Todd Strasser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Todd Strasser
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Strasser in 2006
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| Born | May 5, 1950 New York City, US |
| Pen name | Morton Rhue; T. S. Rue |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Education | College |
| Alma mater | Beloit College |
| Period | 1979–present (as writer) |
| Genre | Children's and young adult fiction, novelizations, romans |
| Subject | Literature |
| Notable works | Fallout, The Wave, Price of Duty, Give A Boy A Gun |
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Todd Strasser (born May 5, 1950) is an American author. He writes many books for young people, including novels for teens and middle schoolers. He has written over 140 books and many short stories. Sometimes, he uses different names like Morton Rhue and T.S. Rue for his books.
Contents
About Todd Strasser
Strasser was born in New York City. He studied literature and creative writing at New York University. He also attended Beloit College. After college, he worked as a reporter for a newspaper. He also worked as a copywriter for an advertising company.
His first novel was Angel Dust Blues, published in 1978. Todd Strasser is a father of two children. He enjoys playing tennis and surfing.
Popular Books and Movies
In Germany, Todd Strasser is very popular under the name Morton Rhue. Some of his best-selling novels there include Die Welle, Dschihad Online, and Ich knall euch ab!. Other well-known books are Boot Camp and Asphalt Tribe.
In 2008, a movie called The Wave was released. It was based on his novel Die Welle. The movie was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. It became very successful in many European countries. In November 2019, Netflix released a series called We Are The Wave. This series was inspired by Strasser's novel.
Strasser's recent novels include Price of Duty and Summer of '69. Price of Duty explores why young people might join the military. It talks about promises of heroism and teamwork. This book received excellent reviews. It was named an Amazon Young Adult Book of the Month in July 2018. It was also a 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens.
Summer of '69 is a novel that shares parts of Strasser's own life. It is about the summer of 1969. This was when Woodstock happened, and the Vietnam War was going on. It was also when the first person walked on the Moon. The book explores the culture and music of the 1960s. It is written for older teens and adults.
Themes in His Books
Strasser often writes about important topics. These include nuclear war, Nazism, and bullying in schools. He also writes about homelessness and school safety.
His novel The Wave is very famous. He wrote it using the name Morton Rhue. This book is based on a true story. It tells about a teaching experiment called "The Third Wave." A teacher named Ron Jones did this experiment in a history class. It showed how easily people can follow a group, even if it leads to bad things. The novel has been translated into many languages. It is read in schools all over the world.
His 2014 novel, Fallout, is partly a memoir. It also imagines what would happen if a nuclear war started during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The New York Times called it "Exciting" and "Superb entertainment."
Strasser's books have sometimes caused discussions. For example, a novel he wrote was published in Germany as Dschihad Online. It was also published in France as Djihad Online.
Other Works
Strasser wrote the Time Zone High trilogy. These books are How I Changed My Life, How I Created My Perfect Prom Date, and How I Spent My Last Night on Earth. How I Created My Perfect Prom Date was made into a movie. The movie was called Drive Me Crazy.
Other novels for young adults include The Accident. This book became a TV movie called Over the Limit. He also wrote Friends Till the End and A Very Touchy Subject. The latter also became a TV movie. Another novel, Workin' For Peanuts, was adapted into a TV movie.
He has a series of mystery thrillers for older young adult readers. These include Wish You Were Dead, Blood on My Hands, and Kill You Last.
Strasser has also written several young adult series. Impact Zone is about surfing. Drift X is about drift car competitions. Here Comes Heavenly is about a magical nanny.
His books for middle schoolers include CON-fidence and The Diving Bell. He also wrote Abe Lincoln for Class President. His series for middle schoolers include the 17-book Help! I'm Trapped... collection. Other series are Don't Get Caught and Camp Run-A-Muck. He wrote books like Is That a Dead Dog in Your Locker? and Is That a Sick Cat in Your Backpack?.
He also has a series of E-books called Kids' Books. These include The Kids' Book of Gross Facts and Feats and The Kids' Book of Weird Science. Other titles are The Kids' Book of Stupendously Stupid Stunts and The Kids' Book of Funny Animal Jokes.
Strasser has also published articles and short stories. These have appeared in magazines like The New Yorker and Esquire. He has also written for The New York Times.
Awards and Honors
Fallout (2013)
- 2014 American Library Association Best Fiction for Young Adults
- 2014 American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- 2014 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Tradebook for Young People
- 2014 International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
- 2014 Bank Street Teacher's College Best Children's Books of the Year
No Place (2014)
- 2015 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Tradebook for Young People
If I Grow Up (2009)
- 2010 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Tradebook for Young People
Boot Camp (2007)
- 2008 American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- 2015 American Library Association Popular Paperback for Young Adults
Can't Get There From Here (2004)
- 2005 American Library Association Best Fiction for Young Adults
- 2005 American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- 2006 International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
- 2010 American Library Association Popular Paperback for Young Adults
Give A Boy A Gun (2001)
- 2002 International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
- 2006 American Library Association Popular Paperback for Young Adults
Wish You Were Dead (2009)
- 2011 American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- 2011 Tayshas (Texas Library Association): Summer Reading List
- 2012 New York Public Library: Books for the Teen Age.
- 2012 Illinois: Abraham Lincoln H.S. Book Award
- 2012 Voice of Youth Advocates Summer Reading List
See also
In Spanish: Todd Strasser para niños
