Katherine Paterson is an American author of children's literature, best known for her historical fiction novels. She has won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. Her stories often center around young characters experiencing difficult but ultimately transformative life events.
- Katherine Paterson was born on October 31, 1932, in China, where her family was serving as Christian missionaries.
- She graduated from King College in Bristol, Tennessee in 1954 with a Bachelor's degree in English and later earned a Master's degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond, Virginia.
- Paterson began her writing career as a part-time journalist while raising her four children.
- Her first novel, 'The Sign of the Chrysanthemum,' was published in 1973.
- Paterson has authored over 40 books, most of which are for children or young adults.
- She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1998, often called the Nobel Prize for children's literature.
- Paterson continues to write and advocate for reading and literacy.
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One of Paterson's most famous works, 'Bridge to Terabithia,' is a novel about two children who create an imaginary world to escape their difficult lives.
A novel about a foster child named Gilly who learns about love and family through unexpected relationships.
A novel about a teenage girl named Angel who is sent to live with her estranged grandmother in rural Virginia.
'Bridge to Terabithia' is often considered Paterson's most famous book and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
Paterson has said that growing up as a missionary kid in China, storytelling was an important part of her upbringing and helped spark her interest in becoming a writer.
Paterson's works are primarily targeted towards children and young adults, although many adults also enjoy her books.
Paterson has won a number of other awards, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Many of Paterson's books explore themes of family, love, loss, and transformation. often through the eyes of child or adolescent protagonists.