Allen Zadoff facts for kids

Allen Zadoff is an American author who writes books for young adults. He is well-known for his exciting series like Wild & Chance and The Unknown Assassin. He also wrote the popular book Boy Nobody. His novel Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award in 2010. This award celebrates funny books for children and young adults.

About Allen Zadoff

Allen Zadoff was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He has lived in many different places, including New York, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.

Before he became a writer, Allen Zadoff directed plays for the stage. He studied at Harvard University. He also learned about comedy writing at a special workshop in Hollywood. Today, Zadoff lives in Los Angeles. He works there as a writer and also teaches others how to write.

Allen Zadoff's Books

Hungry (2007)

Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin is a book for adults. It was published in October 2007. The Los Angeles Times newspaper described it as "gentle, funny...uncommonly appealing."

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have (2009)

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have is a novel for young adults. It was released in September 2009. This book won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award in 2010. It was also a finalist for the Georgia Peach Book Awards.

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) added it to their list of "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults" in 2010.

The Unknown Assassin Trilogy (2013-2015)

The Unknown Assassin is a thrilling series of three books. These books are published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in the United States.

The first book was first called Boy Nobody. It came out on June 11, 2013. Later, the paperback version was released with the title I am the Weapon. This book received great reviews. In 2012, Sony Pictures bought the rights to make a movie based on the series.

In 2014, I am the Weapon was named one of the top ten "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers" by YALSA. It was also a finalist for the Best Young Adult Novel at the 2014 International Thriller Writers Awards.

The next book in the series was I am the Mission, published on June 1, 2014. The final book, I am the Traitor, came out on June 9, 2015.

Wild & Chance Series (2020)

Allen Zadoff also writes a series for middle school readers called Wild & Chance. The first book in this series was released on April 28, 2020. The second book, The Puppy War, was released on May 18, 2021.

The Donut Prince of New York (2024)

The Donut Prince of New York is a young adult romantic comedy. It tells the story of a high school playwright who faces challenges with theater, football, and first love. This book was released on November 5, 2024. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review, calling it "A pitch-perfect journey of self-discovery."