Candice F. Ransom facts for kids

Candice F. Ransom, born on July 10, 1952, is a well-known author. She writes books for children and young adults. As of June 2020, she has written more than 150 books!

Her popular works include 18 books for The Boxcar Children series. She also wrote the Time Spies series and the Sunfire series. Candice Ransom even wrote a Dungeons & Dragons novel called Key to the Griffon's Lair. Her books range from picture books for little kids to biographies and nonfiction. Over 45 of her books have been translated into 12 different languages.

Growing Up and Becoming a Writer

Candice Ransom was born in Washington, D.C.. She grew up in Centreville, Virginia. Her childhood experiences in rural Virginia often gave her ideas for her stories. For example, her time at Robert Frost Junior High School inspired many characters and plots.

When she was a child, Candice wanted to be many things. She dreamed of being a "Writer-detective-veterinarian-artist." She wrote her first book at age seven. This happened because she had already read all the books in her school library!

After that, she spent her free time writing stories. She often made herself the main character. She imagined fun adventures and solved mysteries in her books. "I was a very nerdy kid," she said. "I didn't have a best friend until I was in fifth grade." So, she wrote stories about how she wished life could be.

In high school, Candice decided to become an author. She chose to write for children because she loved children's books the most.

Her Writing Career

Candice Ransom did not have enough money to go to college right away. So, she worked as a secretary. In her spare time, she wrote magazine articles. Her first book, The Silvery Pass, was published in 1982.

A big moment in her career came when her publisher asked her to write a long historical novel for teens. This led to the first two books in the very popular "Sunfire" series. By 1989, she had published 17 books. She was even asked to be a main speaker at a big conference for children's book writers.

Candice Ransom continued her education later in life. In 2004, she earned a master's degree in Writing for Children. She then earned another master's degree in children's literature in 2007.

She also writes a monthly column called "Big Green Pocketbook" for Bookology Magazine. In this column, she shares her thoughts on books and reading. She also talks about her own life as a child who loved to read.

Besides writing, Candice Ransom teaches writing at universities. She has taught at Spalding University and Hollins University.

Her books have won many awards and honors. These include a Booklist Starred Review and an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers. The New York Times also named one of her books a "10 Best Illustrated Book."

Candice Ransom's Books

Candice Ransom has written many different kinds of books. Here are some of her series and other popular titles.

Kobie Roberts Series

• Almost Ten and a Half (1990)
• Going on Twelve (1988)
• Thirteen (1984)
• Fourteen and Holding (1987)
• Fifteen At Last (1990)

Time Spies Series

• Secret in the Tower (Time Spies #1) (2006)
• Bones in the Badlands (Time Spies #2) (2006)
• Giant in the Garden (Time Spies #3) (2007)
• Magician in the Trunk (Time Spies #4) (2007)
• Signals in the Sky (Time Spies #5) (2007)
• Rider in the Night: A tale of Sleepy Hollow (Time Spies #6) (2007)
• Horses in the Wind: A tale of Seabiscuit (Time Spies #7) (2007)
• Gold in the Hills: A tale of the Klondike Gold Rush (Time Spies #8) (2008)
• Message in the Mountain (Time Spies #9) (2008)
• Flames in the City: A Tale of the War of 1812 (Time Spies #10) (2008)

Tales From the Third Grade Series

• Who Needs Third Grade? (1993)
• Third Grade Stars (1993)
• Why Are Boys So Weird? (1994)
• Third Grade Detectives (1994)

Young Adult Novels

• Amanda (1984)
• Susannah (1984)
• Nicole (1986)
• Emily (1985)
• Kathleen (1985)
• Sabrina (1986)
• So Young to Die: The Story of Hannah Senesh (1993)
• Maria von Trapp: Beyond The Sound of Music (2002)
• Rebel McKenzie (2012)
• Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World (2012)
• My Sister, The Meanie (1998)
• Seeing Sky-Blue Pink (2007)
• Key to the Griffon's Lair (2005)
• My Sister, The Creep (1989)
• Sixth-Grade High (1991)
• Between Two Worlds (1994)
• Iva Honeysuckle Meets Her Match, illustrated by Heather Ross (2013)
• The Silvery Past (1983)
• My Sister, the Traitor (1989)
• Finding Day's Bottom (2006)
• Breaking the Rules (Chrystal Falls, #2) (1985)
• There's One in Every Family (1990)
• Scrapbooking Just for You!: How to Make Fun, Personal, Save-Them-Forever Keepsakes (2010)
• Hocus Pocus After School (1996)
• Maggie L. Walker: Pioneering Banker and Community Leader (2008)
• Cat's Cradle (1987)
• Today Fifth Grade, Tomorrow the World (1989)
• Terrier Trouble! (National Geographic Kids Chapters) (2017)
• Kaleidoscope(Crosswinds #12) (1987)
• The Spitball Class (1999)
• Blackbird Keep (1986)
• The Love Charm (1990)
• Funniest Sixth Grade Video Ever (1991)
• Ladies and Jellybeans (1991)
• More Than A Name (1995)
• Lady in the Harbor: A Tale of the Statue of Liberty, illustrated by Greg Call (2009)
• Spies in the Ocean: A Tale of World War II, illustrated by Greg Call (?)
• Struggle in the Streets: A Tale of Women's Rights (2009)

Children's Books

• Little Red Riding Hood, illustrated by Tammie Speer Lyon (2001)
• The Big Green Pocketbook, illustrated by Felicia Bond (1993)
• Apple Picking Day!, illustrated by Erika Meza (2016)
• Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten, illustrated by Christine Grove (2017)
• Pumpkin Day!, illustrated by Erika Meza (2015)
• Listening to Crickets: A Story about Rachel Carson, illustrated by Shelly O. Haas (1994)
• Tooth Fairy's Night, illustrated by Monique Dong (2017)
• Tractor Day, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant (2007)
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant (2001)
• The Old Blue Pickup Truck, illustrated by Jenny Mattheson (2009)
• Uni's First Sleepover, illustrated by Brigette Barrager (2019)
• Amanda Panda and the Bigger, Better Birthday, illustrated by Christine Grove (2018)
• Bones in the White House: Thomas Jefferson's Mammoth, illustrated by Jamey Christoph (2020)
• The Promise Quilt, illustrated by Ellen Beier (1999)
• Snow Day!, illustrated by Erika Meza (2018)
• Garden Day!, illustrated by Erika Meza (2019)
• Pony Island, illustrated by Wade Zahares (2009)
• Liberty Street (2003)
• Rescue on the Outer Banks, illustrated by Karen Ritz (2002)
• The Christmas Dolls (1998)
• Who Wrote the U.S. Constitution?: And Other Questions about the Constitutional Convention of 1787 (2010)
• When the Whippoorwill Calls, illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root (1995)
• Clara Barton (2006)
• Children Of The Civil War (Picture The American Past) (1998)
• Hello, Virginia! (2010)
• Big Rigs on the Move (2010)
• Willie McLean and the Civil War Surrender (2004)
• The Twelve Days of Christmas in Washington, D.C., illustrated by Sarah Hollander (2010)
• Millicent the Magnificent (1989)
• One Christmas Dawn, illustrated by Peter M. Fiore (1994)
• Sam Collier and the Founding of Jamestown, illustrated by Matthew Archambault (2007)
• Martha Washington (2003)
• Fire in the Sky (1996)
• Danger at Sand Cave, illustrated by Den Schofield (2000)
• The Day of the Black Blizzard, illustrated by Laurie Harden (2009)
• Lewis and Clark, illustrated by Tim Parlin (2002)
• John Hancock (2004)
• Parts of a Flower(First Step Nonfiction: Pollination) (2015)
• Hello, Washington, D.C.! (2011)
• George Washington (2001)
• The Night of the Hurricane's Fury, illustrated by Paul Tong (2009)
• Daniel Boone (2005)
• Mother Teresa (2000)
• Robert E. Lee, illustrated by Tim Parlin (1990)
• I Like Shoes (2005)
• The Lifesaving Adventure of Sam Deal, Shipwreck Rescuer (2010)
• The Rescue Adventure of Stenny Green, Hindenburg Crash Eyewitness, illustrated by Ted Hammond (2010)
• Teacher's Pest (1997)
• The Underground Adventure of Arly Dunbar, Cave Explorer, illustrated by Ted Hammond and Richard Carbajal (2011)
• Shooting Star Summer, illustrated by Karen Milone (1992)
• Tools and Treasures of Ancient China(What Can We Learn from Early Civilizations?) (2014)
• What Was the Continental Congress?: And Other Questions about the Declaration of Independence (2011)
• Baby Animal Rescues! (2019)
• Jimmy Crack Corn, illustrated by Shelly O. Haas (1993)
• Investigating the Water Cycle (2015)
• What's Great about Indiana? (2015)
• Danger at Dolphin Point (1997)
• Beach Day!, illustrated by Erika Meza (2020)
• Bilingual Fairy Tales Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Ricitos de Oro y los tres osos (2019)
• Bilingual Fairy Tales Little Red Riding Hood: Caperucita Roja (2019)
• Endangered and Extinct Amphibians (2014)
• Why Did English Settlers Come to Virginia?: And Other Questions about the Jamestown Settlement (2010)
• How Aircraft Carriers Work (2019)
• Monster Trucks (2017)
• Jazz Dance (2017)
• Dance Team (2017)
• French Fries (Favorite Foods) (2018)
• The Bilingual Fairy Tales Three Billy Goats Gruff: Los Tres Chivitos (2019)
• Let's Explore the Sense of Smell (2020)
• We're Growing Together (1993)
• Let's Explore the Five Senses (2020)
• George Washington and the Story of the U.S. Constitution, illustrated by Jenni Reeves (2011)
• Let's Explore the Sense of Touch (2020)
• Chocolate Chip Cookies (Favorite Foods) (2018)
• Eerie Haunted Houses (2020)
• Keepsake Stories Little Red Riding Hood illustrated by Joshua Janes (2020)
• James Madison (Founding Fathers) (2018)
• Mysterious Loch Ness Monster (2020)
• Legendary Bigfoot (2020)
• How Fighter Jets Work (2019)
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis (Who's a Good Dog?) (2019)
• Thomas Jefferson (Founding Fathers) (2018)
• Stock Cars (Let's Ride) (2017)

Personal Life

Candice Ransom married Frank Wesley Ransom on February 14, 1979. They live in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Awards and Recognition

Many of Candice Ransom's books have won special awards. Her historical romance novel, Emily, was a finalist for a Romance Writers of America Golden Medallion award in 1986.

Other honors include:

• International Reading Association/Children's Choice for Fourteen and Holding (1987).
• Best Science Book for Children for Listening to Crickets (1994).
• The New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year for When the Whippoorwill Calls (1995).
• New York Public Library's 100 Best Children's Books for When the Whippoorwill Calls (1995).
• Notable Children's Trade Book in the Social Studies for One Christmas Dawn (1997) and Fire in the Sky (1998).
• Hodge-Podge Award for Best Children's Book for The Promise Quilt (2001).
• Independent Publishers Silver Medal Award for Finding Day's Bottom (2007).