 

Manjula Martin

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Shaping a child’s character

Children’s Books | Picture Book of the Year: An orphan and a town transformed by goodness and beauty

Susan Olasky | 4/11/17, 06:51 pm

WORLD’s selection of 2017 Children’s Books of the Year spans three categories: picture books, middle-grade novels, and middle-grade nonfiction. For the past six months six WORLD staffers and advisers have been on the hunt for the Picture Book of the Year—an artistically excellent book that entertains children and points them to the good, the true, and the beautiful. We found many books with lovely illustrations, but finding quality stories was harder.

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Religiously themed books

Books

Douglas Flanders, Jenny Lind Schmitt, Kim Henderson & Susan Olasky | 2/27/17, 09:54 am

Church in Hard Places: How the Local Church Brings Life to the Poor and Needy

Mez McConnell & Mike McKinley 

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Four recent novels

Books

Susan Olasky | 2/16/17, 11:25 am

Thin Air 

Ann Cleeves

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Freedom seekers

Black History Month | Four picture books on black history

Susan Olasky | 1/19/17, 11:31 am

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis 

Jabari Asim

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Black History Month picks

Black History Month

Susan Olasky | 1/18/17, 07:11 pm

Homegoing 

Yaa Gyasi

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Four books about place

Books

Susan Olasky | 11/21/16, 05:37 pm

A House Without Windows 

Nadia Hashimi

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