1. Katherine Paterson Author Study

2. Background Born October 31, 1932 in Quing Jiang, Jiangsu, China. Daughter of missionaries 1962 married John Barstow Paterson (clergyman) Four children: Elizabeth Po Lin, John Barstow, Jr., David Lord, Mary Katherine.

3. Career 1954-55 Teacher: Lovettsville Elementary School, Lovettsville, Va. 1957-61Board of World Mission, Nashville, Tenn. Missionary in Japan. 1957-61Pennington School for Boys 1963-65 Author of materials for church use and novels for young people 1964- Member of Author’s Guild, Children’s book Guild

4. Awards Of Nightingales that WeepOf Nightingales that WeepPhoenix Award Children's Literature Association 1994 ALA Notable Children's Books 1974

5. Awards The Master Puppeteer National Book Award for Children's Literature 1977 Edgar Allen Poe Special Award, Mystery Writers of America 1977 Citation from The Puppeteers of America, Inc. 1978 ALA Notable Children's Books 1976 School Library Journal Best Book of Spring, 1976

6. Awards Bridge to Terabithia Janusz Korczak Medal (Poland) 1981 Silver Pencil Award (Netherlands) 1981 Newbery Medal 1978 ALA Notable Children's Books 1977 School Library Journal Best Book of 1977 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1978 Le Grand Prix des Jeunes Lecturs (France), 1986 1986 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

7. Awards The Great Gilly Hopkins National Book Award 1979 Newbery Honor Award 1979 Honor Book, Jane Addams Children's Book Awards 1979 Christopher Award, 1979 American Library Association Notable Children's Books 1978 School Library Journal Best book of 1978

8. Awards Jacob Have I Loved Newbery Medal 1981 ALA Notable Children's Book 1976- 1980 School Library Journal Best Books of 1980 Best of the 80's YA Novels (English Journal) Best of the 80's (ALA Booklist)

9. Awards Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom Parents' Choice Award NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies Child Study Assoc. Children's Books of the Year

10. Awards Come Sing, Jimmy Jo Parents' Choice Award School Library Journal Best Books CCBC Choice Booklist Editors' Choice

11. Awards The Tongue-Cut Sparrow Parent's Choice Award NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies IRA-CBC Children's Choice Child Study Association Children's Books of the Year CCBC Choice Library of Congress Books for Children

12. Awards Park's Quest American Bookseller Pick of the Lists NCSS_CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies IRA-CBC Children's Choice Learning Choice Library of Congress Books for Children Child Study Association Children's Books of the Year The Horn Book Fanfare Honor List

13. Awards The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks Boston Globe/Horn Book Picture Book Award 1991 The New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Booklist Editors' Choice

14. Awards Lyddie Honor Book of the International Board of Books for Young People 1994 ALA Best Book for Young Adults ALA Notable Children's Book American Bookseller Pick of the Lists IBBY Honor Book

15. Awards Flip-Flop Girl ALA Notable Children's Book School Library Journal Best Book American Bookseller Spring Pick of the Lists for Middle Readers New York Public Library - 100 titles for Reading and Sharing

16. Awards Jip, His Story The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 1997 Parents' Choice 1996 Story Book Award Parents' Choice 1999 Paperback Book Honor

17. Awards Preacher's Boy Parents' Choice 1999 Story Book Award Jefferson Cup of Virginia Library Association

18. Awards The Same Stuff as Stars Co-winner of the Paterson Prize 2003 Honor Book for The Red Mitten, Judy Lopez Memorial, and Jane Addams Awards 2003

19. 2007 Vice-President of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance Bread and Roses, Too New York Public Library Best Books for Teen Age, 2007 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007 VOYA's 2006 Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2007 Christopher Award, 2006 Parents' Choice Gold Medal, Fall 2006, Historical Fiction Awards

20. Quote #1 People are always asking me questions I don't have answers for. One is, "When did you first know that you wanted to become a writer?" The fact is that I never wanted to be a writer, at least not when I was a child, or even a young woman. Today I want very much to be a writer. But when I was ten, I wanted to be either a movie star or a missionary. When I was twenty, I wanted to get married and have lots of children.

21. Quote #2 I know I began reading when I was four or five, because I couldn't stand not being able to. I must have tried writing soon afterward. Fortunately, very few samples of my early writing survived the eighteen moves I made before I was eighteen years old. I say fortunately because the samples that did manage to survive are terrible, with the single exception of a rather nice letter I wrote to my father when I was seven. We were living in Shanghai, and my father was working in our old home territory, which at the time was across various battle lines. I missed him very much, and in telling him so, I managed a piece of writing I am not ashamed of to this day. A lot has happened to me since I wrote that letter.

22. Life Experiences that Influenced Her Stories Growing up in China and becoming a refugee during the war Traveling the world Coming to America as a young child and not fitting in because how different she was from the other children. Her own children College

23. What I Found Interesting and would share with students I heard Katherine Paterson speak at CSUF in Spring of 2009 thanks to Arnie Nixon Center. She spoke in an unassuming way. As a grandmother might share stories about her life. Her life story and family stories influenced her the writing of her stories.

24. What I found interesting and would share with students When she was a tiny missionary child in China during the war with Japan, she and other missionary mothers and children were refugees in a posh hotel. There they were, in the lobby, grimy grungy women and children who had been riding a crowded trains for hours, now waited as fathers were out looking for housing for their families.

25. What I found interesting and would share with students As the women tended to crying and hungry babies in the elegance of the hotel lobby in Hong Kong, the upper crust of society walked by them with scorn and contempt. Katherine Paterson related how her kind gentle mother was so angry at how these people could walk by tired and hungry refugees and not even smile at the little babies.

26. Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson related how she was writing Bridge to Terabithia because her son had a friend he really bonded with. A little girl who was so full of life and wonder. One day she was with her family on a beach dancing on a rock when lighting struck her, killing her instantly.

27. Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson had a hard time writing finishing the book. Writing about the death was hard to face because it was also writing about her own fears of death. Her editor helped her realize what she needed to face the fear to finish writing the book. The book has won many awards and touched the hearts of many.

28. Why I Chose Katherine Paterson Katherine Paterson writes stories that connect with people. Her stories ring true. A certain authenticity makes her stories relatable to the reader. A few of her award winning stories have been banned. And when quality work becomes part of the banned book list, you know it has touched people in a deep way.

29. Her life story resonates with people as she breathes characters to life based on her experiences and the people she has met. The many awards that she has won for so much of her works validates the quality of her stories. If you ever get a chance to hear her talk, do.

30. Bibliography “Katherine Patterson.” Authors & Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1989.203-214. “Katherine Paterson.” Kid’s Read.com. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009 http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-paterson- katherine.asphttp://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-paterson- katherine.asp Paterson, Katherine. Official Web Site of Katherine Paterson. 2009. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.terabithia.com/index.htmlhttp://www.terabithia.com/index.html