Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Maggie Tokuda-Hall (born 1984) is an American author of children's and young adult novels.

While introducing Tokuda-Hall as an emcee for their annual Locus Awards, Locus said her "works have captivated readers and critics alike with her vibrant sense of story, history, and characterization."

Personal life and education Tokuda-Hall was born in 1984 to American television journalist Wendy Tokuda and television producer Richard Hall, who is the son of game show host Monty Hall and television producer Marilyn Hall. Actress Joanna Gleason is her paternal aunt. She was raised in her father's Jewish faith.

She graduated from Piedmont High School, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of San Francisco.

Tokuda-Hall is bisexual.

Reviewing the book, Publishers Weekly wrote, "Tokuda-Hall offers a capricious crash course in the elements and boundless possibilities of story," noting "Tokuda-Hall subtly introduces concepts like conflict and emotional stakes as the octopus unsuccessfully attempts to build a spaceship." They further highlighted how "Davies’s [...] freewheeling digital art keeps pace with the encouraging narration, and the concluding image—of a rocket scientist water-skiing atop a rhino while wearing a colander on her head—cements the idea that, when it comes to storytelling, anything is possible."

Booklist also reviewed Also an Octopus.

In 2017, Bank Street College of Education included Also an Octopus on their list of the year's best children's books.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea (2020) The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, published May 5, 2020, by Candlewick Press, follows Flora (a girl), who becomes Florian (a man) aboard the pirate ship Dove. Before boarding Dove, Flora was an orphan but takes on the identity of Florian to earn the crew's respect and protection. Unbeknownst to Flora (and the passengers), the passengers will be sold into slavery. During the voyage, she is mentored by a passenger, Evelyn, who is on her way into an arranged marriage. Together, the two plan to escape the ship and free a mermaid with the support of a witch and the sea itself.

In a starred review, Shelf Awareness'''s Lynn Becker highlighted how Tokuda-Hall "crafted a brooding, magical adventure with a healthy dose of intrigue," stating, "Her prose is delightful, by turns delicate and brutal, as her plot demands. At the heart of this tale about learning when to stand out and when to blend in, lies the importance, imparted by first mate Rake, of 'know[ing] your truth, not your story.'" Publishers Weekly highlighted how "Tokuda-Hall aptly explores themes of gender identity and misogyny while illustrating colonialism’s horrors" and further discussed how the book provides "a global viewpoint that ripples through the story without disrupting the narrative." The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea also received reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Booklist also reviewed the audiobook.

Squad (2021) Squad, illustrated by Lisa Sterle and published October 5, 2021, by Greenwillow Books, is a graphic novel that tells the story of three popular high school girls who befriend fellow student Becca. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that the girls are werewolves. Every full moon, "choose one sexually aggressive male as their victim—attacking at the moment when a party hookup turns nonconsensual"; they need Becca "to help them fully devour their prey."

Background Tokuda-Hall came up with the idea for Squad while on a road trip with her husband. Kirkus Reviews called the book "an exciting look at girl power gone wrong." Shelf Awarenesss Alanna Felton called Squad " incisive" and "darkly humorous," noting it "is an unabashedly feminist story, exploring female hunger and desire--for status, belonging and power--while criticizing rape culture" and "clearly convey[ing] the intensity of female friendships and their potential for toxicity." Regarding the artwork, Felton wrote, "Sterle's art is both stylish and sinister, effortlessly shifting between panels of humorous character interactions and gruesome gore." Brown also noted that "Lisa Sterle is the perfect artist to bring Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s story to life. Her style is realistic but with a slightly cartoon-y bent. The panels tend to have solid background colors instead of dense details, which allows Sterle to punch up the emotion based on which colors she chooses."

Love in the Library (2022)

Love in the Library, illustrated by Yas Imamura and published February 8, 2022, by Candlewick Press, is a children's picture book. The book takes places in Minidoka, a War Relocation Center for Japanese Americans during World War II, and follows Tama, who enjoys working in the camp's library. There, she meets George, a patron who arrives at the library every morning with arms full of borrowed books. As time passes and they develop a strong friendship, Tama wonders whether George comes to the library for the books or for her. The book is based on the true story of how Tokuda-Hall's grandparents met, which she discusses in an afterword with a photo of her grandparents.

Love in the Library was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. In 2022, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly included the book on their lists of the year's best picture books. Booklist also included it on their "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth" list, and it was a 2023 Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children's Book.

In April 2023, Scholastic's Education division proposed obtaining the rights to publish the picture book for inclusion in a collection called Amplifying AANHPI (Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders). The collection is part of the Rising Voices Library, which curates books along with teaching materials for educators, aiming to offer students engaging texts that highlight the narratives of historically marginalized groups. Tokuda-Hall declined the opportunity to be included in the Rising Voices Library, refusing to alter her book and its message. Although Tokuda-Hall initially denied requests for a meeting,

Beyond the response from Scholastic, Tokuda-Hall has stated she received many hate messages regarding the book, as well as emails against the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Kirkus Reviews, Locus, School Library Journal, and Tor.com. In 2021, Locus, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Tor.com included Squad on their lists of the year's best books for young adults. Autostraddle included it on their list of the year's best queer books. In 2022, School Library Journal, included Love in the Library on their lists of the year's best picture books. Booklist also included it on their "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth" list,

Kids' Book Choice Award for Best Book Creator Digital Presence Finalist

Golden Poppy Award for Young Adult Winner'| Goodreads Choice Award for Best Graphic Novels & Comics Nominee Locus Award for Best First Novel Finalist

Finalist Locus Award for Best Illustrated and Art Book Top 10 Publications

Standalone books Also an Octopus, illustrated by Benji Davies (Candlewick Press, 2016) Squad, illustrated by Lisa Sterle (Greenwillow Books, 2021) Love in the Library, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Candlewick Press, 2022)

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea series The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea (Candlewick Press, 2020) The Siren, the Song, and the Spy (Candlewick Press, exp. 2023)

Anthology contributions "Little Pink Feet" in Body Language: Writers on Identity, Physicality, and Making Space for Ourselves, edited by Nicole Chung and Matt Ortile Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For'', edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker (Feiwel and Friends, exp. 2023)