Alyson Gerber is the author of critically-acclaimed novels BRACED, FOCUSED, and TAKING UP SPACE published by Scholastic. TAKING UP SPACE, which came out in May, was reviewed by the New York Times Book Review as “Thoughtful and powerful.” Her books have a total of five starred reviews between them, have been nominated for nine state book awards, and are all Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. FOCUSED was picked as a best book of the year by the Today Show and Kirkus Reviews. Alyson’s new middle grade mystery series, THE EMMETT SOCIETY, pitched as GOSSIP GIRL meets THE BABY-SITTERS’ CLUB set at an elite New England prep school, will be in stores Spring 2024. Alyson has an MFA from The New School in Writing for Children. She is a graduate of Connecticut College, The Governor’s Academy, and The Pike School and now lives in New York City with her family.