When Life Gives You O.J.

First Book’s own Erica Perl, Director of Publisher Relations at First Book, is also an award-winning children’s book author. Her most recent effort, When Life Gives You O.J., is her first middle grade novel and was called “a must read for all 8-12 year olds”. Erica’s love and knowledge of children’s literature is a huge help to us at First Book, and we’re so proud that her new book has been chosen as an Amazon Best Book for June, 2011. 

When Life Gives You O.J. focuses on almost-eleven-year-old Zelly Fried, who has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog for years. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn.  But when her eccentric grandfather, Ace, hatches a ridiculous plan involving a “practice dog” named O.J., Zelly’s not so sure how far she’s willing to go to win a dog of her own.  Is Ace’s plan so-crazy-it-just-might-work… or just plain crazy?

In honor of the release of When Life Gives You O.J., Erica will be giving away a gift set that includes a signed copy of the book, a water bottle, and bag on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. How to win? Follow @Firstbook on twitter tomorrow and answer this simple question: “What is a good children’s book for the summer?” Make sure to use the hashtag #kidlit in your response. The winner will be picked randomly and announced on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

Check out the book trailer for When Life Gives You O.J. below:

watch?v=6dC_3625Y7c