Bruce Brooks facts for kids

Bruce Brooks (born September 23, 1950) is an American writer who creates exciting books for young adults and children. He is known for telling stories that often explore deep feelings and challenges young people face.

About Bruce Brooks

Bruce Brooks was born in Richmond, Virginia. He spent much of his childhood moving between Virginia and North Carolina because his parents divorced. He says that moving around a lot helped him become a great observer of people and situations. Having to switch schools and make new friends often also helped him become a good storyteller.

He went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later studied writing at the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. Before becoming a full-time writer, Bruce Brooks worked in different jobs. He was a letterpress operator, which means he helped print things using an old printing method. He also worked as a journalist, writing for magazines and newspapers.

Bruce Brooks has mentioned that many famous writers influenced his work, like Charles Dickens and P.G. Wodehouse. He has three sons: Alex, Spencer, and Drake. Today, he lives in Berkeley, California.

Awards and Recognition

Many of Bruce Brooks's books have won important awards and been recognized by critics.

• His book The Moves Make the Man was a big success. It was named a best book by School Library Journal and The New York Times. It also won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and received a Newbery Honor in 1985. The Newbery Honor is a very important award for children's books in the United States.
• Midnight Hour Encores was also chosen as a best book for young adults by the American Library Association (ALA) and was recognized by the Horn Book Fanfare Honor List.
• No Kidding and Everywhere also received praise and were listed as "Best Books for Young Adults" by the ALA and other groups.

These awards show that Bruce Brooks's stories are well-loved and respected in the world of children's and young adult literature.

His Books

Bruce Brooks has written many different kinds of books, both fiction (made-up stories) and nonfiction (true stories and facts).

Fiction Books

• The Moves Make the Man (1984)
• Midnight Hour Encores (1986)
• No Kidding (1989)
• Everywhere (1990)
• What Hearts (1992)
• Asylum for Nightface (1996)
• The Wolf Bay Wings series, which is about a youth hockey team:
  • Woodsie (1997)
  • Zip (1997)
  • Cody (1997)
  • Boot (1998)
• Each a Piece, illustrated by Elena Pavlov (1998) – This book uses rhymes and cut-outs to show that things can be more than they seem.
• Vanishing (1999)
• Throwing Smoke (2000)
• All That Remains (2001)
• Dolores: Seven Stories About Her (2002)

Nonfiction Books

• On the Wing: The Life of Birds from Feathers to Flight (1989) – This book teaches readers about birds.
• Knowing Nature series, published with Thirteen/WNET:
  • Predator! (1991)
  • Nature by Design (1991)
  • Making Sense: Animal Perception and Communication (1993)
• Boys Will Be (1993)
• Those Who Love the Game: Glenn "Doc" Rivers on life in the NBA and elsewhere, written with Doc Rivers (1993) – This book shares insights from the life of a famous basketball coach.