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Laurie Halse Anderson is widely regarded as one of the most significant and thought-provoking young adult authors in America. Within a span of over twenty years, she has been a force to be reckoned with tackling weighty subjects such as rape, anorexia, and mental health. Speak, her breakthrough book that was written in 1999 and has been translated into more than thirty languages, used in various high schools’ syllabuses and won numerous awards such as Margaret A. Edwards Award by American Library Association.
- The renown status of Laurie Halse Anderson’s first book Speak is illustrated by the fact that it was published in 1999 then became available to more than 30 languages.
- As a teenager Anderson had worked on a pig farm during her time as an exchange student from America to Denmark; this experience made her develop special love for bacon.
- Before becoming full time writer, Anderson worked as freelance journalist having two children who were responsible for her interest in writing stories specifically meant for adolescents.
- Seeds of America trilogy authored by Laurie Halse Anderson are historical fiction novels that are thoroughly researched; the author spends many years studying the places, time period or even events which characters go through.
- Many books by Anderson reveal challenging issues like sexual offences, eating disorders among other topics covered out of rage against the prejudice teenagers face.
- She has won numerous awards including Margaret A Edwards Award conferred upon her work in Young Adults genre by ALA – American Library Association.
- This versatility is reflected in other types of works she does such as picture books and middle grade titles altogether aside from novels alone.
- Depending on what type of novel she writes (for example contemporary young adult or historic fiction) – there are different approaches she uses which include extensive research prior to writing like in historic fictions and minimal research when it comes to contemporary young adult novels as she tries to concentrate on character development.
- Laurie Halse Anderson has quoted some of her inspirations in the field such as Tori Amos, Shonda Rhimes and Margaret Atwood who write about gender expression, PTSD, and social justice among other topics.
- She often speaks about writer’s block. To overcome it she advises that one should take walks while others run or bike ride as they find this quite helpful in rejuvenating their creative spirits.
- Ms. Anderson could never put down a chapter until it was finished because she loved editing – for instance, on the day Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award called her at home to say congratulations, Ms Anderson was reviewing Chapter 14 of her upcoming book.
- She is also remembered for her work in the comics’ world where he wrote DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman” series.
- Critics have also cited that all of Laurie Halse Anderson’s works are always true-to-life simply with most intimate emotional touch ever achieved by an author who projects his own thoughts into main heroes.
- For many years now, though people have been criticizing some of her books due to their heavy subject matter but Anderson still insists that young adults must be written for rather than adults since that is how we prepare them for the real world once they come!
- She owes her interest in recounting stories to Laurie Halse Anderson’s earliest recollections, during which she would be entertained by her father’s family anecdotes and get captivated with the historical teachings through narrative.