Norma Fox Mazer
Encyclopedia
Norma Fox Mazer was an American author and teacher, best known for her books for children and young adults. Her novels featured credible young characters confronting difficult situations such as family separation and death.
She was born in New York City but grew up in Glens Falls, New York
, with parents Michael and Jean Garlan Fox. Mazer graduated from Glens Falls High School, then went to Antioch College
, where she met Harry Mazer
, whom she married in 1950; they had four children, three of whom survived Mazer, one of whom, Anne Mazer
, is also a writer. In addition to Antioch, Mazer also studied at Syracuse University
. In 2009, Mazer died of brain cancer at age 78.
Mazer began writing professionally as a young mother and for several years she and her husband Harry wrote confessional stories for pulp magazines; they would later write several novels together.
Mazer's books were praised for the intelligence of their dialogue, psychological acumen, and the nuance with which domestic difficulties and tragedies were portrayed in the lives of young people. Rather than offering simple resolutions, her stories charted more complex and sometimes suspenseful paths that followed the characters' growth and self-knowledge.
New York Times Book Review
contributor Ruth I. Gordon wrote that Mazer "has the skill to reveal the human qualities in both ordinary and extraordinary situations as young people mature....it would be a shame to limit their reading to young people, since they can show an adult reader much about the sometimes painful rite of adolescent passage into adulthood".
In 1988 Mazer said:
Among the honors Mazer earned for her writing were a National Book Award
nomination in 1973, an American Library Association Notable Book citation in 1976, inclusion on the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year list in 1976, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
in 1978, an Edgar Award
in 1982, German Children's Literature prizes in 1982 and 1989, and a Newbery Medal
in 1988.
From 1997 to 2006 Mazer taught in the Master of Fine Arts
in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program at Vermont College.
She was born in New York City but grew up in Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
, with parents Michael and Jean Garlan Fox. Mazer graduated from Glens Falls High School, then went to Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
, where she met Harry Mazer
Harry Mazer
Harry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his “realistic” novels...
, whom she married in 1950; they had four children, three of whom survived Mazer, one of whom, Anne Mazer
Anne Mazer
Anne Mazer is the author of forty-five books, including The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series encompassing twenty two books, The Salamander Room and The No-Nothings and Their Baby.Mazer was born in 1953 in Schenectady, New York...
, is also a writer. In addition to Antioch, Mazer also studied at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. In 2009, Mazer died of brain cancer at age 78.
Mazer began writing professionally as a young mother and for several years she and her husband Harry wrote confessional stories for pulp magazines; they would later write several novels together.
Mazer's books were praised for the intelligence of their dialogue, psychological acumen, and the nuance with which domestic difficulties and tragedies were portrayed in the lives of young people. Rather than offering simple resolutions, her stories charted more complex and sometimes suspenseful paths that followed the characters' growth and self-knowledge.
New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
contributor Ruth I. Gordon wrote that Mazer "has the skill to reveal the human qualities in both ordinary and extraordinary situations as young people mature....it would be a shame to limit their reading to young people, since they can show an adult reader much about the sometimes painful rite of adolescent passage into adulthood".
In 1988 Mazer said:
"I hesitate to say I'm delivering messages....I'm writing stories and novels. I hope there's an underlying feeling for the reader -- a hope, perhaps a moral. But I'm not preaching. I'm telling stories".
Among the honors Mazer earned for her writing were a National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
nomination in 1973, an American Library Association Notable Book citation in 1976, inclusion on the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year list in 1976, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
The Lewis Carroll Shelf Award was started in 1958 by Dr. David C. Davis with the assistance of Prof. Lola Pierstorff, Director Instructional Materials Center, Univ. of Wisconsin and Madeline Allen Davis, WHA Wisconsin Public Radio. Awards were presented annually at the Wisconsin Book Conference...
in 1978, an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
in 1982, German Children's Literature prizes in 1982 and 1989, and a Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
in 1988.
From 1997 to 2006 Mazer taught in the Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program at Vermont College.
Partial bibliography
- A, My Name is Ami
- After the Rain
- B, My Name is Bunny
- Babyface
- Bright Days, Stupid Nights (with Harry MazerHarry MazerHarry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his “realistic” novels...
) - Chocolate Pudding
- C, My Name is Cal
- Crazy Fish
- D, My Name is Danita
- Dear Bill, Remember Me?
- Downtown
- E, My Name is Emily
- A Figure of Speech
- Girlhearts (sequel to Silver)
- Good Night Maman
- Heartbeat (with Harry MazerHarry MazerHarry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his “realistic” novels...
) - How I Saved My Life
- I Trissy
- Last Mission
- Missing Pieces
- Mrs. Fish, Ape and Me, the Dump Queen
- Out of Control
- Saturday, the Twelfth of October
- Silver
- Someone to Love
- Summer Girls, Love Boys
- Supergirl
- Taking Terri Mueller (Edgar AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, 1982, Best Juvenile Mystery) - Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear
- The Missing Girl
- The Solid Gold Kid (with Harry MazerHarry MazerHarry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his “realistic” novels...
) - Three Sisters
- Up in Seth's Room
- What I Believe
- When She Was Good
- When We First Met