Gary D. Schmidt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary D. Schmidt
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Schmidt at the Mazza Museum in 2012
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| Born | April 14, 1957 Hicksville, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Academic, writer |
| Education | Gordon College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (PhD) |
| Genre | Realistic fiction |
| Notable works | Just Like That |
| Notable awards |
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| Spouse |
Anne E Stickney
(m. 1979; died 2013) |
Gary David Schmidt (born April 14, 1957) is an American author. He writes exciting books for children and young adults. He lives in Alto, Michigan, and teaches English at Calvin University.
Contents
Gary D. Schmidt's Life and Books
Early Life and School Days
Gary D. Schmidt was born in Hicksville, New York, in 1957. He shared that teachers in elementary school once thought he wasn't very smart. They put students into different groups based on how well they learned.
Schmidt was placed in a group for kids who were thought to be "Track Three," or not as bright. But a caring teacher helped him discover a love for reading. This important moment later inspired his book The Wednesday Wars.
In the mid-1970s, Schmidt went to Gordon College. He earned a degree in English in 1979. After that, he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He got his master's degree in English in 1981. Then, he earned his PhD in medieval literature in 1985. Since then, he has been a professor at Calvin University.
Awards and Special Honors
Gary D. Schmidt has won many awards for his books. In 2005, his novel Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy received a Newbery Honor. This award celebrates the best books for children in America. It also won a Printz Honor.
In 2008, he earned another Newbery Honor for his book The Wednesday Wars. His book Okay for Now, which came out in 2011, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It also won a Children's Choice Book Award in 2012.
The Labors of Hercules Beal received the Josette Frank Award for Fiction in 2024. Many of Schmidt's books have been named "Best Children's Books of the Year." These include Saint Ciaran, Straw into Gold, Mara's Stories, The Wonders of Donal O'Donnell, Trouble, What Came From the Stars, Martín de Porres, Orbiting Jupiter, Almost Time, and Celia Planted a Garden: The Story of Celia Thaxter and Her Island Garden.
Personal Life and Inspiration
In 1996, Gary D. Schmidt faced a serious illness. During his treatment, he met many other patients. Their stories gave him ideas for his future books. These experiences also encouraged him to write mostly for children and young adults.
Schmidt and his late wife, Anne, had six children. One of their children is now a teacher. Schmidt is a Christian and says his faith is important to him. He also enjoys teaching writing classes in prisons and youth detention centers. His experiences there inspired his novel Orbiting Jupiter.
The Wednesday Wars Book Series
In 2007, Schmidt released his popular book The Wednesday Wars. Four years later, in 2011, he wrote a companion novel called Okay For Now. The third book in the series, Just Like That, came out in 2021.
Even though each book can be read on its own, they share characters and themes. This makes reading them all even more special and meaningful.
