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James Kennedy

@iamjameskennedy.bsky.social

89 followers 95 following 32 posts

Author of BRIDE OF THE TORNADO and DARE TO KNOW and THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH. Host of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival and the Secrets Of Story podcast. http://www.jameskennedy.com

www.jameskennedy.com

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Feb 5

These are my books! BRIDE OF THE TORNADO is a "super-storm of psycho-sexual intensity" (Daily Mail), DARE TO KNOW is a "voraciously readable page-turner" (Cory Doctorow), and THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH is "hilarious" (Booklist). Learn more and get them here: jameskennedy.com/books/

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 14d

Thrilled to be back in kidlit! My middle-grade BEHOLD! THE LEGEND OF FROGBOY, AND YOU SHALL READ IT comes out in 2027 on Norton Young Readers (+ another in 2028). Thanks to my great agent @johnmcusick.bsky.social at Folio Literary for making another dream come true. ODD-FISH fans will love this one!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 29d

My latest book review for the @wsj.com is of Dan Chaon's carnival-freak literary horror ONE OF US. I liked it, but I also have stuff to say! "A compelling, blood-curdling, often funny delight." Unlocked link: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Aug 15

yikes, thanks for the tip! time to fire my assistant again

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Aug 15

i sherlocked that pretty quickly!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Aug 15

my pleasure, your book was a bop

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Aug 15

I wrote another book review for @wsj.com! This one is about @jaysongreene.bsky.social's UNWORLD, a satisfyingly weird and emotionally resonant novel about AI. "Less I, ROBOT and more ORDINARY PEOPLE . . . humane and refreshingly idiosyncratic." Read it here: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

‘UnWorld’ Review: Your AI Wants a Divorce

Jayson Greene imagines a world where digital clones of ourselves take on unwanted tasks—until they decide to go off on their own.

www.wsj.com

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Aug 10

I have an article in the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal in which I chose 5 books that aren't horror books, but are scary nonetheless! (But the truly scary thing is my uncanny-valley author illustration.) Link: archive.fo/CfMy2

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Jun 21

This is ludicrous and terrifying and wonderful

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Jun 5

Last Friday we did the 90-Second Newbery Film Fest at Tacoma's Grant Center for the Expressive Arts! Great kid-made movies based on Newbery-winning books, including Dave Eggers' "The Eyes and the Impossible" done in the style of "Bohemian Rhapsody"! Recap: jameskennedy.com/2025/06/04/t...

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · May 23

Lucy's art! "The Dwellers lived on animals long after we left the Earth poisoned... they found a way to harness the animals' souls in their decaying bodies, at least until their flesh and bones decompose. The Dwellers live in the bones of their hosts until then."

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · May 20

I enjoyed my interview on @whostherepc.bsky.social! I talk of my love of the demented trailer for Stephen King's MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, ruining a double date with Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS, what tech companies have in common with Charles Manson, & more. Listen here: whostherepodcast.com/podcast/ep-2...

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · May 12

Congratulations Rita Williams-Garcia on a terrific graphic novel adaptation of your Newbery Honor winner ONE CRAZY SUMMER. One of my favorite Newbery books! Rita is a generous gem of a friend and an amazing co-host for the 90-Second Newbery film festival. Get this new graphic novel now!

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · May 9

Had a blast last night at @storystudiochicago.bsky.social's Storyball, whooping it up with @anandalima.bsky.social, @mxfaylitahicks.bsky.social, @fulmerford.com, @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social, @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social, and more ... and won a fancy copy of THE WIZARD OF OZ in the costume contest!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · May 5

Saturday we did the San Antonio show of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the Tobin Center! An audience of 100s of young filmmakers & friends & family WHOOPED IT UP! Our biggest show every year, thanks to Bibliotech and HEB Read 3. And thx to my cohost Claudia Villarreal!

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 27

After a 6-year hiatus, the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival returned to Minneapolis on Saturday! Thanks to @jacquelinewest.bsky.social for being a tremendous co-host, and to all the talented young film filmmakers. Here's to next year!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 19

A decade ago, 9-yr-old Eian-Gabriel Sinclair made his 1st movie for my 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. He's made a movie for us every year since, & just *graduated* college at age 18! Here's an interview with Eian, plus all his stop-motion movies here: jameskennedy.com/2025/04/18/e...

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 11

BOSTON! I'm doing a FREE screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival tomorrow (Saturday) at the @bpl.boston.gov. Kids make short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books! I'm co-hosting it with author @rebeccawriting.bsky.social. Tix: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/90se...

90-Second Newbery Film Festival 2025 - BOSTON SCREENING

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young readers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery award-winning books. Creative takes are encouraged: th...

www.ticketleap.events

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 9

Floored when horror author @danielwillcocks.bsky.social included BRIDE OF THE TORNADO in his Top 10 Horror Novels of 2024. Now I'm on his podcast "The Other Stories" talking Ray Bradbury, my greatest fear, Twin Peaks, "that scene" in Stephen King's IT, & more. Listen: www.podbean.com/media/share/...

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 8

Big crowd at @eastmanmuseum.bsky.social for the Rochester showing of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, hosted by me and @brucecoville.bsky.social! Kids made great movies: a stop-motion TALE OF DESPEREAUX, a claymation LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY, and more! Recap: jameskennedy.com/2025/04/07/t...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Apr 3

Hey Rochester, New York! Join the 430+ folks who have made their FREE reservations for this Saturday's screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the @eastmanmuseum.bsky.social at 2pm! Hosted by me and legendary author @brucecoville.bsky.social. Tix: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/90se...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Mar 21

I guess my Ricken theories have to wait another 3 years

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Mar 17

ICYMI, I reviewed MALORT: THE REDEMPTION OF A REVERED AND REVILED SPIRIT by @joshnoel.bsky.social for the Wall Street Journal! "This quirky, enlightening, unexpectedly poignant book isn't only for aficionados of the offbeat Chicago liquor, but fans of stubborn underdogs everywhere." archive.fo/Yng1d

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Mar 15

i'll be the death of her! (at indiana comic con)

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Mar 14

chicago writers 🤝 reading each other's books! this is the way! congrats again on the malört book, it's a pleasure to write an honest rave. see you around town!

Josh Noel @joshnoel.bsky.social · Mar 14

Thanks so much for that. Funny enough someone recommended The Order of Odd-Fish so I bought it several months back for my son to read! It’s still on the to-do list for him but we’ll get there. I hadn’t made the connection but love the full circleness here. Thank you again!

James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · Mar 14

I wrote a rave review for the Wall Street Journal about @joshnoel.bsky.social's book about Malört! (For out-of-towners, Malört a notoriously nasty liquor, mostly imbibed only in Chicago, that we take a perverse civic pride in.) I loved it! Read: archive.fo/Yng1d

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