Katherine PatersonAuthor Study

Background

Born October 31, 1932 in Quing Jiang, Jiangsu, China.

Daughter of missionaries

1962 married John Barstow Paterson (clergyman)

Four children: Elizabeth Po Lin, John Barstow, Jr., David Lord, Mary Katherine.

Career1954-55 Teacher: Lovettsville Elementary School, Lovettsville, Va.

1957-61Board of World Mission, Nashville, Tenn. Missionary in Japan.

1957-61Pennington School for Boys

1963-65 Author of materials for church use and novels for young people

1964- Member of Author’s Guild, Children’s book Guild

Awards

Of Nightingales that WeepPhoenix Award Children's Literature Association 1994ALA Notable Children's Books 1974

Awards

The Master PuppeteerNational Book Award for Children's Literature 1977Edgar Allen Poe Special Award, Mystery Writers of America 1977Citation from The Puppeteers of America, Inc. 1978ALA Notable Children's Books 1976School Library Journal Best Book of Spring, 1976

Awards

Bridge to TerabithiaJanusz Korczak Medal (Poland) 1981Silver Pencil Award (Netherlands) 1981 Newbery Medal 1978 ALA Notable Children's Books 1977School Library Journal Best Book of 1977Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1978Le Grand Prix des Jeunes Lecturs (France), 19861986 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

Awards

The Great Gilly HopkinsNational Book Award 1979Newbery Honor Award 1979 Honor Book, Jane Addams Children's Book Awards 1979Christopher Award, 1979 American Library Association Notable Children's Books 1978School Library Journal Best book of 1978

Awards

Jacob Have I LovedNewbery Medal 1981 ALA Notable Children's Book 1976-1980School Library Journal Best Books of 1980Best of the 80's YA Novels (English Journal)Best of the 80's (ALA Booklist)

Awards

Rebels of the Heavenly KingdomParents' Choice AwardNCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesChild Study Assoc. Children's Books of the Year

Awards

Come Sing, Jimmy JoParents' Choice AwardSchool Library Journal Best BooksCCBC Choice Booklist Editors' Choice

Awards

The Tongue-Cut SparrowParent's Choice AwardNCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesIRA-CBC Children's ChoiceChild Study Association Children's Books of the YearCCBC ChoiceLibrary of Congress Books for Children

Awards

Park's QuestAmerican Bookseller Pick of the ListsNCSS_CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesIRA-CBC Children's ChoiceLearning ChoiceLibrary of Congress Books for ChildrenChild Study Association Children's Books of the YearThe Horn Book Fanfare Honor List

Awards

The Tale of the Mandarin DucksBoston Globe/Horn Book Picture Book Award 1991The New York Times Ten Best Illustrated BooksAmerican Bookseller Pick of the ListsBooklist Editors' Choice

Awards

LyddieHonor Book of the International Board of Books for Young People 1994ALA Best Book for Young AdultsALA Notable Children's BookAmerican Bookseller Pick of the ListsIBBY Honor Book

Awards

Flip-Flop GirlALA Notable Children's Book School Library Journal Best Book American Bookseller Spring Pick of the Lists for Middle Readers New York Public Library - 100 titles for Reading and Sharing

Awards

Jip, His StoryThe Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 1997Parents' Choice 1996 Story Book AwardParents' Choice 1999 Paperback Book Honor

Awards

Preacher's BoyParents' Choice 1999 Story Book AwardJefferson Cup of Virginia Library Association

Awards

The Same Stuff as StarsCo-winner of the Paterson Prize 2003Honor Book for The Red Mitten, Judy Lopez Memorial, and Jane Addams Awards 2003

2007 Vice-President of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance

Bread and Roses, TooNew York Public Library Best Books for Teen Age, 2007Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007 VOYA's 2006 Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School ReadersNotable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2007 Christopher Award, 2006Parents' Choice Gold Medal, Fall 2006, Historical Fiction

Awards

Quote #1

People are always asking me questions I don't have answers for. One is, "When did you first know that you wanted to become a writer?" The fact is that I never wanted to be a writer, at least not when I was a child, or even a young woman. Today I want very much to be a writer. But when I was ten, I wanted to be either a movie star or a missionary. When I was twenty, I wanted to get married and have lots of children.

Quote #2

I know I began reading when I was four or five, because I couldn't stand not being able to. I must have tried writing soon afterward. Fortunately, very few samples of my early writing survived the eighteen moves I made before I was eighteen years old. I say fortunately because the samples that did manage to survive are terrible, with the single exception of a rather nice letter I wrote to my father when I was seven. We were living in Shanghai, and my father was working in our old home territory, which at the time was across various battle lines. I missed him very much, and in telling him so, I managed a piece of writing I am not ashamed of to this day. A lot has happened to me since I wrote that letter.

Life Experiences that Influenced Her Stories

Growing up in China and becoming a refugee during the warTraveling the worldComing to America as a young child and not fitting in because how different she was from the other children.Her own childrenCollege

What I Found Interesting and would share with students

I heard Katherine Paterson speak at CSUF in Spring of 2009 thanks to Arnie Nixon Center.She spoke in an unassuming way. As a grandmother might share stories about her life.Her life story and family stories influenced her the writing of her stories.

What I found interesting and would share with students

When she was a tiny missionary child in China during the war with Japan, she and other missionary mothers and children were refugees in a posh hotel. There they were, in the lobby, grimy grungy women and children who had been riding a crowded trains for hours, now waited as fathers were out looking for housing for their families.

What I found interesting and would share with students

As the women tended to crying and hungry babies in the elegance of the hotel lobby in Hong Kong, the upper crust of society walked by them with scorn and contempt. Katherine Paterson related how her kind gentle mother was so angry at how these people could walk by tired and hungry refugees and not even smile at the little babies.

Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson related how she was writing Bridge to Terabithia because her son had a friend he really bonded with. A little girl who was so full of life and wonder. One day she was with her family on a beach dancing on a rock when lighting struck her, killing her instantly.

Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson had a hard time writing finishing the book. Writing about the death was hard to face because it was also writing about her own fears of death. Her editor helped her realize what she needed to face the fear to finish writing the book. The book has won many awards and touched the hearts of many.

Why I Chose Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson writes stories that connect with people. Her stories ring true. A certain authenticity makes her stories relatable to the reader.A few of her award winning stories have been banned. And when quality work becomes part of the banned book list, you know it has touched people in a deep way.

Her life story resonates with people as she breathes characters to life based on her experiences and the people she has met.The many awards that she has won for so much of her works validates the quality of her stories.If you ever get a chance to hear her talk, do.

Bibliography

“Katherine Patterson.” Authors & Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1989.203-214.

“Katherine Paterson.” Kid’s Read.com. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009 http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-paterson-katherine.asp

Paterson, Katherine. Official Web Site of Katherine Paterson. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.terabithia.com/index.html