Photo credit: Juliana Johnson, 2020.Ronnie Riley (they/them) is many things: queer, trans, nonbinary, lesbian, neurodivergent, disabled, Canadian.
They live with their partner in Toronto, Ontario, and collect books, friends, and cats. They love ice cream any day of the year, birds with long legs, and messy reality TV.
They are the author of Jude Saves the World and Asking for a Friend, both published by Scholastic Press. Jude Saves the World is an Indies Introduce and an Indies Kids’ Next List pick.
contact
+ mxronnieriley.books@gmail.com
+ @mxronnieriley on twitter
+ @mxronnieriley on instagram
Ronnie Riley is represented by Jennifer Azantian of Azantian Literary Agency.
Jennifer Azantian
www.azantianlitagency.com
JUDE SAVES THE WORLD
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Quick Facts
Title: JUDE SAVES THE WORLD
Age Range: middle grade (8-13)
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary
Published: April 18, 2023
Publisher: Scholastic Canada & Scholastic US
Length: 48,000 words / 272 pages
Print ISBN: 9781338855876
Keywords: queer, nonbinary, friendship, hope
On-Page: coming out storylines that end well
Off-Page: deadnaming & misgendering
Representation: bisexual and nonbinary main character (they/them), gay best friend (he/him), bisexual best friend (she/her), and various queer side characters, ADHD (main character) and dyscalculia (secondary character)
on the web
Awards and Nominations
Blurbs
Promo Line
Perfect for fans of Alex Gino, A. J. Sass, and Kyle Lukoff, this is the joyful and heartwarming story of Jude, a nonbinary kid who knows exactly who they are and decides to create a safe space in their community.
Short Description
A queer, nonbinary 12-year-old navigates the complexities of identity and friendship as they befriend the ex-popular girl at school, try to start a safe space club at their local library, and come out to their old-fashioned grandparents.
Full Description
Twelve-year-old Jude struggles with some things: focusing at school, feeling like everything rests on their shoulders, not being able to come out as nonbinary to their old-fashioned grandparents. But Jude doesn't struggle with Dallas, their best friend in the whole world. Their person.
Jude and Dallas's world changes when they learn Stevie, a girl in their class, has been ousted from the popular clique at school. Worried it had something to do with Stevie's rumored crush on another girl, Jude reaches out to see if Stevie is okay. Stevie quickly becomes an important friend to Jude and Dallas, whose unwavering acceptance of her is a stark contrast to the tests and dysfunction she experienced with her former friend group.
As their friendship deepens and the three open up to each other, Stevie's unconditional and open acceptance when Jude comes out to her motivates them to create a queer safe space in their community. Jude has the courage and determination it takes to create the first Diversity Club in their community, but will they be able to find the support they need to make it happen?
JUDE SAVES THE WORLD announced on February 10th, 2022.
ASKING FOR A FRIEND
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Indigo and Chapters (not currently available)
Quick Facts
Title: ASKING FOR A FRIEND
Age Range: middle grade (8-13)
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary
Publishing: June 04, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Canada & Scholastic US
Length: 51,000 words / 272 pages
Print ISBN: 9781339027647
Keywords: queer, nonbinary, friendship, hope
On-Page: social anxiety, panic attacks, foster care representation, transphobia & queerphobia
Off-Page: transphobia & queerphobia
Not Included: deadnaming & misgendering
Representation:
asexual, biromantic nonbinary kid with social anxiety disorder and panic disorder (main character) (they/them)
bisexual, biromantic trans Filipinio boy best friend with ADHD (he/him)
cisgender lesbian best friend in foster care (she/her)
pansexual, aromantic genderqueer Black best friend (they/he)
pansexual cisgender girl best friend (she/her)
on the web
Blurbs
Promo Line
Asking for a Friend deals with a socially anxious, asexual nonbinary kid who lies to their mom about having friends—and has to make friends fast when Mom wants to throw a 13th birthday party.
Full Description
Eden Jones has exactly three friends. And they're all fake.
From a web of lies and social anxiety to true friendship and queer joy; this is the wonderful second book from the author of the Indie Next List pick Jude Saves the World.
Why go through the stress of making friends when you can just pretend? That works for Eden (and their social anxiety) . . . until their mom declares she'll be throwing them a birthday party and all their friends are invited. Eden needs to find a way to turn fake friends into real ones - fast.
Eden's three "friends," Duke, Ramona, and Tabitha, are all real kids at the school - but they've never actually spoken to Eden. Now Eden must do whatever it takes to convince them or trick them into being their friend - at least until the party is over.
When things start to go better than Eden could have ever hoped, and the group starts to genuinely bond, Eden finds themselves trapped in a lie that keeps getting deeper. What happens if the others discover that Eden hasn't been honest with them from the very start?
This book by Indies Introduce author Ronnie Riley is full of queer joy and - ultimately - true friendship.
Cover Designed by: Stephanie Yang
Art by: Ricardo Bessa