A revealing and vulnerable interview about Leesa and how she developed her skills to write and illustrate One Lucky Teddybear Falling. Please LIKE, Comment and Subscribe to Selina Novello’s Podcast for more great content, and SHARE my story and my book(s) with people you know. And THANK YOU!
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Normal is The Moon

Contemporary middle-grade fiction, available 2024.

An amputee and a neurodivergent girl bond during a quest designed to spotlight her tragic reality.

Eleven-year-old Peter has problems bigger than the yowling cat in his room. His prosthetic foot is uncomfortable, and his limping tends to lure school bullies. At home, Peter’s mom and dad do not agree on anything— so, Peter cannot have the blue bike. Peter’s new-school frenemy is Anna. Anna is unpredictable and believes that anything she imagines is real. For Anna, the school counsellor is a robot, and Anna’s dad is still alive, somewhere—he couldn’t have died; he’ll be home soon. A mysterious map sparks the path and the forbidden blue bike adventure. Peter’s home life implodes, he risks Anna’s friendship, and the fallout reveals what is real.

black and white line logo for Ink & Insights writing critique contest 2021, a sun rising from a book with the words Ink & Insight banner across the front

Praise for Leesa’s contemporary middle-grade fiction from Ink and Insights:

“Normal is The Moon, is the perfect alternative in the modern landscape of middle grade novels oversaturated with fantasy and adventure. Leesa JoAnn Iverson tells a down-to-earth story, told from an atypical perspective, about the challenges of growing up. It is a book that sits comfortably alongside the works of Katherine Paterson for its power to elicit empathy and show children they are not alone.”

– Aaron Kaiserman, PhD (Editor/Judge, professor of English literature, University of Ottawa) Aaron Kaiserman, Ink & Insights

Highly recommended, the kids loved it!

Really enjoyed the story and the illustrations are unbelievable. This is definitely my son’s current favourite, he has been sleeping with it under his pillow the last few nights. It is book #2 of the series and does not disappoint. Please keep them coming!

David I.

Bought One Lucky Teddybear FALLING and SIDEWAYS

Bold and Bright and Beautiful! Detailed too!

Great for babies and toddlers and kids with curious minds (all ages). Educational discussions about opposites and emotions. Brilliant!

Sagreta I.

Bought SIDEWAYS book.

Beautiful artwork and lovely story for younger kids!

Beautifully illustrated and well thought out for young kids. Looking forward to the follow up stories!

Cait

Owner of One Lucky Teddybear Falling