Erin Bow
Birth nameErin Noteboom
Birth placeDes Moines, Iowa, USA
OccupationAuthor
LanguageEnglish
CitizenshipDual: American and Canadian[1]
EducationCreighton University
Alma materCreighton University
Period2001–present
GenreYoung adult, Speculative fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Historical fiction, Bildungsroman
NotableworksPlain Kate
SpouseJames Bow
Awards
Websiteerinbow.com

Erin Bow (née Noteboom; born April 1, 1972) is an American-born Canadian author. Among other awards and honors, she won the 2011 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for Plain Kate, the 2014 Monica Hughes Award for Sorrow's Knot, the 2016 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award for The Scorpion Rules, and a 2019 Governor General's Award for Stand on the Sky.

Early life and education

Erin Noteboom was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska.[2] She had one sibling, a younger sister named Wendy.[3] As a child, she was interested in science, writing, and exploring the woods.[2][4] In her eighth grade year, Noteboom moved from a suburb in Des Moines to a suburb in Omaha. She then attended Mercy High School and graduated in 1990. In high school, she founded the math club and was the captain of the debate team.[1]

She graduated from Creighton University, where she studied physics as a major and writing as a minor.[1] Noteboom chose physics because she believed that it was "easier to become a self-taught writer rather than a self-taught physicist."[4]

After her undergraduate, Noteboom attended a doctoral program in particle physics in Twin Cities, Minnesota.[1][5] As part of her research, she worked a summer student at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland.[6] During graduate school, Noteboom was diagnosed with a brain tumor.[7] Though doctors initially thought the tumor was fatal, it was ultimately found to be a removable glioma.[1] This diagnosis contributed to a change of priorities for Noteboom, leading her to drop out of graduate school and return full-time to poetry.[7]

Career

Bow wrote poetry and a memoir before focusing on writing young adult works. During this time, she worked various jobs but all related to her passion as a writer. She was the poetry editor for the New Quarterly and organised writing workshops in Kitchener, Ontario.[7][8] She also worked as a part-time writer at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics,[3] and participated in the Vancouver Writers Fest Writer-in-Residence program at Rossland Summit School.[9]

As part of St. Jerome University's Reading Series, Bow gave a talk on the intersection between science and literature.[10]

Writing influences and themes

Bow's novels typically depict young adults in a science fiction and fantasy setting.[11] She has written a defense of young adult fantasy, arguing that fantasy books help young adults to fall in love with reading.[12] Bow also likes to write about unsolvable questions.[13]

She takes inspiration from places, such as the prairies she grew up on, Saskatchewan,[14] and the Black Hills in South Dakota.[3] Bow also draws influence from Lakota[3] and Russian folklore.[11][15] Bow's characters rarely have a default race or sexual orientation.[5] Her themes generally cover the concepts of acting on faith,[16] doing what is right, and being human.[17][18][19]

Awards and honors

Four of Bow's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Plain Kate (2010),[20] The Scorpion Rules (2015),[21] Stand on the Sky (2019),[22] and Simon Sort of Says (2023).[23]

Bow's works have landed on multiple "best-of" lists. In 2010, Kirkus Reviews named Plain Kate one of the best books of the year.[24][better source needed] Young Adult Library Services Association included it on their 2011 list of Best Fiction for Young Adults.[25][26] In 2013, Kirkus Reviews and Quill & Quire named Sorrow's Know one of the best books of the year.[27][28] In 2015, Chapters and Kirkus Reviews named The Scorpion Rules one of the best books of the year.[29][30] In 2023, Kirkus Reviews named Simon Sort of Says one of the best middle grade books of the year.[31]

Awards for Bow's writing
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2001Ghost Maps: Poems for Carl HruskaCBC Canadian Literary Award[32]
2003Kitchener Waterloo Arts Award – Literary Award[33]
2004Acorn-Plantos Award for Peoples Poetry, Ontario Poetry Society[34][35]
Pat Lowther Memorial Award[8]
2010Plain KateCybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction[36]
2011Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award[37]
CBC Reader's Choice Award[24]
Sunburst Award for Young Adult Work[38]
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for English Language[39][40][41]
2014Sorrow's KnotCBC Reader's Choice Award[42]
Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy[43]
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award[44][45]
Sunburst Award for Young Adult Work[46]
2016The Scorpion RulesCanadian Library Association Book of the Year for Young Adults Award[19][47]
2017Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award[48]
2019Stand on the SkyGovernor General's Award for English-language children's literature[49]
2023Simon Sort of SaysNational Book Award for Young People's Literature[50]
Newbery Medal[51]
Schneider Family Book Award for Middle-Grade[52]

Personal life

In 1997, Noteboom moved to Canada.[7] There, she married fellow author and Canadian James Bow.[2]

In 2005, her younger sister, a painter named Wendy Ewell, drowned.[3][11]

Bow lives with her husband, two children, and two pets in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.[3] She writes in a modified backyard shed[6][13] and enjoys cooking.[2]

Works

Fiction

Standalone novels

  • Plain Kate. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. 2010. ISBN 978-0-545-16664-5.[a][11][53][54][55]
  • Sorrow's Knot. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2013. ISBN 978-0-545-16666-9.[56]
  • Stand on the Sky. Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2019. ISBN 978-1-328-63007-0.[57]
  • Simon Sort of Says. Los Angeles; New York: Disney-Hyperion. 2023. ISBN 978-1-368-08285-3.[58]

Prisoners of Peace series

Prisoners of Peace is a book series set in a future dystopia on the prairies of Saskatchewan.[14] Children of rulers are hostages to be killed if their country goes to war. The hostages are kept together in a school and must obey the governing AIs who manage it.

  • The Scorpion Rules. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2015. ISBN 978-1-4814-4271-8. OCLC 915751997[18][59][60]
  • The Swan Riders. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2016. ISBN 978-1-4814-4274-9. OCLC 939706936

Short fiction

Collaborating with her husband James Bow, Erin Bow published a short piece of fiction titled "A Stone of the Heart" in 2001. "A Stone of the Heart" was published in Missing Pieces (2001), a collection of Doctor Who stories.

Poetry

Under her maiden name Erin Noteboom, Bow published two volumes of poetry:

  • Ghost Maps: Poems for Carl Hruska. Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd. 2003. ISBN 978-0-919-89790-8.
  • Seal Up the Thunder. Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd. 2005. ISBN 978-1-894-98700-4.
  • A knife so sharp its edge cannot be seen. Brick Books. 2023. ISBN 978-1-771-31603-3.

Her poetry was also published in other collections, including The Malahat Review, PRISM International, Prairie Fire,[8] and online in Rattle.[61]

Memoir

  • The Mongoose Diaries. Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd. 2007. ISBN 978-1-894-98715-8.

Other

In 2013, Bow wrote A Defense of Fantasy: Classical Literature v. Modern YA (2013) for YA Interrobang.[12] She also published short essays for the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.[3][1]

Notes

  1. ^ Plain Kate was published as Wood Angel in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ^ Grace, Erin (October 16, 2015). "Grace: Forget the false choices, writer and Omaha Mercy alumna says, and do it all". Omaha World-Herald. Archived April 5, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  2. ^ "Bio". Erin Bow. Archived October 19, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  3. ^ Samson, Natalie (October 2010). "Erin Bow Coming through shadow". Quill & Quire. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Sing, Stewart Ah. "Author Interview with author, editor, and poet Erin Bow". Scribophile. Archived September 1, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. ^ Jones, Michael M. (August 25, 2015). "Q & A with Erin Bow". Publishers Weekly. Archived October 20, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Hicks, Jeff (April 24, 2016). "Kitchener sci-fi author Erin Bow finds her muse in backyard shed". The Record. Archived May 30, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  7. ^ "Erin Noteboom". Wolsak and Wynn. 28 May 2007. Archived September 10, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  8. ^ "About the Author Erin Noteboom". All Lit Up. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ Novak, Chelsea (October 27, 2016). "Award-winning YA author is writer-in-residence at Rossland Summit School". Rossland News. Archived October 29, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Erin Noteboom Bow: Physicist, Poet.". The Quarc Issue. 20 July 2011. Archived 22 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Posesorski, Sherie (January 14, 2011). "Curses in the Air". The New York Times. Archived December 21, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  12. ^ Bow, Erin (October 27, 2013). "A defense of fantasy: classical literature v. modern YA". YA Interrobang. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "Erin Bow may be writing in a garden shed right now". CBC Books. October 1, 2016. Archived October 13, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Author envisions dystopia with Saskatchewan as the setting". CBC News. September 22, 2016. Archived July 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  15. ^ Di Gregorio, Vanessa (September 19, 2010). "Plain Kate / Erin Bow Blog Tour: Interview and Plain Kate Giveaway!". Let The Words Flow. Archived July 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  16. ^ Fawcett, Christina (2015). "Speculative Fiction and Faith". Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures. 7 (2): 194–205. doi:10.1353/jeu.2015.0016. S2CID 163062853. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "Into the Future with Erin Bow". The Vancouver Writer's Fest. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  18. ^ Spisak, April (December 2015). "The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 69 (4): 185. doi:10.1353/bcc.2015.0913. S2CID 201768235. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "THE SCORPION RULES WINS CLA'S 2016 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNG ADULT AWARD". Canadian Library Association. April 15, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  20. ^ "Plain Kate". Junior Library Guild. Archived 2024-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  21. ^ "The Scorpion Rules". Junior Library Guild. Archived 2024-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  22. ^ "Stand on the Sky". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  23. ^ "Simon Sort of Says". Junior Library Guild. Archived 2024-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  24. ^ "Plain Kate". Erin Bow. Archived October 19, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  25. ^ "2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived March 27, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  26. ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2011". Booklist. 2011-02-15. Archived 2022-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  27. ^ "Best Teen Books of 2013". Kirkus Reviews. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  28. ^ "Quill & Quire's Books of the Year 2013". Canadian Children's Book Centre. December 5, 2013. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  29. ^ "Indigo's Best Books of 2015". Indigo. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  30. ^ "Best Teen Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2015". Kirkus Reviews. Archived September 10, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  31. ^ "Best of 2023". Kirkus Reviews. Archived 2024-06-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  32. ^ "Winners and Jurors 2001 – 2010.". CBC Radio-Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  33. ^ "Previous Arts Awards Recipients". artsawards waterloo region. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  34. ^ "The Acorn-Plantos Award for Peoples Poetry". The Ontario Poetry Society. Archived October 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  35. ^ "Acorn-Plantos Award". Geist. 12 March 2010. Archived 22 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  36. ^ "2010 Finalists: Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)". Cybils Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards. 31 December 2010. Archived August 16, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  37. ^ "Shortlists for the 2011 CLA Book Awards Announced". The Canadian Children's Book Centre. March 1, 2011. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  38. ^ "2011 Shortlists". The Sunburst Award Society. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  39. ^ "Plain Kate wins $25K children's book award". CBC News. October 5, 2011. Archived July 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  40. ^ Baker, Deirdre (October 4, 2011). "Plain Kate a beauty of a book". The Toronto Star. Archived October 25, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  41. ^ "CCBC Announces the Winners of the 2011 Canadian Children's Literature Awards". The Canadian Children's Book Centre. October 5, 2011. Archived July 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  42. ^ "Sorrow's Knot". Erin Bow. Archived October 19, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  43. ^ "Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  44. ^ "Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award". Ontario Arts Foundation. Archived 2016-11-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  45. ^ "Shortlist for 2014 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Awards Announced". Ontario Arts Council. April 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 28, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  46. ^ "2014 Shortlists". The Sunburst Award Society. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  47. ^ "Kenneth Oppel, Erin Bow and Sydney Smith win Canadian Library Association literary awards". CBC Books. April 15, 2016. Archived October 13, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  48. ^ "2017 MYRCA Nominees". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  49. ^ van Koeverden, Jane (October 29, 2019). "Here are the winners of the 2019 Governor General's Literary Awards". CBC Books. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  50. ^ Kantor, Emma (2023-09-13). "2023 NBA Longlist for Young People's Literature Announced". Publishers Weekly. Archived 2024-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  51. ^ Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones |, Iyana. "Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived 2024-03-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  52. ^ "Kitchener author Erin Bow wins major American children's literature award". CBC Books. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  53. ^ "Plain Kate". Publishers Weekly. August 16, 2010. Archived October 25, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  54. ^ Craig, Amanda (March 19, 2011). "Bracelet of Bones by Kevin Crossley-Holland, Wood Angel by Erin Bow". The Times. Archived October 25, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  55. ^ Hogan, Phil (April 2, 2011). "Fiction for older children – reviews". The Guardian. Archived October 25, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  56. ^ Quealy-Gainer, Kate (December 2013). "Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 67 (4): 203–204. doi:10.1353/bcc.2013.0892. S2CID 142439297. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  57. ^ "Stand on the Sky by Erin Bow". Publishers Weekly. 2019-01-24. Archived 2024-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  58. ^ "Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow". Publishers Weekly. 2023-01-26. Archived 2023-12-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  59. ^ Ozirny, Shannon (November 30, 2015). "Review: The Scorpion Rules is the craziest and best book you'll read all year". The Globe and Mail. Archived April 5, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  60. ^ Roy, Leila (August 24, 2015). "Keeping the Peace". Kirkus Reviews. Archived October 25, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  61. ^ ""Curie in Love" by Erin Noteboom". Rattle. Rattle #49, Fall 2015. October 27, 2015. Archived October 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 21, 2016.