Honors, Awards & Recognition
- Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Division I Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Hawai’i Nēnē Award Chapter Book Nominee (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- Georgia Center for the Book, Books All Young Georgians Should Read (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- New York Public Library 2024 Vibrant Voices Titles for Kids (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- New York Public Library 2023 Vibrant Voices Titles for Kids (Just Right Jillian)
- Illinois Bluestem Readers’ Choice Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Michigan MISelf in Books 2022 Diverse Book List (Just Right Jillian)
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s best of the year list, CCBC Choices 2023 (Just Right Jillian)
- Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 (Just Right Jillian)
- AAMBC Literary Award Nominee (Just Right Jillian)
- Cybils Award Nominee 2023 (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- Cybils Award Nominee 2022 (Just Right Jillian)
- TIME for Kids | Spring Reads Grades 3-4 and 5-6 (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
- Imagination Soup: 60 Short Middle Grade Books Kids Will Love (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
Reviews
★ In this sentimental and kindhearted novel, Collier realistically presents adolescent angst as viewed through a thoughtfully realized protagonist whose avid internal reflection—influenced by a mite of magic—will inspire readers’ own path toward personal introspection. — Publishers Weekly (starred review) (The Best Friend Bracelet)
★ “Collier masterfully delivers a multidimensional protagonist with a clear and relatable voice. . . . Maya’s journey as she learns to adjust to life’s curveballs and listen to her inner truth will keep readers hooked from start to finish.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
★“Beginning each chapter with a fortune, Collier delivers another immersive novel, and its emotionally tinged first-person voice offers fresh observations about parental tensions and changing friendship dynamics.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
“Debut author Collier offers an expressively told, inspirational novel that considers grief, chronic illness of a family member, and anxiety while showcasing the power of practicing love, empathy, and self-determination.” — Publishers Weekly (Just Right Jillian)
“A lightly magical story that thoughtfully explores friendship and developing a strong sense of self.” –Kirkus Reviews (The Best Friend Bracelet)
“This book is filled to the brim with relatable characters who can demonstrate to readers how to navigate the complexities of friendship and family.” — Booklist (The Many Fortunes of Maya)
“A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding.” — Kirkus Reviews (Just Right Jillian)
“Jillian perfectly encapsulates the contradicting feelings of adolescence, and her attempts to forge her own path and find her identity will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt shy or small.” — School Library Journal (Just Right Jillian)
“This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.” — Booklist (Just Right Jillian)
“This first-person narrative introduces a brilliant, self-actualized preteen. . . . Readers will cheer for Jillian as she is finally able to break out of her own shell.” — Horn Book Magazine (Just Right Jillian)
“A tender tale of self-acceptance and friendship, this title is an excellent pick for middle graders grappling with the big questions surrounding identity, expression, and the beauty of our different paths of growth.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Just Right Jillian)
“In a novel reflecting deep understanding of social anxiety and the grounding power of creativity, Jillian gradually reveals more of who she is to her classmates, including her colorful personal style and talent for weaving. They, in turn, prove eager to get to know her.” — CCBC Choices 2023 (Just Right Jillian)
“Collier shows readers the importance of being yourself and not changing just to fit in…A lightly magical story that thoughtfully explores friendship and developing a strong sense of self.” –Kirkus Reviews (Just Right Jillian)
