We e-mailed author Traci Chee to let her know The Reader is among the Top 10 in this year’s CCRSB Teen Reader’s Choice Award. We were thrilled to receive the following reply:

“Hello readers! I’m honored that The Reader has been nominated for the CCRSB Teen Reader’s Choice award, and I’m so excited for you to meet my main character, Sefia. I had such a wonderful time writing her because she’s so complicated—naïve, clever, stubborn, temperamental, totally capable when it comes to survival but totally inexperienced when it comes to human relationships. She starts out believing good and evil are completely distinct, but the more she learns about her world and the book that’s been entrusted to her, the more she realizes that life isn’t black and white, and the decisions we face are rarely clear-cut. She’s one of a motley cast of characters, including cage fighters, cowboy-pirates, and librarians, and I hope you enjoy following along with their interlocking adventures! Happy reading to all!”

– Traci