Award-winning author Eric Walters has been busy – seven weeks ago, he came up with an idea to write a book set during the pandemic for middle-grade readers, and today, it is being released with Orca Book Publishers as an ebook, with the print version to come this fall. It’s called Don’t Stand So Close to Me, and it reflects the current experience of many young people today while offering lessons about understanding the pandemic and instilling hope and optimism.
Special Fundraiser for Canadian School Libraries
Orca and Eric are offering CSL the opportunity to fundraise through sales of this book at orcabook.com: when you use the coupon code SUPPORTCSL, Orca and Eric will donate 20% of the price of the book to CSL. CLICK HERE and choose your preferred format of ebook: PDF or EPUB with multiple licensing options: individual, classroom and school.
- An individual license is intended for a single user and allows the reader to download their ebook file to three devices.
- A classroom license is perfect for educators who would like to share Don’t Stand So Close to Me with an entire class simultaneously. This ebook file may be shared with students and their families by email or via a classroom portal such as Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams.
- A school license extends usage to an entire school population and may be shared through a school library system as well as classroom portals and email.
While you’re there, you can download a free Teacher’s Guide for the book or watch a video of Eric reading the first chapter under the “Resources and Ebooks tab.” When you check out, enter the coupon code SUPPORTCSL to donate 20% of the price of your book. In addition, Orca has a sale right now on everything on their website, so if you also use coupon code TOGETHER25, you’ll get 25% off everything in your shopping cart (expires June 30, 2020)
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Please consider not only ordering a digital version but pre-ordering the print version. Pre-ordering books is a tangible, practical way to support a Canadian publisher and help ensure that Canadian voices will continue to be heard.
“Walters certainly has his pulse on world events and the minds of young people. So true is the narrative of this timely book, that it reads like nonfiction as much as fiction. Walters helps readers to identify, connect and make sense of a powerful turning point in history.”
—Larry Swartz, author and teacher
How prolific Canadian author Eric Walters published a pandemic book for school kids in just 41 days, By Deborah Dundas, Books Editor, The Star (June 2, 2020)
Eric Walters Reflects on Writing Don’t Stand So Close to Me
For the first time in my career I’m directly reaching out to announce the digital release today of my newest book Don’t Stand So Close to Me.
I’m hoping you’ll read this, consider it for your students, and forward to other teachers, teacher-librarians and administrators in your board.
I felt compelled to write this middle-grade novel to help young people see the world they have suddenly found themselves living in, to let them know they are not alone, to foster understanding, and help them in these difficult times. I think my novel has a role to play in providing young readers with context, calm and a sense of hope.
Thirteen-year-old Quinn and her friends can’t believe their luck when spring break is extended an extra two weeks–even if it’s because of some virus. But when the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic becomes apparent, everybody, not just the students, has to learn to adjust to the new reality. Quinn’s father is an ER doctor and has to self-isolate to protect his family from the virus. Isaac’s mother is the chief of police and now has to enforce new physical-distancing bylaws. Reese can’t visit her grandmother in her care home anymore. And their entire school has moved to online classes. Sacrifices have to be made to keep everyone safe, but there’s more to life than rules and scary news reports. In an effort to find some good in all of this uncertainty, Quinn comes up with an idea that she hopes will bring the entire community together.
Thank you, Eric! Thank you, Orca Book Publishing!
Canadian School Libraries is very grateful to Eric Walters and Orca Book Publishing for supporting us with this fundraising promotion. This fundraiser will help CSL with our important work. This has never been as important as it is now, during the pandemic, as school library practice shifts dramatically to meet the needs of learners.