Lobed this question into a group of library workers (my coworkers) and here are ones that reoccured: Katherine Paterson (specifically we had a long convo about Bridge to Terabithia), Gary Paulsen, Mary Pope Osborne, Erin Hunter, Kathryn Lasky, and the multitude of authors who write those Dear America and other such historical fiction diaries.
I got to meet Katherine Paterson once! Taking an education class, I think on adolescent development. She was quietly profound. She stayed after to chat with a few of us, which was even cooler.
Person I asked also mentioned historical fiction! With the funny caveat: "For a long time, I didn't think about authors. Books just appeared, and I read them." The closest she had were series: Anne of Avonlea & Little House on the Prairie. Back when we were kids, that's apparently where more of the female protagonists were: set in the past. 😬💀
My friend recently watched the "Are You There God It's Me Margaret" movie with her daughters, so the group chat had Judy Blume top of mind! We're all big readers and there are a couple of us librarians in there so we could go on all day.
Got a bunch of different answers from my friends, some classics and some that were new to me: Sharon G Flake, L. Divine (Drama High series), Mary Pope Osborn (Magic Treehouse series), Mary Hoffman (Amazing Grace)
Lobed this question into a group of library workers (my coworkers) and here are ones that reoccured: Katherine Paterson (specifically we had a long convo about Bridge to Terabithia), Gary Paulsen, Mary Pope Osborne, Erin Hunter, Kathryn Lasky, and the multitude of authors who write those Dear America and other such historical fiction diaries.
I got to meet Katherine Paterson once! Taking an education class, I think on adolescent development. She was quietly profound. She stayed after to chat with a few of us, which was even cooler.
Person I asked also mentioned historical fiction! With the funny caveat: "For a long time, I didn't think about authors. Books just appeared, and I read them." The closest she had were series: Anne of Avonlea & Little House on the Prairie. Back when we were kids, that's apparently where more of the female protagonists were: set in the past. 😬💀
So cool that you got to meet Katherine Paterson, I'm jealous!
My friend recently watched the "Are You There God It's Me Margaret" movie with her daughters, so the group chat had Judy Blume top of mind! We're all big readers and there are a couple of us librarians in there so we could go on all day.
Judy Blume of course! I feel like you all probably have these conversations all the time then 😂
Got a bunch of different answers from my friends, some classics and some that were new to me: Sharon G Flake, L. Divine (Drama High series), Mary Pope Osborn (Magic Treehouse series), Mary Hoffman (Amazing Grace)
Mildred D. Taylor!