Jan Hudson facts for kids

Janis "Jan" Mary Hudson (born April 27, 1954 – died April 22, 1990) was a talented Canadian writer. She was known for writing exciting historical fiction books for young people.

Early Life and Education

Janis Mary Wiedrick was born in Calgary, Alberta. She grew up in Edmonton. During her high school years, Jan lived for a short time in Eugene, Oregon. There, an English and drama teacher encouraged her writing skills. She later earned a degree in English from the University of Calgary. She also studied law at the University of Alberta. While studying, she became very interested in the history of Alberta. This interest grew especially when she took a course about the treaties made with First Nations people in western Canada.

Becoming a Published Author

Jan Hudson finished her first book, Sweetgrass, in 1979. At first, publishers in the United States were not interested in her story. However, her hard work paid off when the book won second place in the Alberta Writing for Young People competition.

Sweetgrass Success

Sweetgrass was finally published in 1984 by Tree Frog Press. This was a smaller publishing company. The book quickly became very popular. It won the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. It also received the Canada Council Children's Literature Prize. Five years later, when the book was released in the United States, it won even more awards. The American Library Association named it a Best Book for Young Adults. It also received the Parents' Choice Award.

Dawn Rider and Other Works

In 1990, Jan Hudson published her second historical fiction book, Dawn Rider. This book also received an important award, the R. Ross Annett Award for Children's Literature.

Her Legacy

Jan Hudson passed away in Edmonton at the age of 35. She left behind two award-winning books that continue to be enjoyed by young readers. Her stories help young people learn about and appreciate Canadian history.