An Na facts for kids

An Na (born in 1972) is an American author who writes amazing books for young people. She was born in South Korea and later moved to the United States. An Na became well-known for her very first novel, A Step From Heaven, which came out in 2001. This book was a big success! It won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2002, which is a special award given by the American Library Association for the best book written for teens. A Step From Heaven was also a finalist for the National Book Award, showing how important and well-loved it was.

An Na's Life and Journey

Growing Up and Education

An Na grew up in San Diego, California. She went to Amherst College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. This means she studied many different subjects and learned a lot!

Becoming a Writer

Before she became a full-time writer, An Na taught English and History to middle school students. She loved teaching, but her path changed when she took a class about young adult literature. This class was part of her Master of Fine Arts program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. That's when she decided to start writing novels herself!

Today, An Na lives in both Oakland, California and Warren, Vermont. She often visits middle schools to talk about her books and share her experiences. She especially loves to encourage young Asian-American students to explore their creativity and become artists.

Who Inspired Her?

An Na looks up to her first writing teacher, Jacqueline Woodson. It's great to have mentors who help you grow!

An Na's Books

An Na has written several wonderful books for young readers. Here are some of her well-known works:

• A Step From Heaven (2001)
• The Fold (2008)
• Akbar : The Great Emperor of India
• Wait For Me (2017)
• The Place Between Breaths (2018)