Christine Heppermann is an American author who specializes in poetry and books for children and young adults. She has also written many critical articles and book reviews for leading publications. As an author, she has been largely collected by libraries.
Early life and education
Heppermann grew up in
Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Catholic school, graduating from an all-girls high school before attending college at
Trinity University in
San Antonio,
Texas. Her education also includes a master's degree in children's literature from
Simmons College
Institutions of learning called Simmons College or Simmons University include:
* Simmons University, a women's liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts
* Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky
* Har ...
in
Boston,
Massachusetts, and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from
Hamline University in
Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Career
While living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Heppermann was involved in the Twin Cities literary scene. She contributed articles to the ''
Hungry Mind Review
The ''Ruminator Review'', originally the ''Hungry Mind Review'', was a quarterly book review magazine founded by David Unowsky and published in St. Paul, Minnesota from 1986 to 2005. It included reviews of all genres, as well as literary intervi ...
'' and served on the editorial board of ''The Five Owls Review'' and ''The Riverbank Review''.
Heppermann was a columnist and reviewer for ''
The Horn Book Magazine'' from 1996 until 2013. She wrote on topics ranging from a survey of sex education books to a discussion of whether children's book reviewers were critical enough.
Heppermann's first book, ''City Chickens'', is the true story of Chicken Run Rescue, a shelter for abandoned and unwanted fowl located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Heppermann's second book, ''Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty'', is a collection of poetry for young adults. The book was well received, getting five starred reviews from children's literature review publications and appearing on many "best books of 2014" lists including
Publishers Weekly and ''
The Boston Globe''. ''Poisoned Apples'' was also runner-up for the
Goodreads Choice 2014 Best Poetry Award.
Heppermann's third book, ''Ask Me How I Got Here'', is a novel-in-verse for young adults.
The book's main character, Addie, is a high-school cross country runner who experiences an unplanned pregnancy. Many of the poems contain evocative religious imagery that highlight Addie's emotional and spiritual development. The book received starred reviews from several children's literature review publications.
Heppermann is also co-author, with Ron Koertge, of ''The Backyard Witch'' series for young readers.
Heppermann's poetry has been published in ''5AM, The Magazine of Contemporary Poetry''; ''Poems and Plays''; ''Nerve Cowboy''; and The ''Mas Tequila Review''.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heppermann, Christine
American women poets
American children's writers
Writers from Omaha, Nebraska
Simmons University alumni
Hamline University alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
21st-century American poets
21st-century American women writers