Rodman Philbrick facts for kids

Rodman Philbrick, born on January 22, 1951, is an American author. He writes exciting books for both kids and adults. Some of his most famous books for young readers include Freak the Mighty, Max the Mighty, and The Last Book in the Universe. He also writes mystery and thriller novels for grown-ups.

About Rodman Philbrick

His Early Life

Rodman Philbrick was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Today, he lives in two different states: Maine and Florida. He went to Portsmouth High School and also studied at the University of New Hampshire for a while.

His Writing Career

Rodman Philbrick has written many books. He is well-known for his mystery and thriller novels for adults. These include books like Brothers & Sinners and Coffins. He also created a detective series called T. D. Stash, which is set in Key West, Florida. Sometimes, he uses different names for his books. For example, he wrote mysteries as William R. Dantz. He also wrote thrillers as Chris Jordan, featuring a character named Randall Shane who helps find missing children.

Books for Young Readers

Two of his most popular books for young people are Freak the Mighty and its follow-up, Max the Mighty. Freak the Mighty was even made into a movie called The Mighty.

He also wrote The Last Book in the Universe, which is a science fiction story about a future world. Another science fiction book he wrote is REM World.

Other books for young readers include The Young Man and the Sea. This book is special because he dedicated it to his nieces, Annie and Molly. He also wrote The Fire Pony, which is about two brothers on the run in the American West.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a book set during the American Civil War. It was recognized as a Newbery Honor Book in 2010, which is a big award for children's literature. This book was even turned into a play that started in Washington, D.C., in 2012.

Rodman Philbrick also worked with Lynn Harnett on scary books for young readers. They wrote three series together: The House on Cherry Street, The Werewolf Chronicles, and Visitors.

Recent Works

In December 2011, writing as Chris Jordan, Philbrick released Measure of Darkness. This story takes place in Boston. In February 2014, he published Zane and The Hurricane: A Story of Katrina, an adventure set in New Orleans. The Big Dark came out in January 2016. A mystery for young readers, Who Killed Darius Drake?, was published in 2017. Wildfire, an exciting survival story, was published in 2019. His book We Own the Sky, which tells the story of an immigrant flying circus in Maine in 1924, was published in September 2022.

Philbrick has used several pen names (different names for writing). These include W. R. Philbrick, William R. Dantz, and Chris Jordan.

His Personal Life

Rodman Philbrick was married to Lynn Harnett from 1980 until she passed away in 2012. Before he became a full-time writer, he worked as a longshoreman (someone who loads and unloads ships) and also built boats.

Awards and Recognition

Rodman Philbrick has won many awards for his books. Here are some of them:

• Maine Katahdin Award 2020
• South Carolina Junior Book Award 2021-2022 for 'Wildfire'
• William Allen White Award 2022 (Kansas) for 'Wildfire'
• New-York Historical Society Best Children's Book 2023 for 'We Own the Sky'
• Bronze Medal Florida Book Award 2022 for 'We Own the Sky'