Splendor & Glooms

For April's junior high book club, the students agreed to read at least one of the 2013 Newbery books.  I read Splendor and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz.  It is one of those books where you ask as you say:  "I liked it.?.?."

The book includes interesting detail and characters.  It is rather dark, with an element of fantasy.  Actually--it is a little too creepy for younger readers (I'd say 5th or 6th grade and up) because of the fabulous writing the draws you into the book.  When I was looking for more information about the author, I found the below picture--and it seemed perfect.

This is EXACTLY how I would expect the author of this book to appear . . . don't ask me why.  The picture is beautiful, quirky, funny, serious, over-the-top AND down-to-earth, and dressed in black.  I found an author profile on Goodreads (click HERE).