Moonbeam Award Shines on Summer Sanctuary

The 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards recognize Laurie Gray's Summer Sanctuary as the gold medalist in the Young Adult Religion/Spirituality category. Published by Indiana-based Luminis Books, this coming-of-age novel explores that moment when a young person discovers the world beyond and learns about kindness, generosity, and connection.  

October 14, 2010--The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. The Awards recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to children themselves.

In Summer Sanctuary, Matthew knows that this summer is going to be the worst ever. His best friend Kyle is gone, his younger brother Mark has surpassed him in size and athletic ability, and his mother is pregnant for the fifth time. The eldest home-schooled son of a preacher, Matthew plans to bury himself in books about the speed of light and Einstein's Theory of Relativity to see if he can prove his own theory about the dilation of time.

Instead, he befriends Dinah, a homeless teenager seeking refuge at the library. Although from very different backgrounds, Matthew and Dinah come to realize that they have a great deal in common--their love for music, and for cans of olives and potato chips found in a supermarket dumpster that are just past the sell-by date . . . and maybe even for each other. Matthew struggles with his feelings for his own family as he helps Dinah avoid Child Welfare. And in the process, Dinah helps him discover that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a very big difference.

Author Laurie Gray earned her B.A. from Goshen College and her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law. Between college and law school, she taught high school spanish, working summers as an interpreter in Guatemala. an experienced trial attorney and child advocate, Laurie is the founder of Socratic Parenting, LLC. Summer Sanctuary is her first novel. 

I am deeply honored and grateful for this recognition because it means more people will read the book," notes the author. "My desire for Summer Sanctuary has always been to reach lots of different kids exactly where they are and give them hope and encouragement." Through her work as an advocate for children, Laurie has worked with troubled young teens from all backgrounds: "I wanted to help them feel more connected and less alone in this world as they each struggle to find their own way." Ms. Gray has found that parents and teachers enjoy the book, too, and use it as an opportunity to talk with kids about issues including growing up, becoming independent, homelessness, poverty, and even sexual assault.  "The Moonbeam Gold Medal really lets everyone know that Summer Sanctuary is a book worth reading," she acknowledges.

Ellen Myrick
Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC
ellen@myrickmarketing.com
615-287-0105 office
615-396-0028 cell
455 Sam Ridley Parkway PMB 248
Smyrna, TN  37167

Indiana-based Luminis Books publishes young adult and literary fiction. Learn more at luminisbooks.com.   

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