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G. Neri

G. Neri writes street lit, “provocative, edgy stories for reluctant readers,” he says, “especially urban boys, in hopes that these kinds of compelling tales will open minds to reading.” Neri’s books deal with subjects that may make some adults uncomfortable – gangs, drugs, teen violence, and sex – but are issues teens face every day. “I try to show these topics honestly,” says Neri. “So when young people encounter these situations in real life, they might have some knowledge to help them navigate the rough roads ahead. Teens are young adults and need to be treated as such, with honesty and directness.”

A storyteller, filmmaker, artist, and digital media producer, Neri’s taught animation and storytelling to inner city teens in Los Angeles with the ground-breaking group Animaction, which has produced thousands of student-made films dealing with issues like teen violence, gangs, and drugs. He co-directed the documentary Fa’a Samoa which followed a 15-year-old Samoan gangbanger through the mean streets of Los Angeles and was head of production in two successful new media companies whose clients ranged from Disney, Mercedes, and Motorola to Microsoft, Reebok, and General Motors. G. Neri was also one of the founding members of the Truth teen anti-smoking campaign. The author of Surf Mules (Putnam, June 2009), Chess Rumble and the upcoming graphic novel Yummy (due out Fall 2009) currently lives off the Gulf Coast of Florida with his wife and daughter. He spends most of his time in his studio, but also likes to troll the rivers by his house looking for alligators.

Surf Mules

Books

The Collectors: Stories
Surf Mules

Books for Summer Reading

Reading over the summer months helps students foster a love for independent reading and keeps their literacy skills strong. We’ve curated collections of fiction and nonfiction books including inspiring life stories, action-packed adventures, graphic novels, and more to give students the opportunity to recharge after a busy school year and read for fun. Browse our

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Congratulations to our 2024 ALA Award Winners & Honorees

The American Library Association (ALA) announced their 2024 literary award winners and honorees during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience. Below you can find a selection of Penguin Random House titles that were among the winners.   Explore the collection of award winners and honorees here.   Alex Award  Bad Cree Chain Gang All Stars I

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