Young Adult Author Pamela Harris Makes Virtual Visit

WILLIAMSBURG — Teen readers will have the opportunity to meet a popular author with interesting local and regional ties next week when Pamela Harris makes a virtual visit to Williamsburg Regional Library (WRL).

Harris’ debut novel When You Look Like Us is a young adult realistic  fiction mystery that takes place right around the corner in Newport News, Virginia. It tells the story of Jay, a teen who holds down a job, keeps up his grades, and looks out for his family, including his sister, who hangs with the wrong crowd, and their grandmother, who took them in. When his sister goes missing, Jay leads an investigation with members of his community to try to find her. The novel has received positive reviews in a number of prestigious and popular sites and publications, including Booklist, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Kirkus.

The novel’s setting and subject matter were inspired and informed by Harris’ background. She was born in Newport News, and received both her B.A. and M.S. from Old Dominion University. She worked as a school counselor while pursuing her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and she continued that work while obtaining her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at William & Mary. Her many ties to different pockets in the greater Hampton Roads area, as well as her extensive job experience and educational background in working with school-age kids, lend authenticity and a unique perspective to the novel.

The upcoming virtual program will feature Harris talking about When You Look Like Us as well as her work as a writer in general. Copies of the book will be raffled off to 5 attendees, and are also available for checkout in multiple formats through WRL.

“Dr. Harris has amplified the local community and teen life through this book with personal insight and care; we are lucky to have her join us,” said Rachael Nelson, a teen services librarian at WRL.