Susan Campbell Bartoletti facts for kids

Susan Campbell Bartoletti, born on November 18, 1958, is an American author. She writes amazing books for young people. Her famous works include Kids on Strike! and Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow.

Susan was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Later, her family moved to a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She studied at Marywood University, graduating in 1979. She also earned a degree from the University of Scranton in 1982.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti's Journey as a Writer

From Teacher to Full-Time Author

Susan Campbell Bartoletti started her career as an eighth-grade English teacher. She loved watching her students create their own stories. This inspired her to start writing seriously herself. She joined a writers group to improve her skills.

In 1989, Susan sold her very first short story. Just three years later, in 1992, she published her first picture book, Silver at Night. She had a strict routine, waking up early to write before teaching. By 1997, she decided to become a full-time writer.

Awards and Recognition

Since becoming a full-time author, Susan Campbell Bartoletti has won many awards. Her books are recognized for being well-researched and engaging. Some of her awards include:

• The NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Nonfiction
• The SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction
• The Jane Addams Children's Book Award
• The Newbery Honor in 2006 for Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
• The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal in 2002 for Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845 to 1850

Sharing Her Knowledge

Today, Susan also teaches writing classes. She works with students in MA and MFA programs. These include Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She also leads workshops through the Highlights Foundation. Susan lives with her family in Moscow, Pennsylvania.

Books by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Non-Fiction Books

Susan Campbell Bartoletti is known for her detailed non-fiction books. These books teach readers about important historical events.

• Growing Up in Coal Country (1996)
• Kids on Strike! (1999)
• Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845 to 1850 (2001)
• The Flag Maker (2004)
• Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow (2005)
• They Called Themselves The K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group (2010)

Fiction Books

She also writes captivating fiction stories. These books often bring history to life through characters' experiences.

• Silver at Night (1994)
• Dancing with Dziadziu (1997)
• No Man's Land: A Young Soldier's Story (1999)
• A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska (2000), part of the Dear America Series
• The Christmas Promise (2001)
• The Journal of Finn Reardon: A Newsie (2003), part of the My Name is America Series
• Nobody's Nosier Than a Cat (2003)
• Nobody's Diggier than a Dog (2005)
• The Boy Who Dared (2008)
• Naamah and the Ark at Night (2011)