News
Summer 2023
Polly's new book—Pine Island Visitorss— is a sequel to her Governor General nominated Pine Island Home:
Fiona, Marlin, Natasha and Charlie McCready have been adopted by their unlikely guardian, Al, and finally settled into their new home on Pine Island in British Columbia. Fiona is struggling under the weight of trying to keep everything together, not to mention worrying about expenses, while Marlin tries to adjust to her new high school and faces rejections for her cookbook, Thirty Meals a Twelve-Year-Old Could Make and Did!. Natasha is still keeping to herself, but a new interest in the violin reveals hidden talents, while Charlie is dreaming of what kind of dog she would like.
It's been an adjustment, but they are loving being with each other and having Al next door. Then they receive a letter from Mrs. Witherspoon, who took care of them after their parents died, and she is coming to visit for three months — an inordinate amount of time for a houseguest. Accommodating a fifth person in the tiny house is hard enough, but to their horror, Mrs. Weatherspoon arrives with a companion: her childhood friend, Jo. Jo has opinions about everything — what they should eat, how they should behave — and she doesn't hesitate to express them. And sweet Mrs. Witherspoon seems to have fallen under her spell. When she and Jo announce that they are going to extend their stay even longer, Fiona and Marlin are beside themselves. Fiona hates rocking the boat, but she is going to have to find the courage to stand up to these grown-up bullies so she and her sisters can have the life they wish to lead.
Reviews for Pine Island Visitors
- ". . . what emerges is a compelling case for self-reliance, creativity, and kindness. Terrifically entertaining. Starred,Kirkus Reviews
Pine Island Visitors is a Kirkus Review Best Book of the Year
- "Horvath's prose is smooth and engaging (she excels at both comedy and pathos) and always respects children's inner lives. Contemporary yet classic, a fine addition to the family stories shelf." Booklist
- "Through steady, sober prose and the protagonists’ complex relationships, Horvath creates successfully strained situations, giving way to gratifying resolutions that offer a comforting reassurance that bad times don’t last forever."—Publishers Weekly
- "True to form, Horvath packs this sequel . . . with relatable incident, vivid dialogue, humor, and moments of profound reflection on the human condition."—The Horn Book
- These … allow Horvath to show off her ability to weave authentic wisdom and beautiful writing into a middle grade book. —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Pine Island Home Wins Two Awards In Italy
Premio Orbil
A prize assigned by the independent bookshops of the Alir network. Pine Island Home won as best book of 2022 in the 11/14 years old category.
Spring 2022
Neev Literature Festival (NLF) is an annual event hosted in Bangalore, India with an aim to create readers for life and celebrate books that spark the joy of reading. Polly was a featured speaker at the festival on April 22.
Fall 2021
Spring 2021
Fall 2020
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Publisher and Editor Margaret Ferguson (Margaret Ferguson Books / Holiday House) talks to Authors Polly Horvath and Christina Uss about their new books PINE ISLAND HOME and THE COLOSSUS OF ROADS. The discussion covers everything from why children’s books often feature orphans, to what it’s like finding out you inspired someone to quit college, move across the country and start working at a fishery, to car sickness and talking stomachs.
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From the Archives: In 2002, The Trolls was nominated for the National Book Award. All the finalists were given five minutes to read from their book. Here is her reading, with the text appearing on the left of the video.
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From the Archives: In 2003, won the National Book Award. Here is the announcement and Polly’s acceptance.,
- Writing Wisdom with Polly Horvath Join Polly Horvath and Shannon Ozirny (of the West Vancouver Memorial Library) for a delightful chat about the writing life and Pine Island Home, her new book set in B.C. The interview held on October 23, 2020.
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Polly is now on Twitter!
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Two ads for Pine Island Home:
Summer 2020
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Now Available: A New Bunny Short Story!
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, formerly renowned detectives (they wore fedoras) and would-be royalty (especially Mrs. Bunny) embark on a new career path: food critics. This requires new disguises (must hide ears) and a new vocabulary ("dairy-like" for milk or "saltiness" for salt will not do, Mrs. Bunny insists). So off they go to take on the daunting task of describing the food at Rabbitville's fanciest restaurant. Readers of the Mr. and Mrs. Bunny books will be delighted to meet their old friends; they may even take notes.
Purchase it from AmazonSpring 2019
Very Rich has been shortlisted for the 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards.
Fall 2018
Appearances
- October 4, 7 PM at Vancouver Kidbooks —click here for details.
- October 20, 2018 , McNally Robinson, Winnipeg, Grant Park in the Atrium—click here for details.
- Other Appearances: Seattle, Chilliwack, Hope. Check back for details.
Spring 2018
The Night Garden has been shortlisted for the 2018 IODE Violet Downey Book Award.
Polly's next book is called Very Richis now available. Get a sneak peak here.
Fall 2017
- Shelagh Rogers interviewed Polly on CBC's The Next Chapter. Click here to hear the interview.They spoke about writing, reading, and The Night Garden.
- "Polly's interview with the Winnipeg Review">> Heads up: This links loads very slowly!
Summer 2017:
Polly will be appearing at the Vancouver Writer's Fest in October. Come see her Tuesday October 17, Granville Island Stage at 1:00 and Thursday October 19, Waterfront Theatre at 10:00.
Spring 2017:
Polly's latest book, The Night Garden, will be published on September 12 by Farrar Strauss in the US and by Penguin Books in Canada.