Karen Cushman
@karencushman.bsky.social
Author of 11 books for young readers. Newbery Medal. Newbery Honor. Gardener, reader. Newest book: When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea.
On December 7, 1941, war came to America’s children. Some picked up toy guns and shot at pretend enemies. Others had nightmares for the rest of their lives. Millie McGonigle thought the war came like an earthquake and shook everything and everybody up. More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
February 12, 2026 at 1:58 PM
On December 7, 1941, war came to America’s children. Some picked up toy guns and shot at pretend enemies. Others had nightmares for the rest of their lives. Millie McGonigle thought the war came like an earthquake and shook everything and everybody up. More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
On December 7, 1941, war came to America’s children. Some picked up toy guns and shot at pretend enemies. Others had nightmares for the rest of their lives. Millie McGonigle thought the war came like an earthquake and shook everything and everybody up.
More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
February 10, 2026 at 12:34 PM
On December 7, 1941, war came to America’s children. Some picked up toy guns and shot at pretend enemies. Others had nightmares for the rest of their lives. Millie McGonigle thought the war came like an earthquake and shook everything and everybody up.
More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
More about Millie: bit.ly/3uFu1sM
Time travel to the 1800s with three of my novels: Lucy Whipple's family moves to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. bit.ly/45e3HZu In 1881, Rodzina boards an Orphan Train. bit.ly/3HRUR71 At thirteen, Sally O'Malley embarks on an adventurous journey west to discover the sea. bit.ly/4br0wk3
February 5, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Time travel to the 1800s with three of my novels: Lucy Whipple's family moves to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. bit.ly/45e3HZu In 1881, Rodzina boards an Orphan Train. bit.ly/3HRUR71 At thirteen, Sally O'Malley embarks on an adventurous journey west to discover the sea. bit.ly/4br0wk3
Isle de Sein near Brittany in France, archaeologist Yvan Pailler said, "This is a very interesting discovery that opens up new prospects for underwater archaeology, helping us better understand how coastal societies were organized." #archaeology #underwater #France www.cbsnews.com/news/ancient...
Divers discover massive 7,000-year-old undersea wall off coast of France
"Archaeologists did not expect to find such well-preserved structures in such a harsh setting," geologist Yves Fouquet said.
www.cbsnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Isle de Sein near Brittany in France, archaeologist Yvan Pailler said, "This is a very interesting discovery that opens up new prospects for underwater archaeology, helping us better understand how coastal societies were organized." #archaeology #underwater #France www.cbsnews.com/news/ancient...
When it's cold outside, it's a good time to curl up under a blanket with an absorbing book and a warming beverage. Be transported back in time with one of my books. More about my books: www.karencushman.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:53 PM
When it's cold outside, it's a good time to curl up under a blanket with an absorbing book and a warming beverage. Be transported back in time with one of my books. More about my books: www.karencushman.com
Discoveries revealed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe near Sanliurfa, Turkey, are giving archaeologists new understandings of how humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to settled societies more than 11,000 years ago. www.reuters.com/science/new-...
New finds in Turkey's southeast add to picture of Neolithic age
Turkey unveiled dozens of new finds at a major archaeological site in southeast Turkey on Wednesday, giving fresh insight into an area seen as showing humanity's transition from hunter-gatherers to se...
www.reuters.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Discoveries revealed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe near Sanliurfa, Turkey, are giving archaeologists new understandings of how humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to settled societies more than 11,000 years ago. www.reuters.com/science/new-...
Submissions reopen 3/1/26 for the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award for authors over 50 who have not been traditionally published in the children's lit field. SCBWI members are eligible for this grant of $500 for their work-in-progress and free tuition to SCBWI conference. bit.ly/3YS1KPO
January 22, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Submissions reopen 3/1/26 for the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award for authors over 50 who have not been traditionally published in the children's lit field. SCBWI members are eligible for this grant of $500 for their work-in-progress and free tuition to SCBWI conference. bit.ly/3YS1KPO
Looking at feet and teeth from Ethiopia’s Afar Rift, paleontologists are re-examining a 2012 find of the “Burtele foot.” Are the bones from a new species, Australopithecus deyiremeda? Read M.J. Banias, The DeBrief, 29 Nov 2025 bit.ly/45iDXw0
This 3.4-Million-Year-Old Foot Reveals Another Mysterious Early Human Species Once Walked in the Same Area as Our Ancestors
3.4 million years ago in the Afar region of Ethiopia, at least two different kinds of early human relatives walked the same landscape.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Looking at feet and teeth from Ethiopia’s Afar Rift, paleontologists are re-examining a 2012 find of the “Burtele foot.” Are the bones from a new species, Australopithecus deyiremeda? Read M.J. Banias, The DeBrief, 29 Nov 2025 bit.ly/45iDXw0
Erica from What Do We Do All Day? has included Catherine, Called Birdy on her list of Classic Children’s Books by the Decade: 1990s. “This short novel is told in a diary format and is 100% hilarious.” Her review: bit.ly/4aWYcmK The book: bit.ly/3xGYDvS
January 15, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Erica from What Do We Do All Day? has included Catherine, Called Birdy on her list of Classic Children’s Books by the Decade: 1990s. “This short novel is told in a diary format and is 100% hilarious.” Her review: bit.ly/4aWYcmK The book: bit.ly/3xGYDvS
Job opening: “The British Museum Plans to Hire a Treasure Hunter. Duties Include Recovering Missing Artifacts Before They’re Lost to History” Christian Thorsberg, The Smithsonian, 7 January 2026 bit.ly/3LD5529
January 13, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Job opening: “The British Museum Plans to Hire a Treasure Hunter. Duties Include Recovering Missing Artifacts Before They’re Lost to History” Christian Thorsberg, The Smithsonian, 7 January 2026 bit.ly/3LD5529
In my book, Sally reads Ned Buntline's dime novels. Ned Buntline was quite a character. In the 1860s, his popular fiction earned him an astounding $20,000 a year. Eric Rossborough writes about Ned Buntline "discovering" Buffalo Bill. The article: bit.ly/3MXIygX Fleming's book: bit.ly/4qDxFiz
January 8, 2026 at 1:24 PM
In my book, Sally reads Ned Buntline's dime novels. Ned Buntline was quite a character. In the 1860s, his popular fiction earned him an astounding $20,000 a year. Eric Rossborough writes about Ned Buntline "discovering" Buffalo Bill. The article: bit.ly/3MXIygX Fleming's book: bit.ly/4qDxFiz
Archaeologists working in Russia’s northern Caucasus Mountains unearthed a bone spear tip, believed to be as much as 80,000 years old, that challenges assumptions about Neanderthal skills. Article by Bob Yirka for phys.org.
Read the findings: bit.ly/49rwVWZ
Read the findings: bit.ly/49rwVWZ
January 6, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Archaeologists working in Russia’s northern Caucasus Mountains unearthed a bone spear tip, believed to be as much as 80,000 years old, that challenges assumptions about Neanderthal skills. Article by Bob Yirka for phys.org.
Read the findings: bit.ly/49rwVWZ
Read the findings: bit.ly/49rwVWZ
Whatever holiday we observe and and however we celebrate, may we have peace on earth and in our hearts.
December 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Whatever holiday we observe and and however we celebrate, may we have peace on earth and in our hearts.
Medieval selfies! Illustration from article, Jan van Eyck, Giovanni Arnolfini and fiance (the artist includes a self-portrait in the mirror behind the couple). From Medieval Books blog: bit.ly/3YDCCMm
December 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Medieval selfies! Illustration from article, Jan van Eyck, Giovanni Arnolfini and fiance (the artist includes a self-portrait in the mirror behind the couple). From Medieval Books blog: bit.ly/3YDCCMm
I'm pleased to find War and Millie McGonigle and Catherine, Called Birdy among so many fine books on this list of "60 Mighty Girl Historical Fiction Novels for Tweens and Teens." Thanks, Katherine Handcock! I hope you're following A Mighty Girl on Facebook. #historicalfiction bit.ly/44svAO1
December 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I'm pleased to find War and Millie McGonigle and Catherine, Called Birdy among so many fine books on this list of "60 Mighty Girl Historical Fiction Novels for Tweens and Teens." Thanks, Katherine Handcock! I hope you're following A Mighty Girl on Facebook. #historicalfiction bit.ly/44svAO1
Oldest, surviving, written document is 5,500 years old. The Kish tablet was found near the ancient Sumerian city of Kish, today it is Iraq. Not all of tablet is deciphered. Find out what they know at this point. bit.ly/4qgEhU9
Photo: Clay tablet proto-cuneiform writing. Jim Kuhn/Wikimedia Commons.
Photo: Clay tablet proto-cuneiform writing. Jim Kuhn/Wikimedia Commons.
December 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Oldest, surviving, written document is 5,500 years old. The Kish tablet was found near the ancient Sumerian city of Kish, today it is Iraq. Not all of tablet is deciphered. Find out what they know at this point. bit.ly/4qgEhU9
Photo: Clay tablet proto-cuneiform writing. Jim Kuhn/Wikimedia Commons.
Photo: Clay tablet proto-cuneiform writing. Jim Kuhn/Wikimedia Commons.
Enjoy Dr. Irving Finkel's lessons in how to write in cuneiform. There are over 130,000 tablets waiting to be studied at the British Museum. Dr. Finkel's “just waiting for young scholars to come devote themselves to (the) monkish work” of deciphering them. #cuneiform #ancienthistory bit.ly/44dD879
December 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Enjoy Dr. Irving Finkel's lessons in how to write in cuneiform. There are over 130,000 tablets waiting to be studied at the British Museum. Dr. Finkel's “just waiting for young scholars to come devote themselves to (the) monkish work” of deciphering them. #cuneiform #ancienthistory bit.ly/44dD879
Don't miss my interview with Roger Sutton for The Horn Book. We talk about Joseph Campbell, my beloved Phil, Oregon weather, and the process of writing.
Karen Cushman Talks with Roger: bit.ly/4pSxDTY
Karen Cushman Talks with Roger: bit.ly/4pSxDTY
December 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Don't miss my interview with Roger Sutton for The Horn Book. We talk about Joseph Campbell, my beloved Phil, Oregon weather, and the process of writing.
Karen Cushman Talks with Roger: bit.ly/4pSxDTY
Karen Cushman Talks with Roger: bit.ly/4pSxDTY
Hadrian's Wall Discovery, a video look at a previously unseen section of the Wall at Drumburgh on the Solway coast. "This is almost as far west as the wall went and there has been no sign of it here for a very long time." Mark Graham interviews those working on the site. #hadrianswall bit.ly/4rBzazm
December 2, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Hadrian's Wall Discovery, a video look at a previously unseen section of the Wall at Drumburgh on the Solway coast. "This is almost as far west as the wall went and there has been no sign of it here for a very long time." Mark Graham interviews those working on the site. #hadrianswall bit.ly/4rBzazm
Bearded Vulture nests found to have hoards of cultural artifacts — some up to 650 years old. Because their nests are primarily in the "western Mediterranean, "stable temperature and low humidity conditions ... natural museums, conserving historical material" bit.ly/4rh0yCw [photo: Antoni Margalida}
November 25, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Bearded Vulture nests found to have hoards of cultural artifacts — some up to 650 years old. Because their nests are primarily in the "western Mediterranean, "stable temperature and low humidity conditions ... natural museums, conserving historical material" bit.ly/4rh0yCw [photo: Antoni Margalida}
Have you read my most recent book? Sally O’Malley is an orphan working at a mineral spring hotel in the woods of central Oregon–that is, until she’s chucked out like chewed-on chicken bones, due entirely to an unfortunate incident with a pig and some church ladies. More about Sally: bit.ly/4br0wk3
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Have you read my most recent book? Sally O’Malley is an orphan working at a mineral spring hotel in the woods of central Oregon–that is, until she’s chucked out like chewed-on chicken bones, due entirely to an unfortunate incident with a pig and some church ladies. More about Sally: bit.ly/4br0wk3
Archaeologists Finally Find Missing Part of Legendary Statue. In 1930, the lower half of a statue of Ramses II, which once stood 23 feet tall, was discovered by German archaeologist Gunther Roeder. In 2024, an Egyptian and American dig team discovered the upper half near Ashmunein. bit.ly/47Mgwgj
Archaeologists Unearth the Long-Lost Top Half of an Enormous Ramses II Statue
A German researcher found the lower section of the Egyptian pharaoh's likeness nearly 100 years ago
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Archaeologists Finally Find Missing Part of Legendary Statue. In 1930, the lower half of a statue of Ramses II, which once stood 23 feet tall, was discovered by German archaeologist Gunther Roeder. In 2024, an Egyptian and American dig team discovered the upper half near Ashmunein. bit.ly/47Mgwgj
Hope to see you at the Poulsbo Kids Book Fest, this coming Saturday, November 15th, from 11 am to 3 pm, at North Kitsap High School, 1780 NE Hostmark, Poulsbo, WA. You can see the actual Newbery Medal for The Midwife's Apprentice. www.poulsbokidsbookfest.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Hope to see you at the Poulsbo Kids Book Fest, this coming Saturday, November 15th, from 11 am to 3 pm, at North Kitsap High School, 1780 NE Hostmark, Poulsbo, WA. You can see the actual Newbery Medal for The Midwife's Apprentice. www.poulsbokidsbookfest.com
From Open Culture, this article and TED Talk: "... Paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger, [suggests] that those prehistoric forms of writing, which include the earliest known hashtag marks, consisted of symbols nearly as universal as emoji." bit.ly/483qdH3
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
From Open Culture, this article and TED Talk: "... Paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger, [suggests] that those prehistoric forms of writing, which include the earliest known hashtag marks, consisted of symbols nearly as universal as emoji." bit.ly/483qdH3
Book giveaway! Thinking about your gift lists, aren't you? When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea is an adventure story set in 1800s Oregon. You know the young readers who will love this book. Head to my website to enter by midnight PT on 11/15/25. (Mainland USA only, please.) Enter: bit.ly/3LrcyAX
November 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Book giveaway! Thinking about your gift lists, aren't you? When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea is an adventure story set in 1800s Oregon. You know the young readers who will love this book. Head to my website to enter by midnight PT on 11/15/25. (Mainland USA only, please.) Enter: bit.ly/3LrcyAX