The Harley School was thrilled to host acclaimed author James Kennedy for a captivating community talk and book signing. The event, held on April 4, drew members of the Rochester community for an evening of literary exploration.
James Kennedy is widely recognized for his young adult fantasy novel, The Order of Odd-Fish, which earned distinction as a Smithsonian Notable Book and an American Library Association “Best Book for Young Adults” nominee. His horror thriller, Bride of the Tornado, was named one of the “Top 10 Books of 2023” by the Chicago Tribune, and his sci-fi novel, Dare To Know, was celebrated as the “Best Sci-Fi Book of 2021” by the Times Saturday Review.
Beyond his writing, Kennedy is the visionary founder of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, an annual video contest where young filmmakers creatively adapt Newbery-winning books into short films. He also presented the 14th Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival on April 5 at the Dryden Theatre at Eastman Museum.
“We were thrilled to welcome James Kennedy for a day of inspiration with our students, culminating in an evening talk that was open to the public, offering the entire Rochester community a chance to engage with his unique storytelling,” said Elaine Mendola, Harley School librarian.
In addition to his literary and film festival work, Kennedy co-hosts the Secrets of Story podcast with Matt Bird. He resides in Chicago. The community talk at The Harley School provided a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with a celebrated author and innovator in youth literature and film.
James also hosted a public talk at Harley during the evening.
