I've written more than 30 books for middle-grade and young-adult readers. I write both fiction and non-fiction, often choosing topics related to science, pop culture, or social history — or a combination of the three. I love tales about rogue scientists, obsessed adventurers, and risk-takers who've changed the world. In my spare time, I play tennis, bake, and read. My favourite meal is breakfast, my favourite color is blue, and my favourite children's book is A Wrinkle in Time. I grew up in Creston, B.C., but now live in Vancouver with my husband and two children.
This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes
* Available as a digital presentation via Zoom or MS Teams
This is a sometimes silly and sometimes serious introduction to the science of stereotypes. It covers the history of discrimination, secret biases in our brains, and how stereotypes affect our sense of self. Interactive sections will help young people make sense of how and why we sort and classify the world around us — and how we might broaden our horizons.
Under Pressure
* Available as a digital presentation via Zoom or MS Teams
We all experience stress—that sweaty, heart-racing feeling. It’s a natural reaction. But while it may have been useful to our ancestors as they fought off lions in the wild, feeling flustered isn’t always helpful in our modern lives. In this interactive, occasionally goofy presentation, I share stories from my book Under Pressure: The Science of Stress. There are fascinating facts about the origins of stress, wacky historical experiments in the name of research, and—most importantly—practical ways to stress-bust in our everyday lives. We experiment with five of these methods, together, during the session.
Idea Generator
* Available as a digital presentation via Zoom or MS Teams
In this fun and fast-paced presentation, I take students on a tour of my own brain, and talk about where some of my ideas originated. Me and Banksy began because of my interest in privacy and surveillance, but the book didn’t come together until a specific event made me think about street art and protest. Mya’s Strategy to Save the World and This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes were both prompted by real-life events. And Under Pressure: The Science of Stress? Well, I was trying to learn to play tennis… and it wasn’t going well! Through these stories, I give students an insider view of the publishing process, and help them find ways they might mine their own ideas.
