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=About Laurie Halse Anderson=

Biography of the Author
When Laurie Halse was in second grade, her teacher introduced her to haiku poetry and she quickly became intrigued with language (Scholastic, 2011). However, she recalls herself as being "an innocent child [who] wasn't terribly bright. I stuttered and needed a reading tutor" (Newman, 2005, para. 1). These early experiences and struggles helped shape her outlook on learning early in life. She realized that learning is a process and that books are not written in one sitting.

Prior to becoming a children's and young adult author, Laurie Halse Anderson worked as a reporter for the //Philadelphia Inquirer// and as an editor and writer for a magazine (Criswell, 2002). The educational and practical experiences she had with writing and reading built the foundation for her career as an author.

In 1996 Anderson published her first book, //Ndito Runs// (1996), which was inspired by an National Public Radio broadcast about Kenyan marathoners (Newman, 2005). //Ndito Runs// (1996) is the story of a young Kenyan girl who eagerly runs to school everyday and lets her imagination run wild. Similar to the protagonist of this story, Anderson herself is inspired by nature and everyday ordinary happenings. Beyond everyday events, Anderson is also curious about history's untold stories. Her works span from children's to young adult books, encompassing a wide range of issues and concerns of the past, present, and future. She continually writes in her blog, "Mad Woman in the Forest," revealing her personal interests and interactions such "birthdays, marathon running, and [views on] life" (Anderson, 2011, para. 4).

Awards & Honors
(Contemporary Authors Online, 2010; National Book Foundation, 2008; Wikipedia, 2011)
 * American Booksellers Association - Pick of the Lists designation, Ndito Runs (1996), Fever 1793 (2000)
 * National Book Award finalist, //Speak// (1999) and //Chains// (2008)
 * Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist, //Speak// (1999)
 * Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book finalist, //Speak// (1999//)//
 * New York Public Library's Best Books of 2000, //Fever 1793// (2000)
 * American Library Association - Best Books for Young Adults selection, //Speak// (1999), //Catalyst// (2003)//, Twisted// (2008)
 * New York Times bestseller, //Speak// (1999), //Prom// (2005),//Twisted// (2008), //Wintergirls// (2009)
 * Scott O’Dell Award for historical fiction, 2009, //Chains//
 * ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults, //Wintergirls// (2009)
 * Junior Library Guild selection, //Wintergirls// (2009), //Forge// (2010)
 * Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010, //Forge// (2010)
 * The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010, //Forge// (2010)
 * YALSA 2011 Best Books for Young Adults, //Forge// (2010)