Nancy Garden facts for kids

Nancy Garden (born May 15, 1938 – died June 23, 2014) was an American writer. She wrote many books for children and young adults. She is most famous for her novel Annie on My Mind.

This book was special because it was one of the first teen novels to show young people falling in love in a positive way. Nancy Garden won the Margaret Edwards Award in 2003. This award honors writers who have made a big difference in young adult literature.

About Nancy Garden's Life

Nancy Garden was born in 1938 in Boston. She was an only child. She loved to read and make up stories. She often acted out these stories by herself.

She went to Columbia University. There, she earned two degrees in dramatic arts. After college, she worked in theater for several years. She also did freelance editing for different publishers.

Nancy Garden started her writing career at Scholastic Magazine. She later became an editor at Houghton Mifflin CO. She also visited schools and libraries. She taught children about writing.

Her Famous Book: Annie on My Mind

Nancy Garden is best known for her book Annie on My Mind. It was published in 1982. The book was praised by many critics. It was important because it showed two teen characters, Annie and Liza, who fall in love.

Nancy Garden said she wrote the book to help young people. She wanted them to know they were not alone. She also wanted to show that people from all backgrounds can be happy.

Challenges to Annie on My Mind

In 1993, Annie on My Mind faced some challenges. A school system in Kansas City tried to ban it. Some people even burned copies of the book.

However, students fought back. They filed a lawsuit based on the First Amendment. This amendment protects freedom of speech. In 1995, the book was put back on the shelves.

Annie on My Mind is on a list of books that were often challenged in the 1990s. Nancy Garden received an award in 2001 for defending intellectual freedom.

Awards and Recognition

In 2003, Nancy Garden won the Margaret A. Edwards Award. This award is given to writers who make a lasting contribution to young adult literature. The award committee specifically mentioned Annie on My Mind.

They said Nancy Garden was the first author to write a positive love story for young adults. They noted her easy-to-read style. They felt her book helped readers find courage to be themselves.

Nancy Garden lived in Massachusetts and Maine for many years. She lived with her partner, Sandy Scott. They also had a golden retriever named Loki and some cats.

Her Passing

Nancy Garden passed away on June 23, 2014. She was 76 years old.

Books by Nancy Garden

Nonfiction Books

Fiction Books