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 November 12, 1962) is an American author who writes exciting books for young adults. He is known for his stories that often mix science fiction with real-world issues.
In 2015, he won the important National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his novel Challenger Deep. His book Scythe also received an honor in 2017. In 2024, he was given the Margaret Edwards Award for his lasting impact on books for teens.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Neal Shusterman was born on November 12, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York City. He loved reading from a very young age. When he was 16, his family moved to Mexico City.
Finishing high school there gave him a new view of the world. He later went to the University of California, Irvine. There, he studied both psychology and theater. He was also part of the university's swim team.
Writing Career
After college, Neal Shusterman quickly started his writing career. He got his first book deal and a job writing for TV within a year. He now lives in Florida.
Shusterman has won many awards for his books. 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. Another popular book, Unwind, has won over 30 awards. It is even being made into a TV series.
Books Becoming Movies and TV Shows
Many of Neal Shusterman's books have been chosen to become movies or TV shows. In 2016, it was announced that his novel Scythe was being developed into a movie.
In 2019, Disney+ acquired Challenger Deep for a possible adaptation. A writer has already been chosen to create the script.
International Recognition
Neal Shusterman's books are popular around the world. He has been nominated several times for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, a German youth literature award. In 2019, he won the Youth Jury Prize for Challenger Deep.
In 2023, the German version of his book Roxy, which he wrote with his son Jarrod Shusterman, was also nominated.
Writing for Television
Besides novels, Shusterman has also written for television. He wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie Pixel Perfect. He also wrote episodes for popular TV 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 writing. 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)
Screenwriting Credits
Neal Shusterman has written 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)
