Speak has been translated into 16 languages. The paperback version was published in 2001 by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing. The novel became a finalist for the National Book Award and won Anderson honors for its portrayal of a thirteen-year-old girl who becomes mute after a sexual assault. It was a New York Times Bestseller and was adapted into film in 2004, starring Kristen Stewart as Melinda Sordino. In 1999, Farrar, Straus and Giroux published Anderson's best-known novel to date, Speak. She also co-authored a book about parenting shy children with Dr. The first was a children's book featuring Saudi Arabia. ĭuring her early career, Anderson wrote several pieces of non-fiction. In 1998, Anderson published No Time For Mother’s Day, featuring the same characters. This story was inspired by her daughter, Meredith, who broke out with chickenpox on Thanksgiving.

Later that year, she had her story Turkey Pox published. Despite receiving rejection letters, Anderson released her first children's novel, Ndito Runs, in 1996, based on Kenyan Olympic marathon runners who ran to and from school each day. During this time, Anderson also began to write children's and young adult novels. Career Īnderson began her career as a freelance journalist and worked at The Philadelphia Inquirer in the early years of her career. Together, they combined their families-Anderson's two daughters and Larrabee's two children, Jessica and Christian. Anderson eventually married-and is still married to-Larrabee. Years later, Anderson moved back to Mexico, New York, and rekindled feelings with her childhood sweetheart, Scot Larrabee. Two years later, they had their second child, Meredith Lauren. In 1985, they had their first child, Stephanie Holcomb. Laurie Halse Anderson married Greg Anderson. After her experience in Denmark, Anderson moved back home to work at a clothing store, earning the minimum wage. ĭuring Anderson's senior year, she moved out of her parents' house at the age of sixteen and lived as an exchange student for thirteen months on a pig farm in Denmark. Īnderson attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, in Manlius, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. Anderson enjoyed reading-especially science fiction and fantasy-as a teenager, but never envisioned herself becoming a writer. As a student, she showed an early interest in writing, specifically during the second grade. She grew up there with her younger sister, Lisa. and Joyce Holcomb Halse in Potsdam, New York.

Laurie Beth Halse was born October 23, 1961, to Rev. She was first recognized for her novel Speak, published in 1999. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2010 for her contribution to young adult literature and 2023 she received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Laurie Halse Anderson is an American writer, known for children's and young adult novels.

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