news & events

5/28/18 Pasadena Mental Health Day author panel at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 91101, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

9/24/17 B-Fest contemporary teen author panel at Barnes and Noble, Thousand Oaks, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, 2 p.m.

4/22 & 4/23/17 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, book signing at USC University Park campus.

3/18/17 Commerce Loves Reading Book Festival, Commerce, CA, 10:00 a.m.

3/10/17 Torrance High School Book Fair, 2200 West Carson St., Torrance, CA 90501, 10:30 a.m.

3/13/16 Los Angeles Public Library, DTLA, 2:00 p.m. 3/26/16 Barnes and Noble, Chino Hills, CA, 2:30 p.m. 4/9/2016-4/10/2016 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC University Park Campus 4/22/16-4/24/16 North Texas Teen Book Festival at Irving Convention Center 5/12/16 SCBWI Lit Mingle at Mi Escuelita, Redondo Beach, CA, 7 p.m. – 4 p.m. 5/13/16 Career Day at Animo Venice Charter High School, Venice, CA 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 6/11/16 Teen Book Fest at Barnes and Noble, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2:00 p.m. with Jeff Garvin, Kerry Kletter, Nicole Maggi, and Robin Reul 7/12/16 Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore (5943 Balboa Ave., #100, San Diego, CA) joint book signing with Darcy Woods, author of Summer of Supernovas, 7:00 p.m. 9/17/16 Pasadena Loves YA at Pasadena Public Library – Central Branch, CA, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Underwater will be one of 230 featured titles in the ABC Best Books for Young Readers catalog for 2016.

Underwater is an ALAN (Assembly of Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE) pick for April/May 2016.

“Through Morgan’s character, Marisa Reichardt has dared to imagine what it is like to live with the trauma of a school shooting. This book is important, not because it tells the story of horrific violence, but because it depicts the struggle to recover from violence and offers readers both hope and compassion.” –April Brannon, Fullerton, CA

Underwater has sold to Nuevo Extremo in Argentina for World Spanish rights and to Penerbit Haru for Indonesian rights.

Underwater was a Top 10 pick (#6) on the Kids’ Indie Next List for Winter 2015-16.

I enjoyed chatting with Katie Britton of WAMC about Underwater. 

“This novel is a powerful look at grief, mental illness, trust, forgiveness, letting go, and moving on. This should make your TBR list because of its strong writing, its examination of PTSD and panic disorders, and its hopeful approach toward therapy and recovery.” —Teen Librarian Toolbox

Bookish named Underwater an unputdownable YA pick in their 2015 Winter Preview.

“Debut author Reichardt doesn’t oversimplify: Morgan isn’t saved by love; rather, new neighbor Evan reminds her of life and what it’s like to have a friend…As Evan, who has his own connection to the shooting, tells her, what he likes about Morgan is that she’s real, and that’s exactly what readers will appreciate about this book.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A moving, reflective exploration of grief, trauma, and how individuals find their paths toward resilience.”

“Debut author Reichardt smartly reveals the source of Morgan’s agoraphobia– a school shooting– very gradually, which, along with the sweet romance with Evan, urges the plot forward. Morgan’s… story of growth and redemption will be rewarding for readers who love character-driven novels.”

Underwater was chosen as a top ten upcoming MG/YA debut novel by the American Booksellers Association for their Indies Introduce New Voices list for winter/spring 2016.

The UK cover for Underwater was revealed on Nicola W.’s fab blog, Queen of the Bookshelves.