Laurie Halse Anderson

{{Short description|American writer (born 1961)}} {{For|the musician|Laurie Anderson}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox writer  | name = Laurie Halse Anderson | image = Laurie Halse Anderson 2019 Texas Book Festival.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Anderson at the 2019 Texas Book Festival | birth_name = Laurie Beth Halse | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|10|23}} | birth_place = [[Potsdam, New York]], U.S. | occupation = Writer | genre = [[Young adult fiction]], [[historical fiction]], [[picture books|picture books for young readers]] | notableworks = {{plainlist| * ''[[Speak (Anderson novel)|Speak]]'' (1999) * ''Fever, 1793'' (2000) * ''[[Catalyst (novel)|Catalyst]]'' (2002) * ''[[Twisted (Anderson novel)|Twisted]]'' (2007) * ''[[Wintergirls]]'' (2009) * ''[[Shout (memoir)|Shout]]'' (2019) * ''Seeds of America'' trilogy }} * ''[[Chains (novel)|Chains]]'' (2008) * ''Forge'' (2010) * ''Ashes'' (2016) | spouse = 1) Greg Anderson (divorced)<br> 2) Scot Larrabee | children = 4 | awards = {{awards |[[Margaret A. Edwards Award]] |2009}} | website = {{URL|madwomanintheforest.com/}} | portaldisp = }}

'''Laurie Halse Anderson''' (born '''Laurie Beth Halse'''; October 23, 1961) is an American writer, known for children's and young adult novels. She received the [[Margaret A. Edwards Award]] from the [[American Library Association]] in 2010 for her contribution to young adult literature<ref name=edwards/> and in 2023 she received the [[Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-07 |title=A darkly radiant realism |url=https://alma.se/en/laureates/laurie-halse-anderson/}}</ref>

She was first recognized for her novel ''[[Speak (Anderson novel)|Speak]]'', published in 1999.

==Early life== Laurie Beth Halse was born October 23, 1961,<ref name=Bio/> to Rev. Frank A. Halse Jr. and Joyce Holcomb Halse in [[Potsdam, New York]]. She grew up there with her younger sister, Lisa. As a student, she showed an early interest in writing, specifically during the second grade. Anderson enjoyed reading—especially science fiction and fantasy—as a teenager, but never envisioned herself becoming a writer.<ref name="scholasticbio" />

Anderson attended [[Fayetteville-Manlius High School]], in [[Manlius, New York]], a suburb of [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Laurie Halse Anderson|url = http://www.fmschools.org/district.cfm?subpage=16068|website = www.fmschools.org|access-date = 2016-01-27}}</ref>

During Anderson's senior year, she moved out of her parents' house at the age of sixteen and lived as an [[Student exchange program|exchange student]] for thirteen months on a pig farm in [[Denmark]]. After her experience in Denmark, Anderson moved back home to work at a clothing store, earning the minimum wage. This motivated her to attend college.<ref name="scholasticbio">{{cite web|title=Laurie Halse Anderson|url=http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/laurie-halse-anderson|publisher=Scholastic|access-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>

==Family== Laurie Halse Anderson married Greg Anderson. In 1985, they had their first child, Stephanie Holcomb. Two years later, they had their second child, Meredith Lauren. The couple later divorced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Laurie Halse |title=Laurie Halse Anderson {{!}} Mad Woman in the Forest |url=https://madwomanintheforest.com/2017/09/06/starting-over-again/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=madwomanintheforest.com |date=September 6, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> Years later, Anderson moved back to [[Mexico, New York]]. She married Scot Larrabee. They combined their families — Anderson's two daughters and Larrabee's two children, Jessica and Christian.<ref name=tongues>{{cite book|last=Glenn|first=Wendy|title=Laurie Halse Anderson: Speaking in Tongues|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press, Inc.|isbn=9780810872813|pages=12–13}}</ref>

==Career== Anderson began her career as a freelance journalist and worked at ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' in the early years of her career.<ref>{{cite web| title=Laurie Halse Anderson | url=http://us.macmillan.com/author/lauriehalseanderson | work=Macmillan Books | access-date=2009-04-26 }}</ref> During this time, Anderson also began to write children's and young adult novels. Despite receiving rejection letters, Anderson released her first children's novel, ''Ndito Runs'',<ref>{{cite web |first=Patricia |last=Newman |title=Who Wrote That? Featuring Laurie Halse Anderson |url=http://www.patriciamnewman.com/anderson.html |publisher=patricianewman.com |date=March 2005 |access-date=2012-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801103435/http://www.patriciamnewman.com/anderson.html |archive-date=2012-08-01 }}</ref> in 1996, based on Kenyan Olympic marathon runners who ran to and from school each day.<ref name="scholasticbio"/> Later that year, she had her story ''Turkey Pox'' published. This story was inspired by her daughter, Meredith, who broke out with [[chickenpox]] on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]]. In 1998, Anderson published ''No Time For Mother's Day'', featuring the same characters.<ref name="scholasticbio"/>

During her early career, Anderson wrote several pieces of non-fiction. The first was a children's book featuring [[Saudi Arabia]]. She co-authored a book about parenting shy children with Dr. Ward Swallow.<ref name="scholasticbio" />

== Selected texts == === ''Speak'' (1999) === {{Main|Speak (Anderson novel)}} In 1999, [[Farrar, Straus and Giroux]] published Anderson's best-known novel to date, ''[[Speak (Anderson novel)|Speak]]''. It was a [[New York Times Bestseller|''New York Times'' Bestseller]]<ref name="NYT_2005/04/17" /> and was adapted into [[Speak (2004 film)|film]] in 2004, starring [[Kristen Stewart]] as [[Melinda Sordino]].<ref>{{cite web |title=imdb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378793/ |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> The novel became a finalist for the [[National Book Award]] and won Anderson honors for its portrayal of a thirteen-year-old girl who becomes mute after a sexual assault.<ref>See [[Speak (Anderson novel)|Speak (novel)#Awards]]</ref> The paperback version was published in 2001 by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing. ''Speak'' has been translated into 16 languages.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 2018, Anderson revealed that she was raped when she was thirteen years old, and the novel was based on her experience.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Laurie |title=Speak: The Graphic Novel |date=2018 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780374300289}}</ref> Anderson later wrote a memoir, ''[[Shout (memoir)|Shout]]'', about her life when she was a teenager, including details of her rape and the trauma she faced afterward.<ref>{{cite web |title=SHOUT |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/book/shout/ |access-date=5 April 2019 |website=Laurie Halse Anderson – Mad Woman in the Forest}}</ref>

=== ''Fever 1793'' (2000) === In 2000, Anderson's ''Fever 1793'', a [[historical fiction]] novel set in [[Philadelphia]] during the [[1793 Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic|yellow fever epidemic]], was published by Simon and Schuster. ''Fever 1793'' received two starred reviews, state and national awards, and was a ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' Bestseller.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fever I793 |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/historical-fever/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510032611/http://madwomanintheforest.com/historical-fever/ |archive-date=2012-05-10 |access-date=2012-05-17 |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com}}</ref>

=== ''Catalyst'' (2002) === {{Main|Catalyst (novel)}} In 2002, after the publication of ''Fever 1793'', ''[[Catalyst (novel)|Catalyst]]'' was published by Penguin under the [[Viking Press|Viking]] imprint.<ref>{{cite web |title=catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson |url=http://www.allreaders.com/topics/info_21933.asp}}</ref> The action takes place in the same high school as ''Speak'' and features [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] appearances by some of its characters. The book became a Barnes & Noble Best Teen Book of 2002 and an [[American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults]].<ref>{{cite web |title=catalyst |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-catalyst/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514030753/http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-catalyst/ |archive-date=2012-05-14 |access-date=2012-05-17 |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com}}</ref>

=== ''Thank You, Sarah!'' (2002) === Anderson's fiction picture book, ''Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving'' was published in 2002. The book received two starred reviews, and was named in the ALA Amelia Bloomer List and the Junior Library Guild Selection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngreaders-thank-you-sarah/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514030634/http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngreaders-thank-you-sarah/ |archive-date=2012-05-14 |access-date=2012-05-17 |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com}}</ref>

=== ''Prom'' (2005) === In 2005, Anderson published ''Prom'', which appeared on [[New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]] in early 2005.<ref name="NYT_2005/04/17"> {{Cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/books/bestseller/0417bestchildren.html | title= Children's Books | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = April 17, 2005 | access-date = 2010-01-02 }}</ref> The book received three starred reviews, was nominated for several state awards, and received national recognition from the American Library Association (ALA) and the International Reading Association.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-prom/ |title=Prom |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com |access-date=2012-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525012338/http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-prom/ |archive-date=2012-05-25 }}</ref>

=== ''Twisted'' (2007) === {{Main|Twisted (Anderson novel)}} Anderson's fourth YA novel, ''Twisted'', was released in the spring of 2007 by [[Viking Press|Viking]]. It won awards such as the [[ALA Best Book for Young Adults]] 2008, [[Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers|ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults]] 2008, [[International Reading Association]] Top Ten of 2007, and [[New York Public Library]] Best Books for the Teen Age, and became a ''New York Times'' Bestseller.<ref>{{cite news|title=NY times booklist|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html}}</ref>

=== ''Seeds of America'' trilogy (2008–2016) === In 2008, Anderson published another historical fiction novel, ''[[Chains (novel)|Chains]]'', about a teenage [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]-era slave. The novel was awarded the [[Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott O'Dell Award |url=http://www.scottodell.com/pages/ScottO%27DellAwardforHistoricalFiction.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413065807/http://www.scottodell.com/pages/ScottO%27DellAwardforHistoricalFiction.aspx |archive-date=2015-04-13 |access-date=2012-05-17 |publisher=Scottodell.com}}</ref>

The second novel in the ''Seeds of America'' trilogy, ''Forge'', was released in October 2010, by [[Simon and Schuster]]. The book received three starred reviews and became a [[Junior Library Guild]] Selection, a Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010, The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010, and one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) 2011 Best Books for Young Adults.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forge |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/historical-forge/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525014241/http://madwomanintheforest.com/historical-forge/ |archive-date=2012-05-25 |access-date=2012-05-17 |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com}}</ref>

=== ''Wintergirls'' (2009) === Anderson later released ''[[Wintergirls]]'' in March 2009. The novel tells the story of two girls—one of whom is dead at the beginning—who have died from [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimia]] and [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]]. ''Wintergirls'' received five-star reviews and nominations for state awards, was named an ALA [[Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers|Quick Pick for Young Adults]], was a [[Junior Library Guild]] Selection,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-wintergirls/ |title=Wintergirls |publisher=Madwomanintheforest.com |access-date=2012-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514030748/http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngadult-wintergirls/ |archive-date=2012-05-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and debuted on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list .<ref>{{Cite news|title=Children's Books |url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2009-05-10/picture-books/list.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2009-05-01 |access-date=2010-01-02 }}</ref> ''Wintergirls'' has been published in over 15 different countries.

==Awards and honors== The ALA [[Margaret A. Edwards Award]] recognizes one writer and a particular body of work "for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." Anderson won the annual award in 2009, citing three novels published from 1999 to 2002: ''Speak'', ''Fever 1793'', and ''Catalyst''. The ALA called the novels "gripping and exceptionally well-written" and the panel chair said that "Laurie Halse Anderson masterfully gives voice to teen characters undergoing transformations in their lives through their honesty and perseverance while finding the courage to be true to themselves."<ref name=edwards/> In 2017, she received the [[Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature]], a career award presented by the [[Tulsa City-County Library]].<ref>Rich Fisher,[http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/chat-laurie-halse-anderson-winner-2017-anne-v-zarrow-award "A Chat with Laurie Halse Anderson, Winner of the 2017 Anne V. Zarrow Award"], [[KWGS]], May 4, 2017.</ref>

Several of Anderson's early children's picture books were placed on recommended reading lists and some won awards. For the novel ''Speak'', Anderson won the [[Golden Kite Award]], the [[Edgar Awards|Edgar Allan Poe Award]], and the [[Los Angeles Times Book Prize]]. She was a runner-up for the [[Michael L. Printz Award]] and the [[National Book Award for Young People's Literature]]. ''Fever 1793'' was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults selection and a Junior Library Guild selection. ''Chains'' was a National Book Award finalist in 2008 and it won the [[Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction]] in 2009.<ref name=PAbook/>

In 2023 Anderson won the [[Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaub |first=Michael |date=2023-03-07 |title=Laurie Halse Anderson Wins Lindgren Memorial Award |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/laurie-halse-anderson-wins-lindgren-memorial-award/ |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |language=en}}</ref> one of the largest cash prizes in children's literature, with the motivation:<blockquote>In her tightly written novels for young adults, Laurie Halse Anderson gives voice to the search for meaning, identity, and truth, both in the present and the past. Her darkly radiant realism reveals the vital role of time and memory in young people's lives. Pain and anxiety, yearning and love, class and sex are investigated with stylistic precision and dispassionate wit. With tender intensity, Laurie Halse Anderson evokes moods and emotions and never shies from even the hardest things.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

==Publications==

===Young adult novels=== *''[[Speak (Anderson novel)|Speak]]'' (1999) {{ISBN|9780141310886}} *''[[Catalyst (novel)|Catalyst]]'' (2002) {{ISBN|9780756915322}} *''Prom'' (2005) {{ISBN|9781407138596}} *''[[Twisted (Anderson novel)|Twisted]]'' (2007) {{ISBN|9780142411841}} *''[[Wintergirls]]'' (2009) {{ISBN|9781407171067}} *''The Impossible Knife of Memory'' (2014) {{ISBN|9780670012091}} *''Speak: the graphic novel'', New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2018. {{ISBN|9780374300289}}

===Historical novels=== *''Fever 1793'' (2000) {{ISBN|9780739349052}} *''Seeds of America'' series, also referred to as "Chains: Seeds of America" series or simply "Chains" series. #''[[Chains (novel)|Chains]]'' (2008) {{ISBN|9781481486781}} #''Forge'' (2010) {{ISBN|9781416961444}} #''Ashes'' (2016) {{ISBN|9781416961475}}

*''Rebellion 1776'' (2025) {{ISBN|9781416968269}}

===Children's books=== *''Ndito Runs'' (1996) {{ISBN|9780805032659}} *''Turkey Pox'' (1996) *''No Time for Mother's Day'' (2001) *''The Big Cheese of Third Street'' (2002) *''Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving'' (2002) {{ISBN|9780689851438}} *''Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution'' (2008) *''The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School'' (2009) *[[Vet Volunteers]] series (Previously published by Pleasant Company under the title ''Wild at Heart'')<ref>[http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/10003.Laurie_Halse_Anderson Books by Laurie Halse Anderson] on GoodReads.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.</ref> #''Fight for Life: Maggie'' (2000) #''Homeless: Sunita'' (2000) #''Trickster: David'' (2000) {{ISBN|9780142410837}} #''Manatee Blues: Brenna'' (2000) #''Say Good-Bye: Zoe'' (2001) #''Storm Rescue: Sunita'' (2001) #''Teacher's Pet: Maggie'' (2001) #''Trapped: Brenna'' (2001) #''Fear of Falling: David'' (2001) #''Time to Fly'' (2002) #''Masks'' (2002) #''End of the Race'' (2003) {{ISBN|9780142412282}} #''New Beginnings'' (2012) #''Acting Out'' (2012) #''Helping Hands'' (2013) #''Treading Water'' (2014) #''Left Behind'' (2016)

===Graphic novels=== #''Speak: The Graphic Novel'', illustrated by Emily Caroll (2019) #''Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed'', illustrated by Leila Del Duca (2020)

=== Memoir ===

# ''[[Shout (memoir)|Shout]]: The True Story of a Survivor Who Refused to be Silenced'' (2019)

==See also== {{Portal bar |Children's literature |Literature}}

==References== {{Reflist |25em |refs= <ref name=Bio> [http://madwomanintheforest.com/laurie/ "About Me"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208225816/http://madwomanintheforest.com/laurie/ |date=2010-12-08 }}. Laurie Halse Anderson.</ref> <ref name=PAbook> {{cite web |last=Criswell |first=Mandy |title=Pennsylvania Author: Anderson, Laurie Halse |url=http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Anderson__Laurie_Halse.html |publisher=Pennsylvania Center for the Book (pabook.libraries.psu.edu) |date=Summer 2002 |access-date=2012-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515213705/http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Anderson__Laurie_Halse.html |archive-date=2013-05-15 }}</ref>

<ref name=edwards> [http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/margaretaedwards/maeprevious/edwards2009 "2009 Winner: Laurie Halse Anderson"]. [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] (YALSA). American Library Association (ALA). With acceptance speech by Anderson.<br>   [http://www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards-award "Edwards Award"]. YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 2013-10-11.</ref> }}

==External links== {{Commons category|Laurie Halse Anderson}} * {{Official website }} * {{IMDb name|id=1547881}} * [http://lccn.loc.gov/n94118754 Laurie Halse Anderson] at [[Library of Congress]] Authorities — with 57 catalog records {{Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winners}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Laurie Halse}} [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century American novelists]] [[Category:20th-century American women novelists]] [[Category:21st-century American novelists]] [[Category:21st-century American women novelists]] [[Category:American children's writers]] [[Category:American historical novelists]] [[Category:American writers of young adult novels]] [[Category:DC Comics people]] [[Category:Fayetteville-Manlius High School alumni]] [[Category:Georgetown University alumni]] [[Category:Margaret A. Edwards Award winners]] [[Category:Onondaga Community College alumni]] [[Category:People from Manlius, New York]] [[Category:American women children's writers]] [[Category:American women writers of young adult literature]] [[Category:American women historical novelists]] [[Category:Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period]] [[Category:Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winners]]