Meg Rosoff
Encyclopedia
Meg Rosoff is an American author based in London
since 1989. She is best known for her novel How I Live Now
, which won 3 awards including the Guardian Award
(2004), Michael L. Printz Award
(2005), Branford Boase Award
(2005) and was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread Awards
. Her second novel, Just In Case, won the prestigious Carnegie Medal in 2007. She was nominated for the award in 2011, but lost out to Patrick Ness
.
, MA
in 1956, the second of four sisters. She attended Harvard University
in 1974. After 3 years at Harvard she moved to England and studied sculpture at Central St. Martins in London
, England
. She returned to the United States
to finish her degree in 1980, and later moved to New York City
for 9 years, where she worked in publishing and advertising.
Aged 32, Rosoff returned to London
and has lived there ever since. Between 1989 and 2003, she worked for a variety of advertising agencies as a copywriter. She began to write novels after her youngest sister died of breast cancer
. Her young adult novel How I Live Now
was published in 2004, in the same week she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It won The Guardian Children's Fiction prize, the Michael L. Printz Award
in the United States, and was shortlisted for a Whitbread Award
in 2004. In 2005 she published a children's book, Meet Wild Boars, which was illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Her second novel, Just in Case
, was published in 2006 and won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal
and Germany's Jugendliteraturpreis
. What I Was
was published on August 30, 2007, followed by two additional collaborations with Sophie Blackall: Wild Boars Cook and Jumpy Jack and Googily. Her fourth novel, The Bride's Farewell, was released in September, 2009.
The film of How I Live Now is currently in pre-production.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
since 1989. She is best known for her novel How I Live Now
How I Live Now
How I Live Now is a novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2004. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award and received generally positive reviews.-Plot summary:...
, which won 3 awards including the Guardian Award
Guardian Award
The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
(2004), Michael L. Printz Award
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
(2005), Branford Boase Award
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
(2005) and was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread Awards
2004 Whitbread Awards
-Dates:* Thursday 6 January 2005 - Award winners announced in all five categories* Tuesday 25 January 2005 - Announcement of the Whitbread Book of the Year-Children's Book:Winner:*Geraldine McCaughrean, Not the End of the WorldShortlist:...
. Her second novel, Just In Case, won the prestigious Carnegie Medal in 2007. She was nominated for the award in 2011, but lost out to Patrick Ness
Patrick Ness
Patrick Ness is an American author, journalist and lecturer who lives in London. He holds both American and British citizenship...
.
Biography
Rosoff was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1956, the second of four sisters. She attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1974. After 3 years at Harvard she moved to England and studied sculpture at Central St. Martins in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to finish her degree in 1980, and later moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for 9 years, where she worked in publishing and advertising.
Aged 32, Rosoff returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and has lived there ever since. Between 1989 and 2003, she worked for a variety of advertising agencies as a copywriter. She began to write novels after her youngest sister died of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Her young adult novel How I Live Now
How I Live Now
How I Live Now is a novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2004. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award and received generally positive reviews.-Plot summary:...
was published in 2004, in the same week she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It won The Guardian Children's Fiction prize, the Michael L. Printz Award
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
in the United States, and was shortlisted for a Whitbread Award
2004 Whitbread Awards
-Dates:* Thursday 6 January 2005 - Award winners announced in all five categories* Tuesday 25 January 2005 - Announcement of the Whitbread Book of the Year-Children's Book:Winner:*Geraldine McCaughrean, Not the End of the WorldShortlist:...
in 2004. In 2005 she published a children's book, Meet Wild Boars, which was illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Her second novel, Just in Case
Just in Case
Just in Case is a young adult novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2006. The plot focuses on the adolescent protagonist David Case, who spends the majority of the book attempting to avoid fate. It received generally positive reviews....
, was published in 2006 and won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
and Germany's Jugendliteraturpreis
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
. What I Was
What I Was
What I Was is Meg Rosoff's third novel for young adults. The book was published in 2007, and was shortlisted for both the Costa Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal.-Plot introduction:...
was published on August 30, 2007, followed by two additional collaborations with Sophie Blackall: Wild Boars Cook and Jumpy Jack and Googily. Her fourth novel, The Bride's Farewell, was released in September, 2009.
The film of How I Live Now is currently in pre-production.
Prizes and Awards
- 2004 How I Live Now — Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, winner
- 2005 How I Live Now — Michael L. Printz AwardMichael L. Printz AwardThe Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
, (US) winner - 2005 How I Live Now — Branford Boase AwardBranford Boase AwardThe Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
, (first novel), winner - 2005 How I Live Now — LA Times Book PrizeLos Angeles Times Festival of BooksThe Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is a free, public festival celebrating the written word. Started in 1996, the Festival is held on the last weekend of April hosted by the University of Southern California and features vendors, authors and publishers...
, shortlisted - 2005 How I Live Now — Whitbread PrizeCosta Book AwardsThe Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
, shortlisted - 2005 How I Live Now — Der Luchs des Jahres, winner
- 2006 How I Live now — Deutscher JugendliteraturpreisDeutscher JugendliteraturpreisThe Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
, shortlisted - 2007 Just In Case — Carnegie Medal in Literature, winner
- 2007 Just in Case — LA Times Book PrizeLos Angeles Times Festival of BooksThe Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is a free, public festival celebrating the written word. Started in 1996, the Festival is held on the last weekend of April hosted by the University of Southern California and features vendors, authors and publishers...
, shortlisted - 2007 Just in Case — Booktrust Teenage Prize, shortlisted
- 2007 Just In Case — Costa Book AwardsCosta Book AwardsThe Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
, shortlisted - 2008 Just In Case — Deutscher JugendliteraturpreisDeutscher JugendliteraturpreisThe Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
, winner - 2008 What I Was — Carnegie Medal in Literature, shortlisted
- 2008 What I Was — Costa Book AwardsCosta Book AwardsThe Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
, shortlisted - 2009 What I Was — New Angle Prize, shortlisted
- 2009 What I Was — Der Luchs des Jahres, winner
- 2010 The Bride's Farewell—YALSA Alex Award Winner
- 2011 The Bride's Farewell — Carnegie Medal in Literature, Shortlisted