Susin Nielsen
Author of We Are All Made of Molecules
About the Author
Image credit: Credit: Tallulah Photography
Works by Susin Nielsen
Here Goes Nothing: A Novel 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Gemini Award-winner Tundra author Susin Nielsen got her start feeding cast and crew muffins and bologna sandwiches on the popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. They hated her food (a fact that’s memorialized forever in a poem the cast wrote: “An ode to Susin, the Bran Muffin Queen, we eat them, we die, then we turn green”). Luckily for Susin, they saw a spark in a spec script she wrote. Nielsen went on to pen sixteen episodes of the hit television show, and four of the books in the Degrassi book series. Since then, Nielsen, who has received two Canadian Screenwriter awards, has written and story-edited many TV series, including Ready or Not, Madison, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, Edgemont, and two animated series, What About Mimi and Braceface. She co-created the pre-school series Franny’s Feet, and is the co-creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed series Robson Arms. She also adapted author Susan Juby’s book, Alice, I Think, into a TV series. Nielsen has also published three children’s books: Hank and Fergus, winner of the Mr. Christie’s Silver Medal Award, Mormor Moves In, and The Magic Beads. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, Goran, son, Oskar, and cat, Sam.
- Nationality
- Canada
- Associated Place (for map)
- Canada
Members
Reviews
In the wake of a family tragedy, thirteen year old Henry has moved to a new town, and started a new high school, hoping to start over where no one knows his family's history. His therapist gives him a notebook to record journal entries, and although Henry is at first reluctant, he begins to share his innermost thoughts and feelings in the journal, as he tries to cope with the turmoil his life has become. His older brother is dead, after something horrible happened that Henry only reveals in show more small glimpses through many entries, adding suspense to the story; Henry's mother is no longer living with him and his father, and this adds to the upset in his world. And Henry has put on weight and has to deal with a bully at school, which is giving him terrible flashbacks to go along with his already recurring nightmares. My heart just went out to this bright, nerdy, sensitive boy, who is struggling with so much heartbreak and anger. But I also laughed out loud at many scenes in the book (especially the fruit fly scene!), smiled at the many pop culture references to classic movies or tv shows, and at Henry's droll sense of humor in describing his neighbors and classmates. I cheered for Henry and his geeky new friend Farley to succeed in their moneymaking scheme, as well as for Henry to come to grips with his grief and other feelings. I liked the way Henry's family had bonded over watching tv wrestling matches together, and how he makes new friends who are on the Reach For the Top academic quiz team ("Academic Challenge" or "Varsity Quiz Bowl" here in the U.S.), since I was on one of those teams in my awkward high school years too. This is a wonderful book, full of heart and humor, and an excellent depiction of the horrors of bullying. Recommended for middle schoolers and up; despite the serious topic, the maturity level of the characters and the language make it a good book for middle schoolers to read, and as with any novel about bullying in school, I wish every teen could read it--for every kid has been affected by bullying, either a victim, a perpetrator, or a bystander. The fact that it is set in Canada should not be a problem, as there are no terms that an American kid shouldn't be able to figure out. (Okay, they may not know what a "loonie" is, but there's always Google if they're curious enough, and the context makes it pretty obvious) And some of the humor would not have worked as well if set in the US--here, a kid named Alberta would not have the same impact... show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This is a deeply engaging young adult book. 17-year-old Petula De Wilde is plagued with guilt over her accidental contribution to her baby sister's death. In addition, she has become obsessed with the idea that anything less than constant vigilance can result in tragedy, leaving her parents with no children at all. As a result, she will not shake hands, walk anywhere near construction sites, get in elevators, or do anything that remotely endangers her safety.
The tragedy has damaged her show more parents' marriage. Her mother has become a cat rescuer to the point where they are struggling to pay the bills. Her father is the absent workaholic.
Petula has intense, debilitating, physical reactions to stress. She has become socially isolated. Her conversations with the school counsellor are minimally successful so Petula is tossed into an art therapy group. Against her wishes, she connects with an odd collection of students each also coping with overwhelming tragedies in their personal lives. Every character is distinct and believable. The reader will root for each and every one to break free of the crushing experiences they have suffered.
Although this is a dark and disturbing topic, Nielsen gives Petula a winning sense of humor. The students in the arts therapy group are frank and often hilarious. Their progress, and Petula's, proceeds with fits and starts but leaves the reader feeling hopeful.
Nielsen writes with finesse and insight. This highly readable book will be enjoyed by young adults and adults as well.
I received a hardcover copy of this book for review. show less
The tragedy has damaged her show more parents' marriage. Her mother has become a cat rescuer to the point where they are struggling to pay the bills. Her father is the absent workaholic.
Petula has intense, debilitating, physical reactions to stress. She has become socially isolated. Her conversations with the school counsellor are minimally successful so Petula is tossed into an art therapy group. Against her wishes, she connects with an odd collection of students each also coping with overwhelming tragedies in their personal lives. Every character is distinct and believable. The reader will root for each and every one to break free of the crushing experiences they have suffered.
Although this is a dark and disturbing topic, Nielsen gives Petula a winning sense of humor. The students in the arts therapy group are frank and often hilarious. Their progress, and Petula's, proceeds with fits and starts but leaves the reader feeling hopeful.
Nielsen writes with finesse and insight. This highly readable book will be enjoyed by young adults and adults as well.
I received a hardcover copy of this book for review. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
An, at times, heart wrenching evaluation of housing and food instability from the perspective of a bright pre-pubescent boy living in a van with his mother. The innocence of childhood allows the reader to intuit the true meaning behind the reality of Felix's circumstances as the "slumps" his mother sometimes falls into leads to unemployment, criminal behavior, and premature maturation of the protagonist forced to take on the responsibilities of Astrid (not "mom")
This book forces the reader show more to evaluate their own privilege, as this work of fiction comprises the reality for so many. As an interview/ expose on homelessness written by one of Felix's best friends asserts: " you don't think it can happen to you, but it does." show less
This book forces the reader show more to evaluate their own privilege, as this work of fiction comprises the reality for so many. As an interview/ expose on homelessness written by one of Felix's best friends asserts: " you don't think it can happen to you, but it does." show less
Princess Puffybottom had a perfect life, waited on by her two human companions, and given everything that a kitty cat could want or need. Then one day her mothers brought Darryl home, and all was chaos. An energetic puppy with somewhat gross habits, this canine interloper hogged the attention that Princess Puffybottom ought to have gotten. When her efforts to get rid of Darryl don't bear fruit, our feline heroine is quite cast down. It is then that her new puppy sibling's good qualities show more emerge, eventually reconciling her to his presence. Little does she realize however, that an even more disruptive newcomer is on the way...
This delightful cream-puff of a picture-book pairs an engaging and ultimately tale of jealousy and eventual friendship with adorable illustrations. Apparently, author Susin Nielsen has written for some of Canada's best-known television shows, including Degrassi Junior High (which I have heard of, but never watched). Whatever her previous experience, she certainly knows how to spin a humorous tale. The artwork by Olivia Chin Mueller is charming, capturing the appeal of both feline and canine characters. I picked up on the eventual surprise that emerges at the end of the book quite early on, in the scene in which one of Princess Puffybottom's mothers is caressing her stomach, but the ending was no less humorous, for being suspected ahead of time. I appreciated the fact that our feline heroine's human family is a same-sex couple, and that this is just worked effortlessly into the artwork, without need for narrative comment upon it. All in all, a sweet little book! Recommended to young cat and dog lovers, and to any child who has ever felt jealous about a newcomer in the family. show less
This delightful cream-puff of a picture-book pairs an engaging and ultimately tale of jealousy and eventual friendship with adorable illustrations. Apparently, author Susin Nielsen has written for some of Canada's best-known television shows, including Degrassi Junior High (which I have heard of, but never watched). Whatever her previous experience, she certainly knows how to spin a humorous tale. The artwork by Olivia Chin Mueller is charming, capturing the appeal of both feline and canine characters. I picked up on the eventual surprise that emerges at the end of the book quite early on, in the scene in which one of Princess Puffybottom's mothers is caressing her stomach, but the ending was no less humorous, for being suspected ahead of time. I appreciated the fact that our feline heroine's human family is a same-sex couple, and that this is just worked effortlessly into the artwork, without need for narrative comment upon it. All in all, a sweet little book! Recommended to young cat and dog lovers, and to any child who has ever felt jealous about a newcomer in the family. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 21
- Members
- 2,243
- Popularity
- #11,433
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 237
- ISBNs
- 185
- Languages
- 9
- Favorited
- 3
