clay carmichael

Brother, Brother, Clay's upcoming young adult novel,

July 2013 from Roaring Brook Press

watch the book trailer / publisher's page / download the discussion guide

Wild Things paperback now available

OPEN STUDIO 2013

Thank you to our many, many 2012 visitors! Till next year...

"Wild Things, Clay Carmichael's first YA book, is a joy."

"Zoë’s first-person narration alternates with the observations of a feral tomcat ... and well-drawn eccentric characters add additional sparkle to the magic-touched story. Zoë’s fierce, funny voice is compelling, whether she is describing tense standoffs or moments of rare vulnerability that go straight to the heart."—Booklist

"Carmichael’s a smooth and evocative stylist, and the classic elements of the orphan story retain their appeal as Zoë begins to come to terms with her sad past in the face of her loving present."— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"It's hard to resist the voice of 11-year-old narrator Zoë, who stars in Carmichael's swiftly-paced first novel, alongside a supporting cast of eccentric characters nearly as wild as she."—Shelf Awareness, featured review

Honors & Reviews for Wild Things

2012-13 Sunshine State Young Award Nominee

2012-13 Georgia Children's Book Award Nominee

2012-13 California Young Reader Medal Nominee

2012 Chicago Public Schools Battle of the Books List

2012 Rebecca Caudill Book Award Nominee

2011-2012 William Allen White Award Master List

2012 NYSRA Charlotte Award Reading List

A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year

A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year/Starred

American Library Association Notable Children's Book

An NCTE Notable Children's Book

North Carolina Juvenile Literature Award

NAPPA Gold Award

Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book

Featured Review: Fuse #8, SLJ & Publishers Weekly

A Scholastic Instructor Best Kids' Book

ALAN Pick

Chicago Public Schools Women's History List

Maine Regional Library System Cream of the Crop

A Chapel Hill Public Library Best Book

2011 Sakura Medal Nominee (Japan)

2010-11 NC Children's Book Award Nominee

Keystone State Young Adult Book Award Nominee

2010 YALSA BBYA Nominee

2010 ALA Amelia Bloomer List Nominee

KCPL 2010 Mock Newbery Honor

ACPL 2010 Mock Newbery Shortlist

Eva Perry Mock Newbery 'Shorter Shortlist'

Denver Public Library Mock Newbery Shortlist

Ed Spicer's Teen Must-Reads:

(video/100 Scope Notes/Spicy Reads review)

Cybils Nominee

*Starred Review* "Zoë Royster, peer to the literary heroines she so loves, is as memorable in her own way as The Great Gilly Hopkins, Opal Buloni and Anne Shirley." — Kirkus

*Highlighted Review* "Carmichael's beautifully written story is wonderful. Readers both young and old will find Zoë a likeable and touching character and will be moved by the people who try to help her. This novel is a wonderful addition to any fiction collection. —Victoria Vogel, VOYA, (Voice of Youth Advocates)

*Five stars* A phenomenal debut book...I was stunned by the depth of the characters, and how I truly connected with many of them. My favorite part was the added perspective...of the wild cat, which adds an excellent dimension... Carmichael...skillfully weaves this story and interesting characters together to create the masterpiece that is WILD THINGS.

A must-read for all readers!

—Andrew S. Cohen, TeensReadToo.com

"Page by page, and this is a real page-turner, I fell hard for Wild Things."

—Colleen Mondor

"Wonderfully written with contrasting points of view from the cat and Zoë, the core of the novel is the family you're born with can let you down. But the families we create can be unbreakable. —Angela Nolet, Children’s Librarian, You Choose the Next Newbery, King Co. Library System, WA.