Illinois Authors

Linda Sue Park

Born: 1960 in Urbana, Illinois
Pen Name: None

Connection to Illinois: Park was born in Urbana and grew up outside Chicago.

Biography: Linda Sue Park has been writing poems and stories since she was four years old. She went to Stanford University and graduated with a degree in English. After graduation, she took a job as a public-relations writer for a major oil company. In 1983, after two years with the oil company, Linda Sue left her job and moved to Dublin. She studied literature, moved to London, worked for an advertising agency, taught English as a second language to college students and worked as a food journalist. In 1990, she and her family moved back to the U.S. Linda Sue continued teaching English to foreign students. In 1997, she started writing her first book, ''Seesaw Girl''. It was accepted that same year and published in 1999. Since then, Linda Sue has published many other books for young people, including ''A Single Shard'', which was awarded the 2002 Newbery Medal. Along with her own published books, Park has also been a contributing author to the multi-authored books . Park currently resides in western New York.

• Recognitions for Body of Work Literary Lights Award, Boston Public Library; The Empire State Author Award; The Knickerbocker Award, NY Library Association; Literary Artist of the Year, Rochester (NY) Arts Council, 2002; Young Adult Literary Prize, Chicago Tribune; Shortlist, NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature, 2021; U.S. Candidate, Hans Christian Andersen Author Award, 2022
• A Single Shard 2001 CCBC Choices; 2001 Booklist Editor's Choice; 2001 Capitol Choices Selection; 2001 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year; 2001 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing; 2002 Newbery Medal Book; 2002 NCTE Adventuring with Books, Booklist for Pre-K – Grade 6; 2002 NCTE Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8; 2002 Notable Books for a Global Society, Illinois Library Association; 2002 ALA Best Book for Young Adults; 2002 ALA Notable Book for Children; 2003 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, Author Honor; 2003 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Nominee; 2003 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (VT); 2003-2004 Charlie May Simon Book Award Nominee (AR); 2003-2004 Lamplighter Award Nominee; 2003-2004 Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Nominee; 2004 Sequoyah Book Award (OK); 2004 Young Reader’s Choice Award—Intermediate/Grades 7-9 Winner; 2005 Nene Award Nominee (HI); 2006 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Master List (IL)
• A Long Walk to Water 2012 Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee (MA) 2010 Book Links Lasting Connections 2012 Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award (ND) 2013 Golden Sower Award Nominee (NE) 2012 Great Lakes Book Award Nominee (MI) 2013 Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee IRA Notable Books for a Global Society 2011 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award (NY) Junior Library Guild Selection 2012 Kentucky Blue Grass Award Nominee 2012-2013 Lamplighter Award Nominee 2012 Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2012-2013 Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN) 2011 NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2013 Nene Award Nominee (HI) 2013 North Carolina Children’s Book Award Nominee 2013 Nutmeg Award Nominee (CT) 2016 Oregon Battle of the Books Nominee 2013 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Nominee 2015 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Master List (IL) 2013 Sasquatch Award Nominee (WA) Shalom Readers Book Club List 2013 South Carolina Association of School Librarians Award Nominee 2013 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Master List (FL) 2013-2014 Virginia Readers’ Choice Award Nominee 2012 Volunteer State Book Award Runner-Up (TN) 2013 Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Nominee 2013 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
• Nya's Long Walk 2020 ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2020 CCBC Choices Junior Library Guild selection 2020 NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
• Archer's Quest 2008 Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee 2008 Kentucky Blue Grass Award Nominee 2009 Children’s Choice Award Nominee (IA) 2009 Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee (MO, MASL) 2009 Sasquatch Award Nominee (WA) 2009 South Carolina Association of School Librarians Award Nominee 2009 William Allen White Children’s Book Award Nominee (KS) 2010 Nutmeg Award Nominee (CT) 2010 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
• Bee-bim Bop! 2005 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2006 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation
• Fatal Throne 2019 Selected to the Amelia Bloomer Book List (an American Library Association list of well-written books with significant feminist content, intended for young readers) 2018 The New York Public Library Best Books for Teens: Top 10 ILLINOIS READS Book Selection, Illinois Reading Council, 2019
• The Firekeeper's Son 2004 AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good to Miss 2006 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature 2005 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2004 Bank Street College of Education Irma Simonton and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature Honor Book 2005 CCBC Choices 2007 Georgia’s Children’s Book Award Nominee 2005 IRA Teachers’ Choice Reading List Junior Library Guild Selection 2005 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation 2006 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee 2008 Monarch Award Nominee (IL) 2004 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2004 Parents’ Choice Recommended Winner 2007 Volunteer State (TN) Book Award Master Reading List 2006 Young Hoosier Book Award (IN) Nominee
• Keeping Score 2010 Charlie May Simon Book Award nominee (AR) Junior Library Guild Selection 2010 Nene Award Nominee (HI) 2010 Oregon Battle of the Books 2010 Prairie Pasque Award nominee (SD)
• The Kite Fighters 2005 Arizona Young Readers’ Master List 2000 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2002 California Young Readers Medal finalist 2001 CCBC Choices 2001-2002 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (VT) 2001 IRA Teachers’ Choices Reading List Junior Library Guild Selection 2001 Notable Books for a Global Society (ILA) 2002-2003 South Carolina Children’s Book Award Nominee 2004 Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2002-2003 Young Hoosier Book Aware Nominee (IN)
• Prairie Lotus Amazon.com Best Children’s Books of 2020: Ages 9-12 ALSC Notables Books 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award 2021, Children’s literature honor book Capitol Choices 2021 CCBC Choices 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Historical Fiction of 2020 New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2020 NPR’s Best Books of 2020 Parents Magazine Best Children’s Books of 2020 Shelf Awareness Best Children’s & Teen Books of 2020 Washington Post Best Children’s Books of 2020
• Project Mulberry 2005 AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good to Miss 2006 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, Honorable Mention 2006 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2007 Blue Hen Book Award (DE) 2006 CCBC Choices Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Nominee (AR) 2005 Chicago Tribune Young Adult Fiction Prize 2005 Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2008 Connecticut Nutmeg Award Nominee 2008 Golden Sower Award Nominee (NE) 2008 Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee Junior Library Guild Selection 2006 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation 2007 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee 2006 Keystone to Reading Master List (PA) 2007-2008 Lamplighter Award Nominee 2008 Mark Twain Award Master List (MO) 2008 Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Nominee 2005 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2005 Notable Books for a Global Society 2008 Prairie Pasque Children’s Book Award Nominee (SD) 2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Nominee (IL) Shalom Readers’ Book List 2008 Sunshine State Young Readers’ Award Nominee (FL) 2006 Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2008 Virginia Young Readers Award Nominee 2008 William Allen White Children’s Book Award Nominee (KS)
• SeeSaw Girl 2000 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 1999 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 1999 Riverbank Review Book of Distinction 2002 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
• Tap Dancing on the Roof 2007 ABC Children’s Booksellers Choice Award 2008 ALA Notable Book for Children 2007 Book Sense Award Finalist 2008 CCBC Choices 2007 Horn Book Fanfare Selection 2008 The Lion and the Unicorn Prize for Excellence in North American Poetry 2008 NCTE/CLA Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts 2010 Prairie Bud Children’s Book Award Nominee (SD) 2010 Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee 2011 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
• The Third Gift 2012 ALA Notable Book for Children 2012 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2012 Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens 2012 CCBC Choices 2012 NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2011 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Book Award 2015 We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading Lists
• What Does Bunny See? 2006 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2006 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation
• When My Name Was Keoko 2003 ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2003 ALA Notable Book for Children 2003 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2002 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (DC) 2003 CCBC Choices Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Nominee (AR) 2003-2004 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (VT) 2005 Garden State (NJ) Teen Book Award Nominee 2003 IRA Teachers’ Choices Reading List 2003 Jane Addams Book Award Honor Book 2004-2005 Lamplighter Award Nominee 2004 Maine Student Book Award Master List 2005 Mark Twain Award Master List (MO) 2002 Michigan Library Association’s Mitten Award Winner 2002 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2003 Notable Books for a Global Society 2003 Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies 2003 NYPL Books for the Teen Age List 2002 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year 2005 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Master List (IL) 2002 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year 2005 Sequoyah Book Award (OK) Nominee 2004 Skipping Stones Honor Award 2006 Sunshine State Young Readers’ Master List (FL) 2004 Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee
• Wing & Claw: Forest of Wonders 2020 CCBC Choices Junior Library Guild selection Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction of 2016 Brightly, 16 Great Middle Grade Books to Read in 2016
• Wing & Claw: Cavern of Secrets Junior Library Guild selection
• Xander's Panda Party 2014 ALA Notable Book 2014 Bank Street CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year 2014 CCBC Choices 2014-2015 Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award Nominee 2016 Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee 2014 IRA Teachers’ Choices Reading List Junior Library Guild Selection 2014 Michigan Library Association’s Mitten Award Honor LIst 2015 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Nominee 2013 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year 2015 Utah Beehive Award Nominee 2015 Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award Nominee

Primary Literary Genre(s): Fiction; Non-Fiction

Primary Audience(s): Adult readers; Children; Young adult readers

Blog: http://www.lspark.com/news/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindasuepark
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@LindaSuePark
Web: http://www.lindasuepark.com

Selected Titles

	A Long Walk to Water ISBN: 0547251270 OCLC: 495597182 When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan.
	A Single Shard ISBN: 0547534264 OCLC: 44803112 Clarion Books, New York : 2001. Tree-ear, an orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o, a potters' village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter's craft; he wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper, Tree-ear is elated-until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min's irascible temper, and his own ignorance. But Tree-ear is determined to prove himself-even if it means taking a long, solitary journey on foot to present Min's work in the hope of a royal commission-even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon shard.--Publisher information.
	Archer's Quest ISBN: 1328895750 OCLC: 62341433 Clarion Books, New York : ©2006. Twelve-year-old Kevin Kim helps Chu-mong, a legendary king of ancient Korea, return to his own time.
	Bee-bim Bop! ISBN: 0547076711 OCLC: 311525038 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston : [2008], ©2005. A child, eager for a favorite meal, helps with the shopping, food preparation, and table setting.
	Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All ISBN: 1984830333 OCLC: 1107442033 Seven award-winning young adult authors illuminate the lives of Britain's King Henry VIII and his six wives from different viewpoints.
	Gondra's Treasure ISBN: 0544546695 OCLC: Clarion 2019 Gondra has inherited traits from both her eastern (Asian) dragon dad and western (European) dragon mom and enjoys them all.She's especially happy that she's a combination of both. Cheerful banter and hilariously adorable dragon portrayals present a warm, appealing family portrait. The beautiful and fanciful illustrations are rich in whimsical details that invite repeated readings.
	Gurple and Preen: A Broken Crayon Cosmic Adventure ISBN: 1534431411 OCLC: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2020 This wildly imaginative, crayon-inspired picture book shows that with a bit of teamwork and a universe of creativity, anything is possible!Buzz!Zap!CRASH!Gurple and Preen are in a big mess!When they crash-land onto an unfamiliar planet with nothing but boxes of crayons, they must work together to get the mission back on course.From Newbery Award–winning author Linda Sue Park and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi comes a story about all the best things that can come out of a box of crayons.
	Keeping Score ISBN: 0547248970 OCLC: 317917977 Sandpiper, Boston : [2010], ©2008. In Brooklyn in 1951, a die-hard Giants fan teaches nine-year-old Maggie, who is a
	Mung-Mung ISBN: 1570914869 OCLC: 51722741 Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA : ©2004. See what each animal says and a word that is like the sound.
	Nya's Long Walk ISBN: 132878133X OCLC: 1080247635 In South Sudan, where Nya lives, many girls have a hard job: fetching water for their families from a remote water hole. The distance on foot is long, and the full water container is heavy. When Nya has to carry her little sister as well as the water, home seems impossibly distant. But reaching a thorn bush a few steps away - that she can do. And the tree after that, and then the next thing in her path...moving toward help and safety a step at a time. In the setting of Linda Sue park's bestseller A Long Walk to Water, and featuring a character who appears in those pages, Nya's Long Walk tells a story of determination, perseverance, and love. --
	Prairie Lotus ISBN: 132878150X OCLC: 1088666667 Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America's heartland, in 1880. Hanna's adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople's almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story. Narrated by Hanna, the novel has poignant moments yet sparkles with humor, introducing a captivating heroine whose wry, observant voice will resonate with readers. In Dakota Territory in the 1880s, half-Chinese Hanna and her white father face racism and resistance to change as they try to make a home for themselves. Includes author's note.
	Project Mulberry. ISBN: 9781417766789 OCLC: 176881054 Bt Bound, 2007. Julia Song and her friend Patrick would love to win a blue ribbon, maybe even two, at the state fair. They’ve always done projects together, and they work well as a team. This time, though, they’re having trouble coming up with just the right project. Then Julia’s mother offers a suggestion: They can raise silkworms, as she did when she was a girl in Korea.Patrick thinks it’s a great idea. Of course there are obstacles—for example, where will they get mulberry leaves, the only thing silkworms eat?—but nothing they can’t handle.Julia isn’t so sure. The club where kids do their projects is all about traditional American stuff, and raising silkworms just doesn’t fit in. Moreover, the author, Ms. Park, seems determined to make Julia’s life as complicated as possible, no matter how hard Julia tries to talk her out of it.
	SeeSaw Girl ISBN: 0547248881 OCLC: 308199550 Sandpiper, Boston : [2009], ©1999. Twelve-year-old Jade Blossom, who is impatient with the constraints put on her as an aristocratic girl living in Korea during the seventeenth century, determines to see beyond her small world.
	Tap Dancing on the Roof ISBN: 0618234837 OCLC: 70803474 Clarion Books, New York : ©2007. Sijo is a traditional Korean form of poetry. Sijo is syllabic, like Japanese haiku, with three lines of 14 to 16 syllables each: the first two introduce the topic, the third and fourth lines develop it, and the fifth and sixth lines contain an unexpected humorous or ironic twist. This collection contains 26 sijo.
	The 39 Clues: Storm Warning ISBN: 9780545090674 OCLC: 614476103 Scholastic, New York : 2010. Amy and Dan hit the high seas as they follow the trail of some infamous ancestors to track down a long lost treasure. However, the real prize isn't hidden in a chest. It's the discovery of the Madrigals' most dangerous secret and, even more shockingly, the true identity of the mysterious man in black--Amazon.com.
	The 39 Clues: Trust No One ISBN: 9780545298438 OCLC: 809558710 Scholastic, London : 2012. When seven members of their family were kidnapped, thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, got ready for the fight of their lives. But their enemy, a terrifying group known as the Vespers, remained frustratingly elusive. They stay in the shadows, picking off Cahills one by one. And now the Vespers have landed their most serious blow yet - a blow that strikes at the very heart of the Cahill family. Because Amy and Dan discover that there's a Vesper mole in their innermost circle. Amy and Dan need to smoke out the traitor before the next hostage dies. They have just days to discover who has their back ... and who wants to sink a knife into it.
	The Firekeeper's Son ISBN: 0618133372 OCLC: 50676419 Clarion Books, New York : ©2003. In eighteenth-century Korea, after Sang-hee's father injures his ankle, Sang-hee attempts to take over the task of lighting the evening fire which signals to the palace that all is well. Includes historical notes.
	The Kite Fighters ISBN: 9780547346083 OCLC: 754107861 Sandpiper, Boston : [2010], ©2000. In Korea in 1473, eleven-year-old Young-sup overcomes his rivalry with his older brother Kee-sup, and combines his kite-flying skill with his brother's in an attempt to win the New Year kite-fighting competition.
	The One Thing You'd Save ISBN: 1328515133 OCLC: 1239962888 If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save? Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park explores different answers to this provocative question in linked poems that capture the diverse voices of a middle school class. Illustrated with black-and-white art.
	The Third Gift ISBN: 0547201958 OCLC: 694830092 Clarion Books, Boston ; 2011. After harvesting an especially large
	What Does Bunny See? ISBN: 0618234853 OCLC: 55633842 Clarion Books, New York : ©2005. A rabbit wanders through the various flowers and colors of a cottage garden.
	When My Name was Keoko ISBN: 1435299450 OCLC: 54404137 Dell Yearling, New York : [2004] With national pride and occasional fear, a brother and sister face the increasingly oppressive occupation of Korea by Japan during World War II, which threatens to suppress Korean culture entirely.
	Wing & Claw: Beast of Stone ISBN: 0062327445 OCLC: 989963645 A conclusion to the trilogy finds apothecary Raffa and his ragtag band of allies preparing to battle the heartless Chancellor's armies, a conflict he fears will cause untold suffering for the animals being forced to fight.
	Wing & Claw: Cavern of Secrets ISBN: 0062327410 OCLC: 951936479 Hoping to return home after a winter in the Sudden Mountains so he can join his parents in the fight against the evil Chancellor, Raffa must use his apothecary skills while enlisting the help of human and animal friends to survive the journey.
	Wing & Claw: Forest of Wonders ISBN: 0062327380 OCLC: 940939127 When Raffa makes a cure from a rare crimson vine he finds deep in the forbidden forest, the bat he saves transforms into something much more.
	Xander's Panda Party ISBN: 0547558651 OCLC: 856518174 Xander's plan to host a panda party falls through, since he is the only panda at the zoo, but when he extends the invitation to all of the bears, complications ensue. Includes author's note on the wonders of the animal kingdom and the international effort to save pandas from extinction.
	Yaks Yak: Animal Word Pairs ISBN: 0544391012 OCLC: 913923890 Presents animals acting out the verbs made from their names, including hogs hogging, slugs slugging, and other creatures demonstrating homographs, words with different meanings that are spelled and pronounced the same.
	Yum! Yuck!: A Book of People Sounds ISBN: 1623543347 OCLC: Charlesbridge 2022 At a busy street market, kids eating ice cream exclaim, "Yum!" in English, "Geshmak!" in Yiddish, and "Nam-nam!" in Danish. But disaster strikes when a little dog overturns a spice cart, showering pepper on everyone's ice cream. Will the kids end up crying, "Hai hai," or cheering, "¡Yupi!"? Energetic art and a lift-the-flap feature make exploring languages fun.