Laurie Halse Anderson is an American writer, known for children's and young adult novels. She received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

in 2010 for her contribution to young adult literature. She was first recognized for her novel '' Speak'', published in 1999.

Early life

Laurie Beth Halse was born October 23, 1961, to Rev. Frank A. Halse Jr. and Joyce Holcomb Halse in

Potsdam, New York Potsdam ( moh, Tsi tewate’nehtararénies) is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town population was 14,901 at the 2020 census. The ZIP Code is 13676. When SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University are in session, the popu ...

. She grew up there with her younger sister, Lisa. As a student, she showed an early interest in writing, specifically during the second grade. Anderson enjoyed reading—especially science fiction and fantasy—as a teenager, but never envisioned herself becoming a writer. Anderson attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, in Manlius, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. During Anderson's senior year, she moved out of her parents' house at the age of sixteen and lived as an exchange student for thirteen months on a pig farm in Denmark. After her experience in Denmark, Anderson moved back home to work at a clothing store, earning the minimum wage. This motivated her to attend college.

Family

Laurie Halse Anderson married Greg Anderson. In 1985, they had their first child, Stephanie Holcomb. Two years later, they had their second child, Meredith Lauren. The couple later divorced. Years later, Anderson moved back to Mexico, New York, and rekindled feelings with her childhood sweetheart, Scot Larrabee. Anderson eventually married—and is still married to—Larrabee. Together, they combined their families—Anderson's two daughters and Larrabee's two children, Jessica and Christian.

Career

Anderson began her career as a freelance journalist and worked at ''

The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pen ...

'' in the early years of her career. During this time, Anderson also began to write children's and young adult novels. Despite receiving rejection letters, Anderson released her first children's novel, ''Ndito Runs'', in 1996, based on Kenyan Olympic marathon runners who ran to and from school each day. Later that year, she had her story ''Turkey Pox'' published. This story was inspired by her daughter, Meredith, who broke out with chickenpox on Thanksgiving. In 1998, Anderson published ''No Time For Mother’s Day'', featuring the same characters. During her early career, Anderson wrote several pieces of non-fiction. The first was a children's book featuring Saudi Arabia. She also co-authored a book about parenting shy children with Dr. Ward Swallow.

Selected texts

''Speak'' (1999)

In 1999,

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG) is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger Williams Straus Jr. and John C. Farrar. FSG is known for publishing literary books, and its authors have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer ...

published Anderson's best-known novel to date, '' Speak''. It was a ''New York Times'' Bestseller and was adapted into

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

in 2004, starring

Kristen Stewart Kristen Jaymes Stewart (born April 9, 1990) is an American actress. The world's highest-paid actress in 2012, she has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a César Award, in addition to nominations for an Aca ...

as Melinda Sordino. The novel became a finalist for the National Book Award and won Anderson honors for its portrayal of a thirteen-year-old girl who becomes mute after a sexual assault. The paperback version was published in 2001 by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing. ''Speak'' has been translated into 16 languages. In 2018, Anderson revealed that she was raped when she was thirteen years old, and the novel was based on her experience. Anderson later wrote a memoir, '' Shout'', about her life when she was a teenager, including details of her rape and the trauma she faced afterward.

''Fever 1793'' (2000)

In 2000, Anderson's ''Fever 1793'', a historical fiction novel set in Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic, was published by Simon and Schuster. ''Fever 1793'' received two starred reviews, state and national awards, and was a ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' Bestseller.

''Catalyst'' (2002)

In 2002, after the publication of ''Fever 1793'', ''

Catalyst Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...

'' was published by Penguin under the

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

imprint. The action takes place in the same high school as ''Speak'' and features cameo appearances by some of its characters. The book became a Barnes & Noble Best Teen Book of 2002 and an

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults The American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommendation list of books presented yearly by the YALSA division (Young Adult Library Services Association Th ...

''Thank You, Sarah!'' (2002)

Anderson's fiction picture book, ''Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving'' was published in 2002. The book received two starred reviews, and was named in the ALA Amelia Bloomer List and the Junior Library Guild Selection.

''Prom'' (2005)

In 2005, Anderson published ''Prom'', which appeared on ''The'' ''New York Times'' Best Seller list in early 2005. The book received three starred reviews, was nominated for several state awards, and received national recognition from the American Library Association (ALA) and the International Reading Association.

''Twisted'' (2007)

Anderson's fourth YA novel, ''Twisted'', was released in the spring of 2007 by

. It won awards such as the

ALA Best Book for Young Adults The American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommendation list of books presented yearly by the YALSA division (Young Adult Library Services Association Th ...

2008, ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults 2008,

International Reading Association The International Literacy Association (ILA), formerly the International Reading Association (IRA), is an international global advocacy and member professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialo ...

Top Ten of 2007, and

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...

Best Books for the Teen Age, and became a ''New York Times'' Bestseller.

''Seeds of America'' trilogy (2008-2016)

In 2008, Anderson published another historical fiction novel, ''

Chains A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. ...

'', about a teenage Revolutionary War-era slave. The novel was awarded the

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an annual American children's book award that recognizes historical fiction. It was established in 1982 by Scott O'Dell, author of ''Island of the Blue Dolphins'' and 25 other children's books, in ho ...

. The second novel in the ''Seeds of America'' trilogy, ''Forge'', was released in October 2010, by

Simon and Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest pub ...

. The book received three starred reviews and became a

Junior Library Guild Junior Library Guild, formerly the Junior Literary Guild, is a commercial book club devoted to juvenile literature. It was created in 1929 as one of the enterprises of the Literary Guild, an adult book club created in 1927 by Samuel W. Craig and H ...

Selection, a Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010, The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010, and one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) 2011 Best Books for Young Adults.

''Wintergirls'' (2009)

Anderson later released ''

Wintergirls ''Wintergirls'' (2009) is a realistic fiction novel by the American author Laurie Halse Anderson. The novel was published in 2009 by Viking. The story focuses on a girl, Lia Overbrook, who suffers from anorexia and self harm. Lia struggles to co ...

'' in March 2009. The novel tells the story of two girls—one of whom is dead at the beginning—who have from

bulimia Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or fasting, and excessive concern with body shape and weight. The aim of this activity is to expel the body of calories eaten ...

and

anorexia Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gre ...

. ''Wintergirls'' received five-star reviews and nominations for state awards, was named an ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults, was a

Selection, and debuted on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list . ''Wintergirls'' has been published in over 15 different countries.

Awards and honors

The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes one writer and a particular body of work "for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." Anderson won the annual award in 2009, citing three novels published from 1999 to 2002: ''Speak'', ''Fever 1793'', and ''Catalyst''. The ALA called the novels "gripping and exceptionally well-written" and the panel chair said that "Laurie Halse Anderson masterfully gives voice to teen characters undergoing transformations in their lives through their honesty and perseverance while finding the courage to be true to themselves." In 2017, she received the

Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature The Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) is the major public library system in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Overview The library system serves those who live, work, go to school in, own land in, or pay property taxes on land in Tulsa County. There are 24 b ...

, a career award presented by the

Tulsa City-County Library The Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) is the major public library system in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Overview The library system serves those who live, work, go to school in, own land in, or pay property taxes on land in Tulsa County. There are 24 b ...

. Several of Anderson's early children's picture books were placed on recommended reading lists and some won awards. For the novel ''Speak'', Anderson won the Golden Kite award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She was a runner-up for the Michael L. Printz Award and the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. ''Fever 1793'' was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults selection and a Junior Library Guild selection. ''Chains'' was a National Book Award finalist in 2008 and it won the

in 2009.

Publications

Young adult novels

*'' Speak'' (1999) *''

'' (2002) *''Prom'' (2005) *'' Twisted'' (2007) *''

'' (2009) *''The Impossible Knife of Memory'' (2014) *''Speak: the graphic novel'', New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2018.

Historical novels

*''Fever 1793'' (2000) *''Seeds of America'' series, also referred to as "Chains: Seeds of America" series or simply "Chains" series. #''

'' (2008) #''Forge'' (2010) #''Ashes'' (2016)

Children's books

*''Ndito Runs'' (1996) *''Turkey Pox'' (1996) *''No Time for Mother's Day'' (2001) *''The Big Cheese of Third Street'' (2002) *''Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving'' (2002) *''Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution'' (2008) *''The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School'' (2009) * Vet Volunteers series (Previously published by Pleasant Company under the title ''Wild at Heart'')Books by Laurie Halse Anderson
on GoodReads.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05. #''Fight for Life: Maggie'' (2000) #''Homeless: Sunita'' (2000) #''Trickster: David'' (2000) #''Manatee Blues: Brenna'' (2000) #''Say Good-Bye: Zoe'' (2001) #''Storm Rescue: Sunita'' (2001) #''Teacher's Pet: Maggie'' (2001) #''Trapped: Brenna'' (2001) #''Fear of Falling: David'' (2001) #''Time to Fly'' (2002) #''Masks'' (2002) #''End of the Race'' (2003) #''New Beginnings'' (2012) #''Acting Out'' (2012) #''Helping Hands'' (2013) #''Treading Water'' (2014) #''Left Behind'' (2016)

Graphic novels

#''Speak: The Graphic Novel'', illustrated by Emily Caroll (2019) #''Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed'', illustrated by Leila Del Duca (2020)

Memoir

# '' Shout: The True Story of a Survivor Who Refused to be Silenced'' (2019)

References

External links

* *
Laurie Halse Anderson
at

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

Authorities — with 57 catalog records {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Laurie Halse 1961 births Living people 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American women writers American children's writers American historical novelists American women novelists American young adult novelists Fayetteville-Manlius High School alumni Georgetown University alumni Margaret A. Edwards Award winners Onondaga Community College alumni People from Manlius, New York American women children's writers Women writers of young adult literature Women historical novelists Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period