Inspired

As if life weren't complicated enough, teenager Rocket Malone has just learned that her mysterious Aunt Polly is actually Polyhymnia, a Greek Muse who desperately needs her help. Now Rocket needs to juggle middle school and apprentice Muse training, learn how to ride Pegasus and blow glass, stand up to Zeus and catch a crazed nymph named Echo -- all without losing her best friend or looking like an idiot in front of her crush Ryan.

As she strives to inspire others, Rocket learns to trust her own voice and realizes that the most important spark she must ignite is her own -- because the brighter she shines, the more she lights the way for those around her. This award-winning novel is sure to enchant and inspire young adult readers, especially those who enjoy magical realism, fantasy and mythology-based fiction.

Reviews:

• Bernardo's fast-paced novel takes readers through the emotional roller coaster of being a teenager trying to find her identity...Bernardo draws upon classical and contemporary literature and mythology to present the perfect blend of history, fantasy and entertainment. --Publisher's Weekly Booklife Prize
• Rocket Malone is not thrilled with the direction her life is taking. Her mom has just remarried, and they are moving from their hip cottage in Venice Beach to her stepfather s home in Hollywood. Her best friend, Gillian, has a new friend and a new boyfriend, and Rocket feels left behind. When she finds out that her mother is pregnant with twins, she is furious. All of these problems are quickly overshadowed when Rocket discovers that she is descended from the Greek muses, and is therefore obligated to serve as an apprentice to the nine mythological sisters. Rocket sees herself as smart but not creative, and apprenticing to the muses does not come naturally to her. She tries to help several people, but just cannot find the right person to aid.Along with the fun, intelligent story about Greek gods, muses, and other mythological figures, Inspired captures the trials and tribulations of discovering oneself while dealing with the challenges of middle school. Rocket does not want her life to change, but she must adapt, learning to share her mom and her best friend while finding new ways to create her own joy.Rocket and her friends have some very serious problems. Rocket's father committed suicide; her mother is in the midst of a high-risk pregnancy. Her friend Ryan lost his sister in a car accident and then was abandoned by his father; the home he shares with his mother is destroyed in a fire. These issues are thoughtfully addressed in the story as the adolescents learn not to blame themselves, to accept what is, and to help one another through the hardest parts.INSPIRED is delightful, insightful, and charming as it encourages kids to face their obstacles and chase their own passions. --Foreword Reviews
• Great for a young teen's mind, body and spirit -- fun, creative, inspiring with strong positive messages about listening to the voice within and processing your emotions through creativity. A great read for middle-school girls.
• Fans of Rick Riordan's Lightning Thief series will enjoy this enchanting addition to the list of mythology-based novels for tweens and teens!

Susan Schaefer Bernardo is a published poet and the author of several award-winning picture books, including Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs, The Big Adventures of Tiny House, and The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (a collaboration with LeVar Burton that was sent via rocket to the International Space Station for Storytime from Space!). This is her first novel. She loves school, and has collected her B.A. from UCLA, a master's degree in English Literature from Yale, and teaching credentials from Pepperdine University. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and an always-entertaining assortment of cats, dog, chickens and creative clutter. When she's not writing, you might find her gardening, sculpting, tidepooling, painting, wandering through a museum or jetting off somewhere exotic in search of inspiration. You can also find her online at www.susanbernardo.com.