Neal Shusterman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neal Shusterman
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Shusterman at the 2013 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | November 12, 1962 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Irvine |
| Period | 1988–present |
| Genre | Young adult fiction, dystopian fiction, science fiction |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2015) Margaret A. Edwards Award (2024) |
| Children | 4 |
Neal Shusterman, born on November 12, 1962, is an American author who writes exciting books for young adults. He won a big award, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, in 2015 for his book Challenger Deep. Another one of his popular novels, Scythe, was also recognized with an honor award in 2017.
In 2024, he received the Margaret Edwards Award. This award celebrates authors who have made a lasting impact on books for teens.
Contents
Neal Shusterman's Early Life
Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. He was born on November 12, 1962. From a young age, he loved to read all sorts of books.
When he was 16, Shusterman and his family moved to Mexico City. He finished high school there at the American School Foundation. He has said that this international experience changed his life. It gave him a new way to see the world and a lot more confidence.
After high school, he went to the University of California, Irvine. He studied both psychology and theater. He was also part of the university's swim team.
Shusterman's Writing Career
After college, Neal Shusterman started working in the entertainment industry. It wasn't long before he got his first book deal. He also began working on screenplays for movies and TV shows. Today, he lives in Florida.
Shusterman has won many awards for his books. His novel The Schwa Was Here won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award in 2005. It also received the California Young Reader Medal in 2008.
His book Challenger Deep won the National Book Award in 2015. This book is about a teenager's journey through mental illness.
Books Becoming Movies and TV Shows
Many of Shusterman's books are so popular that they are being made into movies or TV shows.
- His novel Unwind has won over 30 awards. It is being developed into a television series.
- In 2016, it was announced that his book Scythe is being turned into a feature film.
- Challenger Deep was bought by Disney+ in 2019. A writer has been chosen to create the script for it.
Writing for Television
Neal Shusterman has also written for several TV shows. He wrote for the Disney Channel Original Movie Pixel Perfect. He also wrote episodes for popular shows like Goosebumps, Animorphs, and R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series.
Awards and Honors
Neal Shusterman has received many awards for his amazing books. Here are some of them:
- 2005 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for The Schwa Was Here
- 2008 California Young Reader Medal for The Schwa Was Here
- 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Challenger Deep
- 2017 Michael L. Printz Award Honor for Scythe
- 2019 Young Hoosier Book Award (Middle Grade) for Scythe
- 2019 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Challenger Deep (German: Kompass ohne Norden), chosen by the youth jury
Screenwriting Work
Neal Shusterman has written scripts for both television and movies.
Television Shows
- Goosebumps (1996–1998)
- Animorphs (1998)
- The Haunting Hour: The Series (2011)
Movies
- Double Dragon (1994)
- Pixel Perfect (2004)
