# Susan Beth Pfeffer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer > Source revision: 1348527610 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Susan Beth Pfeffer** (February 17, 1948 – June 23, 2025) was an American author best known for [young adult](/source/Young_adult_novel) and science fiction. After writing for 35 years, she received wider notice for her series of [post-apocalyptic](/source/Apocalyptic_and_post-apocalyptic_fiction) novels, officially titled "The Life as We Knew It Series", but often called "The Last Survivors" or "Moon Crash" series, some of which appeared on [*The New York Times* Best Seller list](/source/The_New_York_Times_Best_Seller_list). ## Life and career Pfeffer was born in [Manhattan, New York City](/source/Manhattan,_New_York_City), on February 17, 1948, the daughter of [Leo Pfeffer](/source/Leo_Pfeffer), a lawyer and professor, and his wife, Freda Plotkin, a secretary.[1] She was the first cousin of fellow children's book author [Ellen Conford](/source/Ellen_Conford).[2][3] Pfeffer's family lived in [Queens](/source/Queens) before moving to the suburbs of [Nassau County, New York](/source/Nassau_County,_New_York).[2] She began writing stories as a child.[2] She published her first book, *Just Morgan*, in 1970, while she was a senior at [New York University](/source/New_York_University).[4] After college, she moved to [Middletown, New York](/source/Middletown,_Orange_County,_New_York), and continued to write full-time. She published more than 75 books.[5] Pfeffer's books cover the range of children's literature from picture books to young-adult novels. They include biographies for younger readers, and both historical, such as the *Portraits of Little Women* series, and contemporary fiction. She also wrote a book for adults about how to write for children. *About David* (1980) and *The Year Without Michael* (1987) are two of her books that received critical notice.[4] Pfeffer said that she enjoyed writing about family dynamics.[6] Pfeffer achieved wider notice with her 2006 book *[Life as We Knew It](/source/Life_as_We_Knew_It_(novel))*, a bestseller. This became the first of her *Moon Crash* series.[5] Pfeffer cited the film *[Meteor](/source/Meteor_(film))* as inspiration for the *Moon Crash* series.[citation needed] Pfeffer died from [endometrial cancer](/source/Endometrial_cancer) at her home in [Monroe, New York](/source/Monroe,_New_York), on June 23, 2025, at the age of 77.[2] ## Works - *Just Morgan* (1970) - *Better Than All Right* (1972) - *Rainbows & Fireworks* (1973) - *The Beauty Queen* (1974) - *Whatever Words You Want to Hear* (1974) - *Marly the Kid* (1975) - *Kid Power* (1977) - *Starring Peter and Leigh* (1979) - *Awful Evelina* (1979; picture book) - *About David* (1980) - *Just Between Us* (1980) - *What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open?* (1981) - *Starting with Melodie* (1982) - *A Matter of Principle* (1982) - *Courage, Dana* (1983) - *Truth or Dare* (1984) - *Kid Power Strikes Back* (1984) - *Fantasy Summer* (1984) - Make Me a Star series (1985–1986) - *Getting Even* (1986) - *The Friendship Pact* (1986) - *The Year Without Michael* (1987) - *Thea at Sixteen* (1988) - *Rewind to Yesterday* (1988) - *Evvie at Sixteen* (1988; Sebastian Sisters series) - *Turning Thirteen* (1988) - *Future Forward* (1989) - *Claire at Sixteen* (1989) - *Sybil at Sixteen* (1989) - *[Head of the Class](/source/Head_of_the_Class#Novel_tie-in)* (1989) - *Dear Dad, Love Laurie* (1989) - *April Upstairs* (1990) - *Most Precious Blood* (1990) - *Meg at Sixteen* (1990) - *Darcy Downstairs* (1990) - *Twin Surprises* (1991; picture book) - *Family of Strangers* (1992) - *Twin Troubles* (1992; picture book) - *Make Believe* (1993) - *The Ring of Truth* (1993) - *The Riddle Streak* (1993) - *Twice Taken* (1994) - *Sara Kate, Superkid* (1994) - *Nobody's Daughter* (1995) - *Sara Kate Saves the World* (1995) - *The Pizza Puzzle* (1996) - *The Trouble With Wishes* (1996) - *Meg's Story* (1997; Portraits of Little Women series) - *Jo's Story* (1997) - *Beth's Story* (1997) - *Amy's Story* (1997) - *Justice for Emily* (1997) - *Meg Makes a Friend* (1998) - *Jo Makes a Friend* (1998) - *Beth Makes a Friend* (1998) - *Amy Makes a Friend* (1998) - *Devil's Den* (1998) - *A Gift for Meg* (1999) - *A Gift for Beth* (1999) - *A Gift for Jo* (1999) - *A Gift for Amy* (1999) - *Revenge of the Aztecs* (2000) - *Blood wounds* (2011) ### Moon Crash Series/The Last Survivors/Life as We Knew It Series - *[Life as We Knew It](/source/Life_as_We_Knew_It_(novel))* (2006), Harcourt Children's Books ISBN 0-15-205826-5. - *[The Dead and the Gone](/source/The_Dead_and_the_Gone)* (2008), Harcourt Children's Books ISBN 978-0-15-206311-5. - *[This World We Live In](/source/This_World_We_Live_In)* (2010), Harcourt Children's Books ISBN 978-0-547-24804-2. - *[The Shade of the Moon](/source/The_Shade_of_the_Moon)* (2013), Harcourt Children's Books, ISBN 978-0-547-81337-0. ## Awards Pfeffer's books have won the [Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award](/source/Dorothy_Canfield_Fisher_Children's_Book_Award), the [Buxtehude Bull](/source/Buxtehude_Bull) prize and been named on [American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults](/source/American_Library_Association_Best_Books_for_Young_Adults) (2007) and Teens’ Top Ten Booklist in 2007. She was a finalist for the [Andre Norton Award](/source/Andre_Norton_Award), Quill Awards and Hal Clement Award. ## References 1. ["Pfeffer, Susan Beth"](https://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3431700027/pfeffer-susan-beth.html), Encyclopedia.com, accessed June 21, 2014 1. Risen, Clay (June 26, 2025). ["Susan Beth Pfeffer, 77, Dies; Wrote Complex Stories for Young Adults"](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/books/susan-beth-pfeffer-dead.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved June 26, 2025. 1. Tomlin, Natasha. ["Library Guides: Archives and Special Collections: Ellen Conford Personal Archives and Juvenile Book Collection"](https://liu.cwp.libguides.com/archives_and_special_collections/conford). *liu.cwp.libguides.com*. Retrieved 2023-10-04. 1. ["Susan Beth Pfeffer Biography"](http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/1409/susan-beth-pfeffer), Bookbrowse.com, July 2, 2011, accessed June 21, 2014 1. ["Interview with Author Susan Beth Pfeffer"](http://inkweaver-review.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-with-author-susan-beth.html), Inkweaver Review, April 27, 2009, accessed June 21, 2014 1. ["Author Interview: Susan Beth Pfeffer"](https://thebookwars.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/author-interview-susan-beth-pfeffer/), The Bookwars, November 4, 2013 ## Sources - Crossen, C. (October 24, 2008). "Adviser: Dear Booklover". Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition). p. W.2. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. - Goodnow, C. (December 18, 2008). "Profits of Doom: Teen Readers are eating up Post-Apocalyptic Tales". *Seattle Post - Intelligencer*. p. B.1. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from Business Dateline. - John, G. (2008). "Scary New World". *New York Times Book Review*. p. 30. Retrieved via EBSCOhost database, April 6, 2010. - "Must-Reads Blend Fright, Fun". (January 26, 2009). *The Washington Post*. p. B.2. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from Business Dateline. - Springen, K. (February 2010). "Apocalypse Now". *Publishers Weekly*. p. 21. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. - Woolingtons, R. (March 11, 2010). "Book Wars Come to High School. The popular reading competition opens to older students". *The Register - Guard*. p. L.1. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from Business Dateline. - Young Adult Library Services Association. ["Best Book for Young Adults 2007"](http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/07bbya.cfm). American Library Association. Retrieved from web, April 6, 2010. - Young Adult Library Services Association. (2007). ["Teens' Top Ten Booklist"](http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/07ttt.cfm). American Library Association. Retrieved from web, April 6, 2010. ## External links - [List of books](http://www.iblist.com/author8156.htm) (up to 2000) - [Podcast Interview](https://www.scriptsandscribes.com/susanbethpfeffer) with Susan Beth Pfeffer at Scripts & Scribes - [http://matsonclass.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/8/9/38896565/ashes_by_susan_beth_pfeffer.pdf](http://matsonclass.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/8/9/38896565/ashes_by_susan_beth_pfeffer.pdf) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.