Media
Trade Publication Reviews
TV & Radio Interviews
Michigan: WGVU Shelley Irwin Show Interview (Sept. 2023)
Michigan: FOX 17 Morning Mix Interview (Sept. 2023)
Written Articles & Reviews
The Best Books for 13 Year Olds, Reading Middle Grade, by Afoma Umesi
Holland Sentinel: Hope College Alum pens WWII book about local orchard
Grand Haven Tribune: Novelist brings WWII History to Life
WORLD Magazine, Children’s Books of the Year: 2023
Enemies in the Orchard: Big Read Lakeshore Blog (Hope College)
The Banner Magazine, Book Review
Ten Verse Novels to Read in 2024, Brooklyn Public Library
Best Middle Grade Books that Tackle Grief: Shepherd
Three Favorite Books from 2023
Bookopolis: “12 of My Favorite Books from 2023.”
Literary Rambles Guest Post & Giveaway
2023 Book + Gift Novel-in-Verse List
The Best Children’s and Teen’s Audiobooks of 2023
ALAN Picks: November 2023 (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE)
Margin Notes Book Recommendation
Feed Your Fiction Addiction: Bite-Sized Reviews
Book Notes: American Teen, German POW find common humanity in ‘Enemies in the Orchard’ by Meadow Rue Merrill, Times Record
Publisher’s Weekly Fall Books of Note
Middle School Bookshelf: Book Picks for your Tween (Northeast Ohio Parent)
Life of a Writer (Spalding University Alumni news)
Reformed Journal. “Lighting a Path: On Writing a Novel for Young Readers”
Feature on SCBWI-MI’s Book Birthday blog; also on SCBWI Fall Book Poster
Feature on oldandnewbooksmell
Other Media
An Author Conversation: Dana VanderLugt & Jack Ridl at Hope College
“From Seed to Story” Author Talk & Q&A at Traverse Area District Library
Dog Eared Book Award finalist reveal (combined with school visit)
“Poetry is Noticing” Behind the Big Read Podcast