Scott Westerfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott Westerfeld
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Westerfeld at Utopiales 2010
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| Born | May 5, 1963 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Education | Vassar College (AB) |
| Period | 1990s–present |
| Genre | Young adult, science fiction |
| Spouse |
Justine Larbalestier
(m. 2001) |
Scott Westerfeld is an American author. He writes exciting books for young adults. He is famous for his Uglies and Leviathan book series. He was born on May 5, 1963.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Scott Westerfeld was born in Dallas, Texas. When he was a kid, his family moved a lot. This was because of his father's job. His dad was a computer programmer for UNIVAC. He worked on cool projects like planes for Lockheed Martin and submarines. He even worked on NASA's Apollo missions!
Moving often meant Scott met many new people. They always asked him about his hometown. This made him good at telling stories. He loved sharing tales with his friends and teachers.
Education and Creative Pursuits
Scott Westerfeld went to Vassar College. He earned a degree in Philosophy in 1985. He also started writing music when he was a teenager. He still creates music for modern dance today. In 2001, Scott married Justine Larbalestier. She is also a writer from Australia. Scott divides his time between Sydney, Australia, and New York City.
Scott Westerfeld's Books
Scott Westerfeld is best known for his Uglies series. This popular series also has other books that continue the story. He has written other novels too, like Afterworlds.
From Adult to Young Adult Books
Scott started his writing career with books for adults. But then he switched to writing for young adults. His first young adult series was the Midnighters trilogy. He has written four young adult novels set in New York City. These include Peeps, The Last Days, So Yesterday, and Afterworlds. The Last Days is not a direct sequel to Peeps. However, it features different characters in the same exciting New York setting.
The Leviathan Series
Scott also wrote the Leviathan series. This is a special kind of story called an alternate history trilogy. It takes place during World War I. The series includes Leviathan, Behemoth, and Goliath. There is also an illustrated guide called The Manual of Aeronautics.
Graphic Novels and Film Adaptations
In 2017, Scott Westerfeld released a graphic novel. It is called The Spill Zone. Alex Puvilland created the amazing illustrations. The story is about a photographer. She goes back to her hometown in New York. The town was abandoned after a mysterious event. She takes pictures of the strange things happening there.
Some of Scott's books have been considered for movies. So Yesterday was once planned to be a film. The Uglies series was also considered for a movie series by Twentieth Century Fox.
Themes in His Stories
Scott Westerfeld's books often explore important ideas. These ideas make readers think.
Thinking for Yourself
A big theme in his work is thinking for yourself. It's about questioning rules and authority. In Uglies, the main character, Tally, doesn't like her society's rules. She starts by playing harmless pranks. Later, she leaves the city to find people who refuse to change themselves with cosmetic surgery. Similarly, So Yesterday looks at why some trends become popular. The book celebrates people who are creative and come up with new ideas on their own.
Growing Up and Finding Yourself
Another common theme is coming of age. Scott writes mostly for young adults. So, his main characters are usually teenagers. They learn about themselves and grow throughout the story. Tally in Uglies, Cal in Peeps, and Hunter in So Yesterday all struggle to find their place. They eventually learn to accept who they are.
Courage and Facing Challenges
Courage is also a big theme in Scott's books. His characters often face scary or dangerous problems. They have to be brave to overcome these challenges. Often, adults are not around during these tough times. The main character has to rely on their own bravery. For example, Cal in Peeps is trained to find vampires. But he goes alone to catch them. He has to complete this difficult task by himself.
Awards and Recognition
Scott Westerfeld's books have won many awards.
- Evolution's Darling was named a New York Times Notable Book in 2000. It also won a special award called the Philip K. Dick Award.
- So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award.
- The Secret Hour won an Aurealis Award.
- Peeps and Uglies were both named "Best Books for Young Adults" in 2006 by the American Library Association (ALA). Peeps was even in the Top Ten list. Uglies was also chosen for the ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults list in 2006.
- Leviathan won the 2010 Locus Award for Best Young Adult Fiction. It was also nominated for an ORCA (Oregon Reader's Choice Award). The Russian version of Leviathan won an award from Mir Fantastiki for Best Young Adult Fiction in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Scott Westerfeld para niños
