Books in About the Author series

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the best-selling book written by author Stephen Chbosky (published in 1999), which was followed by his screenplay (the popular movie for which was released in 2012), is to todays young adults what J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye was to teens of decades past. In poignant, knowing language and characterization, Chbosky captures the joys, anguish, confusion, and once-in-a-lifetime experience that is adolescence. Find out about the book, the movie, and the engaging author in this singular account about how one man wrote a story that has become an emotional touchstone for a generation.

Laurie Halse Anderson is a bestselling author of realistic and historical fiction for young adults and children. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, have been nominated for the National Book Award. Anderson spent her childhood in Syracuse, New York, and today lives in Mexico, New York. In her writing, she is passionate about story. Readers learn about Anderson's special writing cottage that her carpenter husband built for her, and how she reaches out to readers in her novels, including Speak, Catalyst, Prom, Twisted, Fever 1793, Chains, Wintergirls, and Forge. In this enchanting narrative, teens examine Anderson's writing process and literary life.

Notoriously elusive, many fans know very little about the life of popular author S.E. Hinton. Hinton's legendary coming-of-age stories depicted rival gangs, challenging friendships, and teenage drug use in ways that shocked in her time. Today, however, she is widely read and recognized as one of the most important writers in the young adult genre. Readers will discover Hinton's style, learn important tools for analyzing literature, and follow the continuity across her most popular novels. Special sections including a timeline, a list of accolades, and biographical details, making this the quintessential S.E. Hinton guide.

Best-selling author James Patterson is best known for his popular adult thrillers, mysteries, and romances. But the wildly famous writer was once a kid who hated to read. When he noticed his young son shared the same problem, Patterson devoted himself to writing books that would engage young adults. This volume follows Pattersons small-town childhood and early career as an advertising CEO to his life as a writer of popular fictiona career arc so successful that he eventually donated millions of dollars to libraries and students in need in the hopes that everyone will understand the importanceand the joysof reading.

Her fansand she has manylove Gayle Forman for her tear-jerking books about teenagers living through life-changing experiences. The free-spirited child of supportive, unconventional parents, Forman spent years traveling the world as a young woman. Though Forman is now a major YA novelist, she started out as a journalist. Her first big success was the novel If I Stay, which was subsequently made into a movie starring Chlo Grace Moretz. The novels Where She Went, Just One Day, Just One Year, and I Was Here followed. Forman is big believer in the intelligence of teens and the worth of YA literature. Sure to be a hit with Formans many enthusiastic fans.

Philip Pullman is an award-winning author perhaps best known for his epic trilogy, His Dark Materials, one of the few fantasy classics to feature a strong female central protagonist. Pullman is a creator of new worlds and the captain of adventures, spinning intricate and fantastical yarns. His life story is every bit as fascinating as the tales he has created from life, transforming them with storytelling magic into classics of fantasy literature. This is the life story of a master storyteller, and readers will receive a privileged glimpse into the mind and working methods of a creative genius. This supports Common Core standards for the reading of biographies.

Margaret Peterson Haddix has taken on a variety of hard-hitting issues and subjects over the course of her writing career. She writes about fantasy and reality, over the past, present, and future, making her one of the most versatile authors of her generation. This biography of Haddix's life follows her from babyhood to her successes as an author for teens. It contains reviews of some of her best work, giving readers the chance to check out some more books by this incredible author.

Maggie Stiefvater's life has been one of excitement, joy, and success as she has grown from an adventurous, imaginative child into a bestselling author. Pulling her influence from great authors such as Jane Yolen, Diana Wynne Jones, and Susan Cooper, Stiefvater has created fantasy worlds and delighted new fans every day. This biography of her life is as quirky and unique as its subject, and includes some reviews of her books and series, giving fans a chance to read more by their favorite author.