John Corey Whaley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Corey Whaley
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| Born | January 19, 1984 Springhill, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 2010–present |
| Notable works | Where Things Come Back
NOGGIN Highly Illogical Behavior |
| Notable awards | Michael L. Printz Award William C. Morris Award National Book Award Finalist |
John Corey Whaley is an American author who writes exciting books for young adults. He was born on January 19, 1984. His first book, Where Things Come Back, won a special award called the Printz Award in 2012. This award is given to the "best book written for teens" each year. His second book, Noggin, was also a finalist for a big award and was even named one of the top 100 young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
Contents
About John Corey Whaley
John Corey Whaley grew up in Springhill, Louisiana. Before he became a full-time writer, he taught English to middle and high school students for five years. He went to Louisiana Tech University for his college studies.
John Corey Whaley's Books
John Corey Whaley has written several popular books for young adults. Each one tells a unique and interesting story.
Where Things Come Back
This book is about a 17-year-old named Cullen Witter. He lives in a quiet town in Arkansas. One summer, a rare woodpecker, thought to be extinct, is spotted nearby. This brings a lot of attention to Cullen's town. Everyone gets excited about the "Lazarus woodpecker," hoping it will bring new life to their town.
But then, Cullen's younger brother, Gabriel, suddenly disappears. Cullen has to deal with this mystery while also growing up and finding love. The story also follows a young missionary in Africa who is losing his faith. These two seemingly separate stories slowly come together in a surprising way. The book is about hope and second chances, showing that even when things are tough, they can come back.
Noggin
Imagine waking up and everything has changed! That's what happens to Travis Coates. He was alive, then he wasn't, and now he is again. The fuzzy part in between involves his head being frozen and then reattached to a new body five years later.
Even though he's still 16, everything around him is different. His room, his parents, his best friend, and even his girlfriend have changed. Travis has to figure out how to live in this new world. He learns that sometimes, to move forward, you have to accept new scars. It's a story about living life a second time.
Highly Illogical Behavior
This book introduces Solomon Reed, a 16-year-old who hasn't left his house in over three years. He has agoraphobia, which means he's afraid of places and situations that might cause panic. He's perfectly fine staying inside.
Then, Lisa Praytor, a determined 17-year-old, decides to "fix" Sol. She wants to get into a good psychology program. Lisa enters Sol's world with her charming boyfriend, Clark. Soon, the three of them form an unexpected friendship. As they get to know each other, the walls they've built around themselves start to break down. This challenges their friendships in surprising ways.
Awards and Recognitions
John Corey Whaley's books have won many awards. These awards show how much his stories are loved by readers and critics.
- Where Things Come Back was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book in 2011.
- The Young Adult Library Services Association gave Where Things Come Back the annual Printz Award in 2012. This award is for the best book published for young adults in the U.S.
- Whaley also won the 2012 William C. Morris YA Award for new authors.
- He was chosen as a Top 5 Under 35 Author by the National Book Foundation in 2011.
- Noggin was a finalist for the 2014 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature.
- In 2016, Highly Illogical Behavior was a finalist for the LAMBDA Literary Award in Children's and Young Adult Fiction.
