J. Anderson Coats (she/her)

@jandersoncoats

YA/MG author. Newest: The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls (2025); The Loss of the Burying Ground (2024). She/Her. Located near the Salish Sea. Rep'd by ACM.

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J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 19d

Was not sure what to expect from the packaging, but this butter cookie with a cute dolphin on it is bringing me joy.

A cookie package featuring cartoon sea life: a dolphin, an orca, a turtle, and something that might be an octopus. There is coral and sea grasses below them, and writing in a language that I think is Chinese but that I can't read, sorry. There is a round butter cookie below the packaging, and on the cookie is a picture of a dolphin. Both items are sitting on a wooden table.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 21d

Sometimes I remember to go outside.

A field of crops growing in rows stretches out toward the horizon. In the foreground is some scrubby verge grass. The sky overhead is blue with a little wisp of cloud on the right side. It's a beautiful day.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 22d

Piled up some dry grass for the yard waste bin, but it's been claimed.

A sunny backyard. In the background are some tomato plants. In the middle of the picture is a pile of dry grass, and hiding inside is a Bengal/tabby cat. There's a red circle around the cat's face so you can see it. It's not shown in this picture, but there's a cat fence so she is outside safely.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 25d

You do have to slog through standing water up to your ankles in places to get there, though. A small and marshy price to pay. 😊

A marshy part of a trail. There is mud and tall weeds in the foreground, and then some standing water. In the background is more marsh.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 25d

Low tide.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 27d

Trying to have an analog summer? Fewer screens? Why not have your kid(s) interview an elder they know & find out what it was like when they were growing up! I've got a free downloadable notebook available that includes sample questions & interview tips! www.jandersoncoats.com/the-unexpect...

Two downloadable interview notebooks side by side. Each is on a fluffy red carpet. The one on the left is a full-sized sheet of paper; the one on the right is a full-sized sheet of paper folded in half to make a mini-notebook. The text on each one is identical: Everyone Has a Story: Interview an Elder You Love to Hear Yours. However, the version on the left has this additional text: Inspired by The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats. www.jandersoncoats.com

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· 29d

Doomkitty's latest obsession is this $20 rubber doormat. It is claw sharpener. It is bed. It is back scratcher. It is life.

A Bengal/tabby cat lies on her new favorite black rubber doormat. The doormat lies on a wood floor, and there is a heat vent in the wall behind her.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jul 9

Sometimes people assume Doomkitty's safety fence is to protect her from harm - and it is - but it is also to protect the neighborhood from *her*. Because she is absolutely TA.

A Bengal/tabby cat sits under a tall wooden planter box, in grass that is kind of brown. She is looking up at you with polite interest. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a cat fence so she is outside safely.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jul 7

If you are planning to buy a book anyway, please consider preordering it! Preordering helps the author in all kinds of invisible ways. Coincidentally, the paperback of The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls is up for preorder, arriving this September! www.jandersoncoats.com/the-unexpect...

An infographic about why to preorder a book. The background is white, and each bubble is in a different color. Text reads: Four reasons to preorder a book.

Publishers notice. The bubble is orange, and there is an icon with a light bulb and a gear. Text reads: A book with lots of preorders signals the publisher that people are interested in the title, which can lead to benefits for the author!

Bookstore Buzz. The bubble is purple, and there is an icon of a bullhorn. Text reads: Independent bookstores use preorder numbers to decide which books to promote. Your preorder might also put the title on the bookseller's radar!

Preorder anywhere. The bubble is sea green, and there is an icon of a hand with a star hovering over the open palm. Text reads: You don't have to order from a Large Online Retailer. Your local bookstore is happy to preorder a book for you!

Build anticipation. The bubble is yellow, and there is an icon of a graph with a curved arrow pointing up. Text reads: Books with significant preorders get more attention from the reading community, which leads to greater interest in the title.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jul 2

What are you talking about? I've always loved this cat tree. You keep saying how I haven't sat in it in almost two years after you spent a bunch of money on it. I'm here now. What do you want from me?

A tabby/Bengal cat sits on the top shelf of a cat tree. It's covered in light beige carpet. Behind her is part of a metal shelf and some twinkle lights. The wall is painted blue.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 30

Today I'm getting some nerdy joy out of learning that people have been using "fudge" as a verb since the nineteenth century.

A screenshot of an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Text reads: 1831
‘You are not fudging me, sir?’ ‘'Tis truth, sir, I assure you.’
World of Fashion 1 June 137/1

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 29

I know there are folks out there who do this sort of thing every day, but I put this second edition of my YA debut together from top to tail - formatting, cover design, everything. It was a heck of a learning curve but I'm so proud of it. Details here: www.jandersoncoats.com/the-wicked-a...

Illustrated book cover. At the top, there is a cartoon of a medieval walled town, with a few cartoon buildings nearby, also in a medieval style. There are some trees as well. At the bottom, there are cartoon medieval buildings on fire. In the middle is the title: The Wicked and the Just. At the top there is a pull quote: "Brilliant - a vision of history before the victors wrote it." ~ Kirkus (starred review). At the bottom is the author's name - J. Anderson Coats. The background is a solid color, a yellowish brown that is nicer than it sounds. Along both sides are golden scroll lines that run vertically.

The book sits on a fluffy red carpet.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 26

Super excited to announce that The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls is one of The Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of 2026 - and it's in some *amazing* company! educate.bankstreet.edu/cbc_awards/36/

A rectangular infographic with a purple background. On the left is a small rectangular graphic made up of smaller squares in shades of blue, pink, brown, and beige. The text inside the rectangle is on a white background and reads: The children's book committee of the Bank Street College of Education. The best children's books of the year, 2026 edition, [for] books published in 2025.

The text in the middle is in white. It reads: The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats has been named one of the best children's books of 2026 by the Bank Street College of Education!

Beneath that is a screen grab that reads: The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats (Atheneum BFYR/Simon & Schuster, $17.99) 978-1-6659-6861-4. In 1910 two sisters of a Slovenian immigrant family
find different paths to escaping from small-town
drudgery in Colorado. (12-15)

On the right is the cover of the book. At the top of the image is a street scene from early twentieth century Denver, with people of all ages in suits and long dresses. Some are on foot; others are in horse-drawn buggies. There is a large archway with "Welcome" across the top, and beyond it is Seventeenth Street full of people. There are buildings with arched windows on either side of the street. At the bottom left is a white girl with a single braid. She is wearing an beige dress and carrying a messenger-style bag over her shoulder. She is looking up at the archway with an excited expression on her face. At the bottom right is an Eastern European folk art motif with flowers and viney stems. The color scheme is shades of turquoise blue and an orangey-red, with purple accents. In the middle of the image is the book's title in white text: The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls. Also the author's name in red text: J. Anderson Coats.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 24

When you hit a random emoji *one time* and it exists forever in your favorites.

A screenshot of emojis, most of them different faces (smiley face, frowning face, etc), a heart, a flame, a smiling cat, and a little plant. There are also some random ones, including a mouse that looks constipated and a ghost that seems to be farting. Also some googly eyes and a thumbs up. Text reads: "Ghost that is ... farting, I think" and "Constipated mouse."

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 23

POV: It's your first day as a book club scammer.

A screenshot of an scam email, to make fun of the scammer. Text reads:

We'd love to feature <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Green_Children_of_Woolpit.html?id=5--oDwAAQBAJ">The Green Children of Woolpit</a>

Hi J. Anderson Coats

I came across your book The Green Children of Woolpit and it genuinely caught my attention.

I coordinate a book club community of 2,900+ readers and we'd love to feature your work in our next reading session.

Would you be open to this?

Warm regards,
Heather.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 22

Your periodic reminder that reviews help authors in a whole bunch of ways. If you love a book, please consider leaving a review somewhere online. It doesn't have to be that long - a simple "Loved it!" works great. Thank you!

A text-based graphic encouraging readers to leave reviews for books they love. Text reads:

Reviews help authors

Visibility: People buy books based on word of mouth - help them find your favorites

Connection: When you share what you like about a book, it helps someone else who likes the same things decide to give the book a try. A review helps a reader know what they're getting and why a book might appeal to them.

Enthusiasm: Being excited about something is infectious. When you can't stop talking about a book, people will be curious about why you love it.

Get started!: Don't know where to stary? Try describing your favorite part of the book or a character you liked, then say why you liked it best. Share what kind of reader might also like the book.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 18

The crushing of my garden produce continues apace.

A tabby/Bengal cat sits in a raised garden bed filled with straw. She does not look impressed with my nonsense. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a cat fence so she is outside safely.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 15

I'm super excited to announce that The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls is the winner of The New York Historical Children's Book Prize for 2025! Here's me grinning like a goof while in NYC accepting the prize. www.nyhistory.org/about/childr...

Kidlit author J. Anderson Coats, a white woman with long dark hair, stands in front of a screen displaying the cover of her book, The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls. There is a stage and a podium made of wood behind her. She is wearing a gray sweater, a Pride pin, and a black shirt, along with a gold watch locket. She is smiling and looks excited.

A close-up of a bronze medal in a clamshell box lined with black velvet. Two hands are holding the box, and there is a square of white paper beneath it. The medal features a woman in a Greek-style outfit sitting on a pedestal and holding a book/sheet of paper. The lettering around the edge reads The New York Historical Society.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 11

I have #kidlit for the discerning antiauthoritarian and also if you like a fun horse story. www.jandersoncoats.com

A grid of book covers by kidlit author J. Anderson Coats. From top to bottom, left to right:

Illustrated street scene from early twentieth century Denver, with people of all ages in suits and long dresses. At the bottom left is a white girl with a single braid. She is carrying a messenger-style bag over her shoulder.

Illustrated scene of two girls standing back to back; their clothing fades into the ocean, where a three-masted sailing ship moves through rough seas.

Illustrated scene of a yard with a white girl stirring a kettle. There are three cats nearby. A white boy stands near a medieval-style house in the background, looking worried.

Illustrated scene of a white girl on a chestnut horse in a clearing at night. The moon is overhead. There is a forest in the background.

Illustrated scene of a girl in a medieval-style red dress holding a dagger point-down. Behind her is a battlefield scene.

Illustrated scene of a pit with strange flowers and bones at the bottom, where two children with green skin are crouching. A white girl peeks down at them from above.

Illustrated scene of girls in white dresses gathering on a rooftop. One has short hair and she's carrying a flag with a red R on it. Beyond on the ground are gathered soldiers.

Illustrated scene of a white girl in a blue dress walking up a pier into nineteenth-century Seattle. The windows of the houses are lit up; there are seagulls flying above.

The Wicked and the Just. Illustrated book cover. At the top, there is a cartoon of a medieval walled town, with a few cartoon buildings nearby, also in a medieval style. There are some trees as well. At the bottom, there are cartoon medieval buildings on fire.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 11

The opening salvo of the season known as Too Many Raspberries. I know, it doesn't feel like this can be a thing. But it is. And yeah, it's a good problem to have. 😊

A round clear plastic bowl of raspberries sitting on a wooden table.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Jun 9

Um. Wow. Hello, new followers! I post mostly about books - books I love, books I hope you love, books that I think need more attention, and occasionally books I've written (www.jandersoncoats.com, if you're curious). Also the occasional picture of my cat.

A Bengal/tabby cat stands on the edge of a tall wooden planter box next to a porch painted green. Behind her is a green lawn and a cat fence, so she is outside safely. She looks curious and slightly annoyed.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· May 15

Doom is a fan of these plastic spring toys, but she REALLY likes the blue one that I accidentally ran over with the vacuum. Took me a minute to realize that's probably because it mimics prey that's LIMPING. 😬

Two plastic spring cat toys, one blue and the other green, sitting on a hardwood floor. The blue one is slightly misshapen because I accidentally ran it over with the vacuum.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· May 12

Here’s what people had to say when it first came out: 6/

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 29

Your periodic reminder that if I have ever signed a book for you and now you have a different name, you can DM or email me (j at jandersoncoats dot com) with a mailing address, and I will send you a free bookplate with your new name.

An informational graphic. The background is a dark sparkly blue square, and inside that there is a solid cobalt blue square.

Text on the solid blue square reads:

Your Periodic Reminder - If I have ever signed a book for you and now you have a different name, you can DM or email me (j at jandersoncoats dot com) with a mailing address, and I will send you a free bookplate with your new name.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 20

Hello friends! Just a quick note to remind everyone that I write books, and when you buy them, I can eat. Thank you! www.jandersoncoats.com

A graphic displaying all book covers for kidlit author J. Anderson Coats. The background of the graphic is a dark gray. Inside is a lighter gray square. The covers are in a 3x3 grid. All covers are illustrated; all in different styles. They are:

The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls:

Street scene from early twentieth century Denver, with people of all ages in suits and long dresses.

The Loss of the Burying Ground

Two girls standing back to back; their clothing fades into the ocean, where a three-masted sailing ship moves through rough seas.

A Season Most Unfair

A yard with a white girl stirring a kettle. A white boy stands near a medieval-style house in the background, looking worried.

The Night Ride

A white girl on a chestnut horse in a clearing at night. The moon is overhead. There is a forest in the background.

Spindle and Dagger

A girl in a medieval-style red dress holding a dagger point-down. Behind her is a battlefield scene.

The Green Children of Woolpit.

A pit with strange flowers and bones at the bottom, where two children with green skin are crouching. A white girl peeks down at them from above.

R is for Rebel

Girls in white dresses gathering on a rooftop. One has short hair and she's carrying a flag with a red R on it. Beyond on the ground are gathered soldiers.

The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming

A white girl in a blue dress walking up a pier into nineteenth-century Seattle.

The Wicked and the Just: A cartoon of a medieval walled town, with a few cartoon buildings nearby. At the bottom, there are cartoon medieval buildings on fire

(There is more going on in each cover, but alt text space limits don't allow enough space for thorough descriptions, sorry.)

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 14

Got a new sofa. Was worried Doomkitty would hate it.

A Bengal/tabby cat is sleeping curled up on a gray loveseat. There is a window behind her; you can see bushes. There is a patterned carpet under the sofa.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 10

Two veterinarians Four prescription medications Two compounding pharmacies One supplement Way too much in the way of $$ out the door every month One absolute gd delight of a feline unit

A Bengal/tabby cat looks at you with something like disappointment. Behind her are some green bushes. The sun is shining on her.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 8

The ebook version came out last year, and today I’m delighted to announce that a print version will be available very soon. Today I’m delighted to share its brand-new cover! This cover was designed by me, and it was a learning curve and a half, but I love how it turned out. 5/

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 8

The whole world is on fire, but I’ve got to buy the cat food, so it’s time for a cover reveal! Some of you playing along at home may be familiar with my debut YA novel, The Wicked and the Just. It’s set in thirteenth-century Wales, and it’s about medieval teens behaving badly. 🧵 1/

Three houses in a cartoon style. One has a little flame behind it. The background color is a beige that is nicer than it sounds.

J. Anderson Coats (she/her)@jandersoncoats· Apr 1

When you get to the Day Job and find out that one of the storytime parents has brought in a whole-ass homemade pie for the library workers.