Author Event with Adi Alsaid & Gia Gordon/The Greatest Heist in Joviala & My So-Called Family

Join Anderson’s Bookshop for an author event with Adi Alsaid and Gia Gordon, to celebrate the releases of their newest books, The Greatest Heist in Joviala and My So-Called Family, on Monday, November 18th at 6:00 pm in our Downers Grove store.

Event Format

We will begin checking you in approximately 30 minutes before the start time. After a presentation and Q&A with the authors, the line will form in numbered order with the following guidelines:

• Posed photo with your camera taken by our staff

• There is a limit of 2 books from home to be signed (unless otherwise stated)
  

• There is a limit of 1 personalization of the new book only (unless otherwise stated)

Pre-registration is required for this event because space is limited.

More about The Greatest Heist in Joviala:  

A girl fights to free her sister from a curse while a beautiful mountain is at risk of being turned into a theme park in this giggle-worthy yet heartfelt middle grade adventure set in the world of The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria.

Having grown up in Nefaria, a land where evil schemes abound, Candelabra is thrilled to take a school trip to Joviala, a land that’s prone to natural disasters but has virtually no evil in it. All her life, she’s dreamt of a place where everyone is caring and happy and without malicious intent, and now it’s coming true for her.

But Jovialan Schmebecca isn’t so sure her country’s reputation is earned. A company has just been approved to move her beloved mountain to install a theme park, and that sounds pretty evil to her. She enlists the help of veteran evil-scheme-thwarters Candelabra and Bobert, and together, they work to uncover the possible evil scheme—but when a twist pits their goals against each other, the fight against evil becomes a lot more complicated.

More about My So-Called Family: 

A moving middle grade debut about foster care, self-advocacy, and realizing that a found family is a real family.

“I loved every page—a gorgeous rendering of what it means to find home in ourselves and others.” —Mariama J. Lockington, Stonewall Honor and Schneider Family Book Award winning author of In the Key of Us and Forever is Now

It’s the first week of middle school, and Ash (don’t call her “Ashley”) already has a class assignment: Make a family tree. But how can Ash make a family tree if she doesn’t have a family? Ever since she was four years old, Ash has been in foster care, living with one so-called family after another. Now she’s stuck with Gladys. And the only place Ash feels safe is in the branches of her favorite tree, drawing in her sketchbook, hidden from the view of Gladys’ son Jordan.

As Jordan becomes harder to hide from, and more dangerous to be around, Ash isn’t sure who she can trust. A new friend, an old friend, some teachers at school? Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is knowing who to ask.

In My So-Called Family, Gia Gordon weaves a lyrical story about complicated family dynamics that’s perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s.

About the Authors/Illustrators: 

Born and raised in Mexico City, Adi Alsaid is the author of several young adult novels including Let’s Get Lost, We Didn’t Ask for This, and North of Happy, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book nominee. He also wrote the middle grade books The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria and The Greatest Heist in Joviala and edited Come on In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding Home. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and two cats, where he occasionally spills hot sauce on things (and cats).

Gia Gordon is a Texas-based author, youth activist, and former educator. She’s co-founder of the non-profit Never Counted Out, which provides books to classrooms and community programs. When she’s not writing, Gia can be found at home with her partner and two kitties, out thrifting, or turning no-longer-wanted household goods into beautifully painted designs at Salvage Art.

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Please read these Event Policies carefully:

Anderson’s Bookshop reserves the right to change the format of this event at any time in coordination with the author and publisher. Anderson’s Bookshop assumes no responsibility or liability for any personal injury or other loss you may incur as a result of your decision to attend an event, including the transmission of Covid-19 or related illnesses. 

Failure to treat all participants and staff with courtesy and respect may result in your expulsion from the event.