{{Short description|Australian writer (born 1975)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox writer | image = Markus Zusak 2019 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | name = Markus Zusak | caption = Zusak in 2019 | birth_name = Markus Frank Zusak | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|6|23}} | birth_place = [[Sydney, Australia]] | death_date = | period = 1999–present day | awards = {{awd |Margaret A. Edwards Award |2014}} | education = [[Engadine High School]] | employer = | occupation = [[Writer]] | alma_mater = [[University of New South Wales]] | spouse = Mika Zusak | partner = | children = 3 children | relatives = | signature = | website = {{URL|markuszusak.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Markus Zusak''' (born 23 June 1975) is an Australian-German writer. He is best known for ''[[The Book Thief]]'' and ''[[The Messenger (Zusak novel)|The Messenger]]'', two novels that became international bestsellers. He won the [[Margaret Edwards Award]] in 2014.<ref name=edwards/>
==Early life== Zusak was born in [[Sydney|Sydney, Australia]]. His mother Elisabeth Zusak is originally from [[Germany]] and his father Helmut Zusak is [[Austrians|Austrian]]. They immigrated to [[Australia]] in the late 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/1286/the-angel-of-death-narrates-a-new-tale-for-young-r/ |title=The Angel of Death Narrates a New Tale for Young Readers – |date=21 April 2007 |publisher=Forward.com |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gradesaver.com/author/markus-zusak/ |title=Biography of Markus Zusak | List of Works, Study Guides & Essays |publisher=GradeSaver |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> Zusak is the youngest of four children and has two sisters and one brother. He attended [[Engadine High School]] and briefly returned there to teach [[English language|English]] while writing. He studied English and history at the [[University of New South Wales]], graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a [[Diploma of Education]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==Career== Zusak is the author of seven books. His first three books, ''[[The Underdog (novel)|The Underdog]]'', ''Fighting Ruben Wolfe'', and ''[[When Dogs Cry]]'', released between 1999 and 2001, were all published internationally.
''[[The Messenger (Zusak novel)|The Messenger]]'' (''I Am the Messenger'' in the United States), published in 2002, won the 2003 CBC Book of the Year Award (Older Readers), the [[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards|New South Wales Premier's Literary Award]]'s [[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards#Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature|Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature]],<ref>wiki</ref> and was a runner-up for the [[Michael L. Printz Award]]. ''[[The Book Thief]]'' was published in 2005 and has since been translated into more than 40 languages. ''The Book Thief'' was [[film adaptation|adapted]] into a [[The Book Thief (film)|film of the same name]] in 2013. In 2014, Zusak delivered a talk called "The Failurist" at [[TED (conference)|TEDxSydney]] at the [[Sydney Opera House]]. It focused on his drafting process and journey to success through writing ''The Book Thief''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markus Zusak |title=The Failurist: Markus Zusak |url=https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-failurist-markus-zusak/ |website=TED Sydney |access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>
In March 2016 Zusak talked about his then unfinished novel ''[[Bridge of Clay]].'' He stated that the book was 90% finished but that, "I'm a completely different person than the person who wrote ''The Book Thief''. And this is also the scary thing—I'm a different person to the one who started ''Bridge of Clay'' eight, nine years ago ... I've got to get it done this year, or else I'll probably finally have to set it aside."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/03/the-book-thief-10-years-later-markus-zusak-reflect.html?p=2|title=The Book Thief 10 Years Later: Markus Zusak Reflects on His Iconic Novel 14 March 2016|website=Paste Magazine|date=13 March 2016 |access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref> It was finally released in October 2018.
A TV series based on ''The Messenger'' premiered on [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC]] in 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Wearring |first=Myles |date=27 May 2023 |title=Author Markus Zusak knocked back Hollywood to make The Messenger TV series in Australia |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-28/markus-zusak-knocked-back-hollywood-for-the-messenger-tv-series/102386438 |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> Zusak said his next book would be a "[[memoir]] type thing" and not fiction.<ref name=":0" /> In 2024, he put this into practice through publishing ''Three Wild Dogs (and the truth)''.
== Awards == In 2006, Zusak received ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''{{'s}} Young Australian Novelist of the Year Award. In 2014, he won the [[Margaret Edwards Award]] from the [[American Library Association]] (ALA), which annually recognises an author and "a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature".<ref name="edwards" />
''[[Bridge of Clay]]'' is a [[Junior Library Guild]] selection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridge of Clay |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/bridge-of-clay-9780375945595j |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en}}</ref>
In 2005, ''[[The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books]]'' and ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' named ''I Am the Messenger'' (''The Messenger'') one of the best children's books of the year.{{Cn|date=August 2024}} {| class="wikitable" |+Awards for Zusak's writing !Year !Title !Award !Category !Result !{{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}} |- ! rowspan="2" |2001 | rowspan="2" |''[[Fighting Ruben Wolfe]]'' |[[Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers]] |— |Honor |<ref name="autogenerated2000">{{cite web |title=Winners 2000–2006 CBCA |url=http://cbca.org.au/2009.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105155208/http://cbca.org.au/2009.htm |archive-date=5 January 2010 |access-date=26 February 2010 |publisher=Children's Book Council of Australia}}</ref> |- |[[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards]] |[[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards#Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature|Ethel Turner Prize]] |Shortlist |{{Cn|date=July 2024}} |- !2002 |''[[When Dogs Cry]]'' |[[Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers]] |— |Honor |<ref name="autogenerated2000" /> |- ! rowspan="2" |2003 | rowspan="4" |''[[The Messenger (Zusak novel)|The Messenger]]'' |[[Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers]] |— |Winner |{{Cn|date=July 2024}} |- |[[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards]] |[[New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards#Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature|Ethel Turner Prize]] |Winner |{{Cn|date=July 2024}} |- !2006 |[[Michael L. Printz Award]] |— |Honor |<ref name="printz" /> |- !2007 |[[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]] |Jugendjury |Winner |<ref name="DJ2007">{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2007 |url=http://jugendliteratur.org/archiv/2007/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726211818/http://www.jugendliteratur.org/archiv/2007/ |archive-date=2011-07-26 |access-date=2009-06-10 |website=jugendliteratur}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="3" |2006 | rowspan="6" |''[[The Book Thief]]'' |[[Cybils Award]] |Young Adult Fiction |Finalist |<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=2006 Cybils Finalists |url=https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2006-cybils-finalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321201410/https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2006-cybils-finalists |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |[[Kathleen Mitchell Award]] |— |Winner |<ref name="Kma">{{cite web |title=Kathleen Mitchell Award 2006 (literature) |url=http://www.trust.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=74 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519080723/http://www.trust.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=74 |archive-date=19 May 2007 |access-date=14 July 2007 |publisher=Cauz Group Pty Limited (cauzgroup.com.au)}}</ref> |- |[[National Jewish Book Award]] |Children's and Young Adult Literature |Winner |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Winners |url=https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/awards/national-jewish-book-awards/past-winners |access-date=18 January 2020 |website=Jewish Book Council |language=en}}</ref> |- !2007 |[[Michael L. Printz Award]] |— |Honor |<ref name="printz" /> |- !2008 |[[IBBY Australia|Ena Noël Award for Encouragement]] |— |Winner |<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Welcome to IBBY Australia |url=http://www.alia.org.au/~ibby/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722060832/http://www.alia.org.au/~ibby/ |archive-date=2008-07-22 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)}}</ref> |- !2009 |[[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]] |Jugendjury |Winner |<ref name="DJ2009">{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2009 |url=http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/2009/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408074903/http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/2009/ |archive-date=2010-04-08 |access-date=2010-04-25 |website=Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis}}</ref> |- !2014 |''[[Fighting Ruben Wolfe]]''<br>''[[When Dogs Cry]]''<br>''[[The Messenger (Zusak novel)|The Messenger]]''<br>''[[The Book Thief]]'' |[[Margaret Edwards Award]] |— |Selected | |}
== Publications ==
=== Standalone books ===
* {{Cite book |title=[[The Messenger (Zusak novel)|The Messenger]] ''(''I Am the Messenger'')'' |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2002 |publisher=Pan MacMillan |isbn=9780330363884}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-17 |title=I AM THE MESSENGER by Markus Zusak |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375830990 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> * {{Cite book |title=[[The Book Thief]] |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2006 |publisher=Picador |isbn=9780330364263}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-01-30 |title=The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375831003 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> * {{Cite book |title=[[Bridge of Clay]] |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2018 |publisher=Picador |isbn=9780857525956}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-06 |title=Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375845598 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>
=== ''The Underdog'' trilogy === * {{Cite book |title=[[The Underdog (novel)|The Underdog]] |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=1999 |publisher=Omnibus Books |isbn=9781862914131}} * {{Cite book |title=[[Fighting Ruben Wolfe]] |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2000 |publisher=Omnibus Books |isbn=9780439241885}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-26 |title=FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE by Markus Zusak |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780439241885 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> * {{Cite book |title=[[When Dogs Cry]] ''(''Getting the Girl'')'' |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2001 |publisher=Arthur A. Levine Books |isbn=9780439389495}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-04-01 |title=Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780439389495 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>
=== Non-fiction === * {{Cite book |title=Three Wild Dogs and the Truth |first=Markus |last=Zusak |author-mask=2 |year=2025 |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=9781761561825}}
== References == {{Reflist |30em |refs= <ref name=edwards> [https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2014-margaret-edwards-award "Edwards Award 2014"]. [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] ('''YALSA'''). [[American Library Association]] ('''ALA'''). <br> [https://www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards-award "Edwards Award"]. YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 2015-02-08.</ref> <ref name=printz> [https://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books"]. YALSA. ALA.<br> [https://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz "The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature"]. YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 2014-02-12.</ref> }}
{{Markus Zusak}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zusak, Markus}} [[Category:Markus Zusak| ]] [[Category:1975 births]] [[Category:20th-century Australian novelists]] [[Category:21st-century Australian novelists]] [[Category:Australian children's writers]] [[Category:Australian male novelists]] [[Category:Margaret A. Edwards Award winners]] [[Category:Writers from Sydney]] [[Category:Australian people of Austrian descent]] [[Category:Australian people of German descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century Australian male writers]] [[Category:21st-century Australian male writers]] [[Category:University of New South Wales alumni]]