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Katherine Paterson |
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Katherine Paterson |
| Katherine Paterson was born on October 31, 1932 in Quing Jing, China
where her parents were missionaries. She also lived in Japan for four years.
She now lives in Vermont with her husband. She has four grown children.
She won the Newbery Medal for Jacob Have I Loved and for Bridge
to Terabithia, which was inspired by the death of her son’s 8-year-old
friend. The Great Gilly Hopkins was inspired by her experience as
a foster mother and she wanted to write about that experience from the
point of view of a child whom society considered "disposable".
She is often asked about the language that some of her characters use because some of her books are banned based on the language and other content. She feels that it is more important to tell good stories in an honest way, than to try to teach appropriate behavior and she knew many people who spoke the way her characters do. For example, she felt that the life that Gilly Hopkins led would almost require her to use "inappropriate" language. About being a writer, she has said: "I found that a writer must give her heart as well as her mind to her work. I learned to love the process of revising a book, going over and over it until I was sure that it was the best I could do. And I’ve never stopped reading. I’d still rather read than write, but I’m grateful to be able to do both." (Fifth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators) |
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Come Sing, Jimmy Jo Flip-Flop Girl The Great Gilly Hopkins Jacob Have I Loved Jip, His Story The King's Equal Lyddie The Master Puppeteer Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever Of Nightingales That Weep Park's Quest Parzival The Quest of the Grail knight Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom The Sign of the Crysanthemum The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks |