Join us for this special event as Karen Bao, James Bird and Marcella Pixley, contributors from the book Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes, share their stories with us. Channeling their own experiences, acclaimed authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting new collection of short fiction for young adults that helps us remember we are not alone. 

Panel presentation, Q&A, and Book Signing. Co-hosted by the concord Bookshop and the Concord Free Public Library. 

About the Authors:

Karen Jialu Bao does science in the lab, then goes home and writes about it. A Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, she studies mosquito brains by blasting them with an electron beam. She has eight ear piercings for no reason. Her favorite activities include cooking, tending her plants, singing, and playing her violin. She is the author of Pangu’s Shadow (Lerner, 2024), the Dove Chronicles trilogy (Penguin Teen), and a contributor to the upcoming YA anthology (AB)SOLUTELY NORMAL (Candlewick Press, 2023).

James Bird's debut middle-grade novel, The Brave, was a Book Riot Best Book of 2020. He is also a screenwriter and director at the independent film company, Zombot Pictures; his films include We Are Boats and Honeyglue. Originally from California, James Bird is of Ojibwe descent, and now lives in Massachusetts with his wife, the author and actor Adriana Mather, and their son.

Marcella Pixley teaches eighth grade Language Arts at the Carlisle Public Schools. Her poetry has been published in literary journals such as Prairie Schooner, Feminist Studies, Sow’s Ear Poetry Review and Poet Lore, and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Ms. Pixley has written four acclaimed young adult novels: Freak, Without Tess, Ready To Fall. and most recently, Trowbridge Road. Freak received four starred reviews and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, Without Tess was a Junior Library Guild Selection, Ready to Fall was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Trowbridge Road was a Junior Library Guild Selection. It was long listed for the National Book award and the Massachusetts Book Award. It was named a best book of 2020 by Shelf Awareness, Reading Group Choices and Mighty Girls. It was nominated for a Golden Dome Award.