About

Sally J. Pla is the 2024 ALA Schneider-Award-winning author of THE FIRE, THE WATER, AND MAUDIE McGINN, as well as the Dolly Gray Award-winning THE SOMEDAY BIRDS and several other novels and picture books. Her books have starred reviews and appear on many state awards lists and “best books” roundups. Sally, who is neurodivergent, has appeared on television and radio as an author and autism advocate. She also runs the website resource A Novel Mind (anovelmind.com). Sally believes in kindness, respect, and the beauty of different brains. We are all stars shining with different lights! Visit her at www.sallyjpla.com.

Featured Work

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

2023
silhouette of young girl staring out at enormous waves at sunset - colors of fiery red-orange sky blend to blue-green of ocean.

2024 ALA Schneider Award Winner. Neurodivergent Maudie is ready to spend an amazing summer with her dad, but will she find the courage to tell him a terrible secret about life with her mom and new stepdad? This contemporary novel by the award-winning author of The Someday Birds is a must-read.

Other Works

  • Invisible Isabel

    2024

  • Ada and Zaz

    2023

  • Stanley Will Probably Be Fine

    2018

  • Benji, The Bad Day, and Me

    2018

  • The Someday Birds

    2017

Awards and Recognition

  • THE SOMEDAY BIRDS: – Winner of the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award for 2018 – New York Public Library Best Children’s Book of 2017 – Junior Library Guild Selection 2017 – Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee – Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2017 – Publishers Weekly Starred Review – Shelf Awareness Starred Review – CommonSense Media Five Star Rating – Nerdies Award Winner 2017 – Dorothy Canfield Fisher (VT) Book Award Nominee – Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee – Wisconsin Library Ass’n Children’s Book Award Finalist – Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee - Amazon "Teacher's Pick"
  • STANLEY: A New York Public Library Best Kids Book * A Kirkus Best Book * A Bank Street Best Children's Book * Amazon "Teacher's Pick"
  • BENJI: Bank Street Best Children's Book, Winner of San Diego Book Award 2019, Amazon "Teacher's Pick," CCBC Choices

Press and Media Mentions