Kathryn Reiss facts for kids

Kathryn Reiss (born December 4, 1957) is an American author. She writes exciting books for kids and young adults. Many of her books have won awards.

About Her Early Life and School

Kathryn Reiss was born in Massachusetts on December 4, 1957. She grew up in Ohio. She went to Duke University and earned degrees in English and German. Later, she studied creative writing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Her Writing Career

After college, Kathryn Reiss lived in Bonn, Germany. She was a Fulbright Scholar there. During this time, she started writing her very first novel.

Books for Young Readers

Kathryn Reiss writes many suspense novels for middle school and young adult readers. Her stories often include cool elements like time travel and the supernatural.

She has written several mystery books for the popular American Girl series. She also wrote Blackthorn Winter (2006). Another mystery novel is Murder at Heatherstone Hall (2015). Both of these exciting stories are set in England.

Awards and Recognition

Many of Kathryn Reiss's books have received special honors:

• Her book Time Windows was chosen by the American Library Association. It was named a Best Books for Young Adults.
• Time Windows also won the "Popular Paperback for Young Adults" award from YALSA. It received the "Blackeyed Susan Young Reader Medal" in Maryland.
• Dreadful Sorry was another YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults. It was also a featured choice for the Junior Library Guild. The School Library Journal gave it a top review.
• Pale Phoenix and Paperquake were nominated for the famous Edgar Allan Poe Award. This award is for the best juvenile mystery fiction.
• Paperquake was also named one of YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults.
• Paint by Magic is a time travel mystery. It was listed on VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers. It is also an International School Librarians Association Honor Book.

Speaking and Teaching

Kathryn Reiss has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council. She also received a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for writers. She has been a featured speaker at many events. These include groups like Sisters in Crime and the Mystery Writers of America. She also speaks at events for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Her Life Today

Kathryn Reiss lives in Northern California. She lives there with her husband and children. She also teaches Creative Writing at Mills College.