Representation: Chelsea is represented by Renée Zuckerbrot at Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents.
Coming in early 2027: Netherworld: The Past, Present, and Future of Parasitism on Planet Earth (Basic Books / Hachette). Parasites are some of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. There are hundreds of thousands of species of worms, insects, viruses, bacteria, and fungi, that live in, on, and at the expense of hosts. And yet, most readers will never have learned a single fact about parasites that didn’t come to them from a close encounter of the most grotesque kind: a worm in their pet’s poop, a disquieting diagnosis for their own tummy troubles. In Netherworld, my purpose is to change minds – to convince readers that parasites are ubiquitous in nature, vital to the functioning of ecosystems, endowed with abilities that could revolutionize medicine if only we could understand how they work, and at risk as the world changes. Netherworld presents the scientific evidence for a biodiversity crisis among parasites and bring readers face-to-face with a few of the consequences.
Power to the Parasites! Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About the Creepy Crawlies Hidden in Your Home, Your Food, Your Pets, and Maybe Even in You! (2024, Godwin Books / Henry Holt Books for Young Readers / Macmillan) – Power to the Parasites! lets you in on a secret: Parasites are all around you, all the time, quietly running the world. You might think of them as slimy, disgusting freeloaders – tapeworms and roundworms and ticks and lice, too small to be important and too selfish to be valued. But by the end of this book, you’ll realize that sometimes parasites are the good guys…
★ “The technical information on parasites presented in this book is accessible through the use of humor and illustrations, making it a solid choice for libraries serving middle grade students.” — School Library Journal
★ “Enthusiastic, tongue-in-cheek text… Humorous and cleverly titled chapters… This enjoyable read will have readers exclaiming ‘cool!’ instead of ‘ew!'” — Publishers Weekly
★ “A parasitologist explains why no creature—including you—ever truly dines alone… An eye-opening, as well as stomach-churning, angle on who’s really the boss in the natural world.” — Kirkus Reviews
★ “The qualities about parasites that repulse us become food for thought—and luckily, nothing more—in this entertaining examination of the important roles they play in the environment… Wood delightfully demystifies these often-dreaded creatures.” — Booklist
Read more about the book in an interview by Betsy Bird on School Library Journal’s Fuse 8 blog or over at Nerdy Book Club.