Rebecca Stead facts for kids

Rebecca Stead, born on January 16, 1968, is an American author. She writes exciting stories for kids and teenagers. In 2010, she won the Newbery Medal for her book When You Reach Me. This is a very old and important award for children's books in America. Later, in 2013, her book Liar & Spy won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. This award celebrates the best British children's book by a new winner.

About Rebecca Stead

Early Life and Education

Rebecca Stead grew up in New York City. She loved her time in elementary school. She often remembers reading books in cozy spots, like a windowsill or under a table.

She went to Vassar College and earned her bachelor's degree in 1989.

Family Life

Rebecca Stead is married to a lawyer named Sean O'Brien. They have two sons. She and her family live in Manhattan, New York, in an area called the Upper West Side.

Rebecca Stead's Writing Journey

From Law to Literature

Rebecca Stead enjoyed writing when she was a child. However, she later thought writing was not a practical job. So, she decided to become a lawyer instead. She worked as a public defender for many years.

After her two children were born, she returned to writing. She says one of her sons inspired her to write a children's novel. It happened in an unexpected way. For years, she had saved story ideas and short stories on her laptop. One day, her son accidentally pushed the laptop off a table. This destroyed what she thought was her "serious writing."

Starting Her First Novel

To cheer herself up, Rebecca Stead started writing something light-hearted. This became her first novel, First Light. It was published in 2007 by Wendy Lamb Books. This company is part of Random House.

Books by Rebecca Stead

Rebecca Stead has written several popular books for young readers.

• First Light (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007)
• When You Reach Me (Wendy Lamb, 2009)
• Liar & Spy (Wendy Lamb, 2012)
• Goodbye Stranger (Wendy Lamb, 2015)
• The List of Things That Will Not Change (Wendy Lamb, 2020)