The Louisville press has been very generous to me with their time and affections!  Click here to read Erin Keane’s article, the cover of the Courier-Journal Sunday Arts section, “The angst of 13: Writer catches voice, reality of tweens.”

My favorite part:

“[Leader did not] set out to change the world in which [her characters] would live. Even when the story is resolved, there’s no evidence that Marina and Sachi will overcome their differences and social ranks to become best friends forever. She might not be writing about vampires, but Leader knows the difference between middle-school fantasy and reality.

‘I wasn’t trying to make it a manual for girl empowerment. I’ve seen books where the author tries to do that, and in addition to being unpleasant to read, it kind of tanks the story line,” she said. “I really wanted to write something that felt real. The characters aren’t going to start integrating their lunch tables in the end. That just wouldn’t happen.’

And the LEO (Louisville Eccentric Observer) wrote a luffly plug for my reading here Louisville on Friday:

Local author Jessica Leader is basking in the glow of the reviews for “Nice and Mean,” her recently published novel of cooperation and ambition among the middle school set. This first book by the former New Yorker and Actors Theatre teacher has landed a prominent place among recommended children’s titles for summer reading. Leader has multiple area events scheduled throughout the summer, but the Hurstbourne Borders gets first crack with a signing party Friday evening. The author gets high marks for her ability to capture the tween voice while piling on realistic conflict, and she can be expected to lead an engaging and entertaining event for an age group that should be encouraged to read at every opportunity. If you’ve got a tween, by all means, drag ’em away from the video screens and get ’em here. —T.E. Lyons