Out August 2025!

Between her parents’ divorce and being dragged to rural Arizona to help clean her grandpa’s house, fifteen-year-old Stella Shaw knows she’s in for a miserable summer break. But when her grandpa takes her to watch a roller derby bout, she can’t help but be amazed by the hard-hitting sport. And when her mom agrees to let her join the junior boot camp, Stella is eager to start. Even though roller derby is harder than she thought it would be, Stella is determined to succeed. With the help of her new crush, Quinn, Stella prepares to try out for the scrimmage at the end of boot camp. The more she practices, the better she gets–and the closer she grows to Quinn. But when tryouts go disastrously wrong, will Stella be brave enough to confront her fears both on and off the track? Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and themes that are relevant for high school students, Horizon’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for teen reluctant readers. Horizon books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 14 and up.

I'm a writer, a reader, and a librarian. So, I spend a lot of time thinking about books. I studied literature and creative writing in undergrad and then went on to earn an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Now, I'm working on an MLIS with a concentration in Youth Services from San José State University. I'm telling you--I think about books a lot.

Yet, as a kid, I wasn't a voracious reader. In sixth grade, I read the same three books over and over again: Strawberry Hill by Maryann Hoberman, The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester, and Smile by Raina Telegemeier. Books, to me, were (and are) comfort. A place to nestle in and get lost in feeling. 

I still am known to read the same books over and over again (looking at you Station Eleven). Nowadays, if I'm not doing something book related, you can probably find me skating with my local roller derby. My experience learning to play roller derby heavily inspired my debut hi-lo novel, The Stripe and the Star, available August 2025 through Jolly Fish Press!