Cynthia Voigt facts for kids

Cynthia Voigt (born February 25, 1942) is an American author. She is famous for writing books for young adults. Her stories often explore themes like adventure, mystery, and how characters deal with tough life situations.

Her first book in the Tillerman family series, Homecoming, was nominated for many international awards. It was even made into a movie in 1996. Her novel Dicey's Song won the important Newbery Medal in 1983.

In 1995, Cynthia Voigt received the Margaret Edwards Award. This award from the American Library Association recognizes writers who have made a big, lasting contribution to books for teens.

About Her Life

Cynthia Voigt was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 25, 1942. She went to Dana Hall School and Smith College in Massachusetts. After college, she worked in advertising in New York City.

In 1964, she got married and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, she started teaching. From 1966 to 1971, she taught second grade and some high school English at Key School in Annapolis, Maryland.

She divorced in 1972 and taught high school English in Glen Burnie, Maryland. She began writing again and remarried in 1974 to Walter Voigt. He taught classical Greek at the Key School, where she also returned to teach English.

After winning the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song, she decided to write full-time. She moved to Deer Isle, Maine. Cynthia Voigt has two children, Peter and Jessica.

Awards and Special Honors

Cynthia Voigt has won several important awards for her writing.

The Margaret Edwards Award is a special honor. It celebrates a writer and their books that have made a "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." Voigt won this award in 1995. The award recognized seven of her books published between 1981 and 1986. These books were Homecoming, Dicey's Song, A Solitary Blue, Building Blocks, The Runner, Jackaroo, and Izzy, Willy-Nilly.

Librarians who work with young adults said her books have an "authentic voice." They noted that her "intense character studies introduce young adults to genuine people." These characters often face challenges, but they show amazing strength to overcome them.

She has also won awards for specific books:

• Dicey's Song: Newbery Medal 1983
• The Callender Papers: Edgar Allan Poe Award (Young Adult category) 1984
• The Runner: Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (Non-fiction book) 1989
• On Fortune's Wheel: ALA Best Books for Young Adults
• A Solitary Blue: Newbery Honor Book 1984; Phoenix Award Honor Book 2003

Her Books

Cynthia Voigt has written many popular books, often grouped into series.

Tillerman Cycle

The Tillerman Cycle series tells the story of the Tillerman family. It begins with Homecoming, where four children are left alone by their mother. The oldest sibling, thirteen-year-old Dicey, leads them to find their grandmother.

While Dicey is a main character, some books focus on others. The Runner follows Dicey's uncle, Bullet. Come a Stranger and A Solitary Blue share parts of Dicey's Song from the viewpoints of Dicey's friends, Mina and Jeff. Sons from Afar is about Dicey's brothers, James and Sammy.

Voigt's novels explore the feelings and challenges of these characters. The Tillerman Cycle is a series that readers of all ages can enjoy.

• 1981 Homecoming
• 1982 Dicey's Song
• 1983 A Solitary Blue
• 1985 The Runner
• 1986 Come a Stranger
• 1987 Sons from Afar
• 1989 Seventeen Against the Dealer

Kingdom Series

Most of Voigt's books are set in modern or historical times. The "Kingdom" books are different. They take place in an invented land, similar to a medieval period. Even though the world is made up, it feels real. It doesn't have magic or fantasy creatures.

The first book, Jackaroo, tells about a myth. This myth is about a Robin Hood-like hero. This hero is actually different people who take on the same identity over the years.

The Kingdom books are connected by their history and geography. Characters in later books might be related to earlier ones. However, their adventures are usually new stories or distant memories.

These books have been re-released with new titles:

• 1985 Jackaroo (now The Tale of Gwyn)
• 1990 On Fortune's Wheel (now The Tale of Birle)
• 1993 The Wings of a Falcon (now The Tale of Oriel)
• 1999 Elske (now The Tale of Elske)

Rosie Series

• 1986 Stories about Rosie
• 2003 Good Morning Rosie

Bad Girls Series

This series follows a group of girls as they navigate friendships and challenges.

• 1996 Bad Girls
• 1997 Bad, Badder, Baddest
• 2000 It's Not Easy Being Bad
• 2001 Born to be Bad
• 2002 Bad Girls in Love (Voigt Novel)
• 2003 From Bad To Worse then back to good
• 2006 Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do?

Davis Farm Series

• 2005 Angus and Sadie
• 2011 Young Fredle
• 2018 Toaff’s Way

Mister Max Series

• 2013 Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things: Mister Max 1
• 2014 Mister Max: The Book of Secrets: Mister Max 2
• 2015 Mister Max: The Book of Kings: Mister Max 3

Other Books

• 1982 Tell Me If the Lovers Are Losers
• 1983 Callender Papers
• 1984 Building Blocks
• 1986 Izzy, Willy-Nilly
• 1988 Shore Writers' Sampler II
• 1988 Tree by Leaf
• 1991 Glass Mountain
• 1991 The Vandemark Mummy
• 1992 David and Jonathan
• 1992 Orfe
• 1994 When She Hollers
• 2016 Teddy & Co.
• 2017 By Any Name

Short Stories

• 2011 "The Stepsister" (included in the young adult book What You Wish For)