Laurie Halse Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laurie Halse Anderson
|
|
|---|---|
Anderson at the 2019 Texas Book Festival
|
|
| Born | Laurie Beth Halse October 23, 1961 Potsdam, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genre | Young adult fiction, historical fiction, picture books for young readers |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | Margaret A. Edwards Award 2009 |
| Spouse | 1) Greg Anderson (divorced) 2) Scot Larrabee |
| Children | 4 |
Laurie Halse Anderson (born Laurie Beth Halse on October 23, 1961) is an American writer. She is famous for her books for children and young adults. In 2010, she won the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association. This award recognized her important contributions to young adult literature. In 2023, she also received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a very big honor in children's literature.
She first became well-known for her novel Speak, which was published in 1999.
Contents
About Laurie Halse Anderson
Her Early Life
Laurie Beth Halse was born on October 23, 1961, in Potsdam, New York. Her parents were Rev. Frank A. Halse Jr. and Joyce Holcomb Halse. She grew up in Potsdam with her younger sister, Lisa.
Laurie showed an interest in writing from a young age, even in second grade. As a teenager, she loved reading science fiction and fantasy books. However, she didn't think she would become a writer back then.
She went to Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, New York. When she was sixteen, during her senior year, Laurie lived in Denmark for 13 months. She was an exchange student on a pig farm. After returning home, she worked at a clothing store. This job helped her decide to go to college.
Her Family Life
Laurie Halse Anderson married Greg Anderson. They had two daughters: Stephanie Holcomb, born in 1985, and Meredith Lauren, born two years later. Laurie and Greg later divorced.
Years later, Laurie moved to Mexico, New York. She married Scot Larrabee. They combined their families, which included Laurie's two daughters and Scot's two children, Jessica and Christian.
Her Writing Career
Laurie Halse Anderson started her career as a freelance journalist. She worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. During this time, she also began writing books for children and young adults.
Even though she received many rejection letters, her first children's novel, Ndito Runs, was published in 1996. This book was inspired by Kenyan Olympic marathon runners. Later that year, her story Turkey Pox was published. This story came from her daughter, Meredith, who got chickenpox on Thanksgiving. In 1998, Anderson published No Time For Mother's Day, featuring the same characters.
Laurie also wrote non-fiction books. One was a children's book about Saudi Arabia. She also co-wrote a book about parenting shy children.
Popular Books by Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak (1999)
In 1999, Anderson's most famous novel, Speak, was published. It became a New York Times Bestseller. In 2004, it was made into a movie starring Kristen Stewart.
The book was a finalist for the National Book Award. It also won awards for how it showed a thirteen-year-old girl who struggles to speak after a difficult event. Speak has been translated into 16 different languages. In 2018, Anderson shared that the novel was based on her own experiences as a teenager. She later wrote a memoir called Shout, which shared more about her teenage life and the challenges she faced.
Fever 1793 (2000)
In 2000, Anderson's historical fiction novel, Fever 1793, was released. It is set in Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Fever 1793 received great reviews and won several awards. It also became a Publishers Weekly Bestseller.
Catalyst (2002)
Catalyst was published in 2002. The story takes place in the same high school as Speak. Some characters from Speak even make small appearances. This book was named a Barnes & Noble Best Teen Book of 2002. It was also an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
Thank You, Sarah! (2002)
Anderson's picture book, Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving, came out in 2002. This book also received good reviews and was recognized by the ALA Amelia Bloomer List.
Prom (2005)
In 2005, Anderson published Prom. This book appeared on The New York Times'' Best Seller list in early 2005. It received many positive reviews and was nominated for several state awards. It also gained national recognition from the American Library Association (ALA).
Twisted (2007)
Anderson's young adult novel, Twisted, was released in 2007. It won awards like the ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2008 and became a New York Times Bestseller.
Seeds of America trilogy (2008–2016)
In 2008, Anderson published Chains, another historical fiction novel. It tells the story of a teenage slave during the American Revolutionary War. This novel won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.
The second book in the Seeds of America trilogy, Forge, was released in 2010. It received excellent reviews and was recognized as a top historical novel for teens.
Wintergirls (2009)
Anderson released Wintergirls in 2009. This novel tells the story of two girls who are dealing with very difficult personal struggles. It received five-star reviews and was named an ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults. It also debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. Wintergirls has been published in over 15 different countries.
Awards and Honors
Laurie Halse Anderson has received many awards for her writing. The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes writers who have made a "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." Anderson won this award in 2009 for her novels Speak, Fever 1793, and Catalyst. The ALA praised her books as "gripping and exceptionally well-written."
In 2017, she received the Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature. For her novel Speak, Anderson won the Golden Kite Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Fever 1793 was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Chains was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2008 and won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2009.
In 2023, Anderson won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. This is one of the biggest awards in children's literature. The award committee said that her novels help young people find meaning and truth. They noted that her books explore feelings like pain, anxiety, and love with great skill.
Images for kids
-
Anderson at the 2019 Texas Book Festival
See also
In Spanish: Laurie Halse Anderson para niños
