M. T. Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids M. T. Anderson
Anderson in 2015
Born	(1968-11-04) November 4, 1968 (age 56) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Author

Matthew Tobin Anderson (born November 4, 1968) is an American author. He writes many kinds of books for young people. These include picture books and young adult novels. In 2006, he won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Pox Party. This book was the first of two "Octavian Nothing" stories. They are historical novels set in Boston during the American Revolution. Anderson is known for using humor and clever ideas in his stories. He believes that young adults can understand complex topics.

About M. T. Anderson

Anderson was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He grew up in Stow, Massachusetts. His father was an engineer, and his mother was an Episcopal priest. Anderson went to Harvard College and other universities. Before his first novel Thirsty was published in 1997, he worked at Candlewick Press. He also worked as a disc jockey and a music critic. Today, he lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He helps lead the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. This group supports reading, books, and libraries.

How M. T. Anderson Writes

Anderson likes to challenge his readers. He wants them to see the world in new ways. He once said, "We write because we can't figure things out the first time around." His novels for young adults, like Thirsty (1997) and Feed (2002), often make fun of society. He also writes picture books for younger children. These include Handel, Who Knew What He Liked. He also writes novels for pre-teen readers, such as The Game of Sunken Places.

Anderson uses smart humor and complex stories. He believes young people are more intelligent than some might think. He once said that the future of the nation depends on young people. It depends on them getting excited by new ideas.

When he wrote Feed, Anderson read many teen magazines. He wanted to understand how teenagers talked. He used this to make the language in Feed sound real. He did something similar for The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. For that book, he read novels from the 1700s. Anderson is a shy person. He prefers writing to speaking in public. He is not afraid to write about difficult or serious topics. He sees his characters as figures he controls. The only exception was Octavian Nothing, the main character in The Astonishing Life.

Anderson faces special challenges writing for young adults. He researches the time periods of his novels very carefully. This helps him show his characters accurately. For The Astonishing Life, he had to imagine living in the 1700s. He also had to learn the way people spoke back then. Anderson has said he often dislikes his books after finishing them. He feels distant from the work and wants to start new projects. This is why he writes in so many different styles. He hopes to keep writing for young people. He also wants to write for adult readers in the future.

Feed

Feed is a novel for young adults. It is about teenagers living in a future America. In this dystopian society, young people have a computer chip called "the feed" in their brains. This chip connects them to a huge network of ads, images, and messages. The government uses the feed to learn what everyone likes and dislikes. If someone tries to "beat" the feed, they might not get information or help later. The book talks about the power of big companies and consumerism (buying things).

Feed has been seen as a way for young adults to learn about citizenship. It also helps them think about making social changes. The novel also shows how dependent the characters are on the feed. Because of this, other parts of society fall apart.

Critics praised Feed for Anderson's clever ideas. The unique "futuristic" language is a strong point of the novel. Feed won the Los Angeles Times Book Award. It was also a finalist for the National Book Award. The audio book version of Feed also won an award.

Feed in Schools

Feed is often taught in schools as a dystopian novel. It makes our modern society seem extreme to make a point. The book helps teenagers understand the dangers of too much buying. It does this without scaring them. Even the schools in the novel are controlled by companies. This makes students think about how buying things connects to education. Feed talks about mindless buying and powerful industries. It also discusses how important language is. It shows the negative effects when the English language becomes too simple. The main goal of teaching Feed is to help students become smart consumers.

Thirsty

Thirsty is the story of Chris, a teenage boy. He is slowly becoming a vampire. At the same time, people in his town (Boston) are fighting these creatures. The story shows his transformation. It compares it to growing up and going through adolescence. The plot is exciting and a bit scary. But it also has a lot of humor. Thirsty was Anderson's first published novel. It was his first book for young adults. Many people thought it was a very impressive first novel. It quickly made Anderson an author to watch.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation takes readers back to when the United States was new. It features Octavian, the son of an African princess. He was raised in a very unusual way in the American colonies. Octavian becomes part of a college study. This study tries to measure the intelligence of African Americans. Octavian's mother dies from a smallpox inoculation given by the college. Octavian then starts to see the world for what it truly is.

The Pox Party, which is part one, is told from Octavian's point of view. The Kingdom on the Waves is part two. It is told through a series of letters. The novel is praised for its creativity and exciting story. Teenagers can understand and connect with the story. They do not need to know all the historical details. This novel is also highly respected because Anderson did so much research. He tried to make the language sound like it was from the 1700s.

Burger Wuss

Burger Wuss is another novel for young adults. The story is about a teenage narrator named Anthony. He gets a job at a local burger place. He wants to get revenge on another employee named Turner. Turner stole Anthony's girlfriend. This novel is praised for its dark humor and funny, sarcastic tone. These are common in many of Anderson's books. Critics liked Burger Wuss because it showed the darker parts of everyday life.

Children's Books

Anderson has also written picture books and books for pre-teens. His picture books include Handel, Who Knew What He Liked and Strange Mr. Satie. Anderson used his love for music in Handel, Who Knew What He Liked. This story is about the German-English composer, George Frideric Handel. The story is praised for being simple and easy to read. Strange Mr. Satie is about the less known Erik Satie. Satie influenced modern music. Choosing to write about Satie was seen as an unusual choice. But the book is highly regarded for its unique style. The text reflects Satie's own musical style.

For pre-teens, Anderson wrote a fun chapter book called The Game of Sunken Places. The story is about two young boys, Gregory and Brian. They find a game board in the woods. They are pulled into another world to play the game. The boys have to get past many fantasy creatures. These include trolls and monsters. They also have to follow the rules of the game. The book has exciting surprises. It is praised for its humor, creativity, and adventurous nature.

Awards and Honors

Elf Dog and Owl Head (2023)

• Honor book, 2024 Newbery Medal

Selected Works

Novels

• Thirsty (1997)
• Burger Wuss (1999)
• Feed (2002)
• Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017)
• The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (2018)
• Elf Dog and Owl Head (2023)
• Nicked (2024)

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation

• Volume I: The Pox Party (2006)
• Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008)

Pals in Peril series

• Whales on Stilts (2005)
• The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen (2006)
• Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware (2009)
• Agent Q, or, The Smell of Danger (2010)
• Zombie Mommy (2011)
• He Laughed with His Other Mouths, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (2014)

Norumbegan Quartet

• The Game of Sunken Places (2004)
• The Suburb Beyond the Stars (2010)
• The Empire of Gut and Bone (2011)
• The Chamber in the Sky (2012)

Nonfiction

• Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015)

Graphic Novels

• Yvain: The Knight of the Lion, with Andrea Offermann (2017)
• The Daughters of Ys, with Jo Rioux (2020)

Short Fiction

• "Barcarole for Paper and Bones", Shelf Life: Stories by the Book, edited by Gary Paulsen. (Simon & Schuster, 2003)
• "A Brief Guide to the Ghosts of Great Britain" (memoir), Open Your Eyes: Extraordinary Experiences in Faraway Places, edited by Jill Davis. (Viking, 2003). Reprinted in the September/October 2005 issue of the young adult literature magazine Cicada.
• "The Mud and Fever Dialogues", Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, edited by Megan McCafferty. (Three Rivers Press, 2004)
• "Watch and Wake", Gothic: Ten Original Dark Tales, edited by Deborah Noyes. (Candlewick, 2004)
• "My Maturity, In Flames", Guys Write for Guys Read, edited by Jon Scieszka. (Viking, 2005)
• "The Old, Dead Nuisance" (2011)
• "The Bug Out Bag: What You Need to Stay Alive" (2012)
• "Bug Out: What to Do When It's Time to Get Out of Dodge" (2012)

Picture Books

• Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2001), illustrated by Kevin Hawkes — biography of George Frideric Handel
• Strange Mr. Satie (2003)
• Me, All Alone, at the End of the World (2004)
• The Serpent Came to Gloucester (2005)