Tag Archives: Africa

Happy International Day of the Girl

Posted on October 11, 2016 by katiequirkauthor

A few years ago, I wrote the following article for the wonderful website A Mighty Girl about the real-life stories that inspired me to write A Girl Called Problem and how they relate directly to the International Day of the … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged #DadsAndDaughters, A Girl Called Problem, A Mighty Girl, Africa, International Day of the Girl, strong girl characters, Tanzania | Leave a comment

Nyerere is Back!

Posted on December 2, 2015 by katiequirkauthor

Tanzanians recently elected a new president, John Magufuli, and people are excited. Magufuli grew up herding cattle for his poor family, and he seems bent on putting a stop to corrupt spending. Right after he was sworn in, Magufuli slashed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Girl Called Problem, Africa, CCM, children's literature, Magufuli, middle grade fiction, Middle Grade Novel, Tanzania, Tanzanian election 2015, What would Magufuli do?, WWMD?, Young-adult fiction | Leave a comment

Growing Up With Ujamaa: An Interview

Posted on May 12, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

Interested in learning more about the history behind A Girl Called Problem? Following Common Core and looking for a nonfiction supplement to the book? I hope you’ll be as fascinated as I was with this first-hand account of what life … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged A Girl Called Problem, Africa, arusha declaration, Common Core, history, interview, middle grade, Mutalemwa, nonfiction pairing, Nyerere, Tanzanian history, ujamaa | Leave a comment

More lists!

Posted on February 3, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

A Girl Called Problem recently made two more best-of lists for 2013: VOYA’s 2013 Top Shelf for Middle School Readers List. VOYA is the leading library journal dedicated to young adult fiction and young adult readers. and The Notable Social Studies Trade Books … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged A Girl Called Problem, Africa, middle grade fiction, National Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, Social Studies Middle Grade, Tanzania, Top Shelf Fiction, VOYA, VOYA Top Shelf, VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers | Leave a comment

Books about Africa for Young Friends

Posted on January 10, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

A Girl Called Problem got a brief but complimentary mention recently in Monica Edinger’s wonderful Horn Book article entitled, “Books about Africa.” Edinger is the author of the recently released and very well-received Africa Is My Home: A Child of … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged A Girl Called Problem, Africa, Africa Is My Home, Books About Africa, Horn Book, Katie Quirk, Monica Edinger | Leave a comment

Skype Chat with Friends Select School

Posted on September 19, 2013 by katiequirkauthor

Friends Select Middle School in Philadelphia adopted A Girl Called Problem as their core summer reader. I had the good fortune to chat with students over Skype this last week. We talked about the book, living in Tanzania, and my … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged Africa, Friends Select, girl called problem, middle grade fiction, Quaker, Skype Author, Tanzania | Leave a comment

The Story Behind the Cover

Posted on March 29, 2013 by katiequirkauthor

Ever wonder what’s behind some of your favorite book covers? Who was the artist? Is that a real or Photoshopped setting? Did the author get a say in how the model looked? I recently wrote a short piece about the … Continue reading →

Posted in A Girl Called Problem | Tagged A Girl Called Problem, Africa, cover, middle grade, young adult