Lois Lowry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lois Lowry
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Lowry at the 2016 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | Lois Ann Hammersberg March 20, 1937 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 1977–present |
| Genre | Children's literature, fantasy |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Newbery Medal 1990, 1994 Margaret Edwards Award 2007 |
| Spouse |
Donald Grey Lowry
(m. 1956; div. 1977) |
| Children | 4 |
Lois Ann Lowry (born March 20, 1937) is an American writer famous for her books for children and young adults. Some of her best-known works include The Giver Quartet, Number the Stars, and the Anastasia series.
Lowry is known for writing about serious topics and creating stories set in dystopian societies. A dystopia is an imaginary world where life is very difficult and unfair. For her work, she has won two Newbery Medals, one of the highest awards in children's literature. She won for Number the Stars in 1990 and for The Giver in 1994.
Because her books deal with difficult subjects, they have sometimes been challenged or banned in schools and libraries. The Giver is a required book in many schools, but it has been forbidden in others.
Contents
Life and Family
Lois Lowry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Robert, was a dentist in the U.S. Army. Because of his job, her family moved many times. They lived in New York, Pennsylvania, and even Tokyo, Japan, after World War II.
Lowry was the middle of three children. She had an older sister, Helen, and a younger brother, Jon. Sadly, her sister Helen died from cancer in 1962.
As a child, Lowry loved to read and dreamed of becoming a writer. She was a good student and even skipped the second grade. She attended high school in New York City and went to Brown University.
In 1956, she married Donald Grey Lowry, a U.S. Navy officer. They had four children: two daughters, Alix and Kristin, and two sons, Grey and Benjamin. While raising her children, she finished her college degree in English at the University of Southern Maine in 1972.
In 1995, Lowry faced a great tragedy when her son Grey, a U.S. Air Force pilot, died in a plane crash. She said this loss made her want to help find ways to end conflict in the world.
As of 2023, Lowry continues to write and speak at events. She splits her time between her homes in Maine and Florida.
Writing Career
Lowry started her career as a journalist and photographer. In the 1970s, an editor read one of her stories and encouraged her to write a children's book.
Her first book, A Summer to Die, was published in 1977 when she was 40 years old. The story was about a young girl whose sister has a serious illness. It was based on her own experience with her sister, Helen.
She continued to write about serious topics. Her book Autumn Street deals with issues like racism and grief during World War II. It is one of her most personal books, based on her own childhood.
Famous Books and Series
Not all of Lowry's books are serious. In 1979, she published Anastasia Krupnik, the first in a funny series about a smart and curious young girl.
In 1989, she published Number the Stars. This historical novel tells the story of a Danish family who helps their Jewish friends escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust. The book won the 1990 Newbery Medal.
Her most famous book is The Giver, published in 1993. It tells the story of a boy named Jonas who lives in a community that seems perfect. However, he soon learns that his society has a dark secret. The Giver also won a Newbery Medal and has sold over 12 million copies.
The Giver is the first book in a series of four books called The Giver Quartet. The other books are Gathering Blue (2000), Messenger (2004), and Son (2012). Together, the books explore ideas about memory, freedom, and what it means to be human.
Why Her Books Are Sometimes Banned
Throughout her career, Lowry has written about complex topics like racism, war, death, and questioning authority. This has earned her both praise and criticism.
The Giver is one of the most frequently challenged books in the United States. A "challenged" book is one that people have tried to remove from a school or library. Some people feel the topics in The Giver, like the community's control over life and death, are too mature for young readers.
However, many teachers and critics praise the book for making young people think about important issues. Lowry has said she feels sad when her books are put on banned lists. She believes it can stop children from exploring the world of imagination.
Impact and Awards
Many people believe that Lois Lowry helped create the modern young adult dystopian novel. Before The Giver, it was rare for children's books to deal with such serious themes.
Lowry has won many awards for her writing. Besides her two Newbery Medals, she has also received:
- The Margaret Edwards Award in 2007 for her important contributions to young adult literature.
- The National Jewish Book Award for Number the Stars.
- The Regina Medal for her lifetime contribution to children's literature.
- Honorary degrees from many universities, including Brown University.
List of Works
Children's book series
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Memoir
Novels
Other
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Adaptations
Some of Lois Lowry's books have been turned into movies.
- The Giver (2014), a movie starring Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.
- The Willoughbys (2020), an animated movie on Netflix.
See also
In Spanish: Lois Lowry para niños
