Sara Zarr
Encyclopedia
Sara Zarr is an American writer. She was raised in San Francisco, and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah
with her husband. Her first novel, Story of a Girl
, was a 2007 National Book Award
finalist. She is also the author of Sweethearts and Once Was Lost. All three are published by Little, Brown
.
and raised in San Francisco, she earned a degree in communications from San Francisco State University
. Zarr grew up as an Evangelical Christian, a faith with which she still associates though she lives in a predominately Mormon
community. Her first three manuscripts were never published, but after winning the Utah Arts Council best young-adult novel of 2003, she was able to find an agent who successfully sold Story of a Girl as the first of a two-book deal.
Inspired by the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and Zarr's Christian roots, Once Was Lost addresses issues of faith, identity and home. The title comes from the hymn
Amazing Grace
written by John Newton
. While the characters are Christian, the book was published for a mainstream audience and neither promotes nor criticizes organized religion.
In 2008, Zarr contributed to the YA for Obama project started by fellow YA author Maureen Johnson
. Zarr's articles included "Red State Jesus Freaks for Obama" and "Personal Sacrifice."
Zarr also reads the audio version of her books.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
with her husband. Her first novel, Story of a Girl
Story of a Girl (novel)
Story of a Girl is a young-adult novel by Sara Zarr. It was released in 2007.-Plot:The story centers around Deanna Lambert, a teen troubled by social exile and branding rumors. When she was thirteen, her father caught her and her brother's friend, seventeen-year-old Tommy Webber, having unprotected...
, was a 2007 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...
finalist. She is also the author of Sweethearts and Once Was Lost. All three are published by Little, Brown
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and raised in San Francisco, she earned a degree in communications from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
. Zarr grew up as an Evangelical Christian, a faith with which she still associates though she lives in a predominately Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
community. Her first three manuscripts were never published, but after winning the Utah Arts Council best young-adult novel of 2003, she was able to find an agent who successfully sold Story of a Girl as the first of a two-book deal.
Inspired by the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and Zarr's Christian roots, Once Was Lost addresses issues of faith, identity and home. The title comes from the hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
written by John Newton
John Newton
John Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
. While the characters are Christian, the book was published for a mainstream audience and neither promotes nor criticizes organized religion.
In 2008, Zarr contributed to the YA for Obama project started by fellow YA author Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson is an American author of young adult fiction. She has published eight young adult novels to date, including the Suite Scarlett series and The Last Little Blue Envelope. Johnson is also the founder of the political networking site .-Early life:Maureen Johnson is a graduate of the...
. Zarr's articles included "Red State Jesus Freaks for Obama" and "Personal Sacrifice."
Standalone Novels
- 2007 — Story of a GirlStory of a Girl (novel)Story of a Girl is a young-adult novel by Sara Zarr. It was released in 2007.-Plot:The story centers around Deanna Lambert, a teen troubled by social exile and branding rumors. When she was thirteen, her father caught her and her brother's friend, seventeen-year-old Tommy Webber, having unprotected...
- 2008 — Sweethearts
- 2009 — Once Was Lost
- 2011 — How to Save a Life (upcoming)
Zarr also reads the audio version of her books.
Short Fiction
- "This Is My Audition Monologue" appears in Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, edited by Holly BlackHolly BlackHolly Black née Riggenbach is an American writer and editor, best known for writing The Spiderwick Chronicles, a series of children's fantasy books she created with illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi.-Early life and education:...
and Cecil CastellucciCecil CastellucciCecil Castellucci, also known as Cecil Seaskull , is a young adult novelist, indie rocker, and director. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California...
, 2009
Essays
- "It Is Good" appears in Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?, edited by Marissa Walsh, 2008
- "Who Is My Mother, Who Are My Brothers?" first appeared in ImageImage (journal)Image is an American quarterly literary journal that explores the relationship between Judeo-Christian tradition and contemporary art and literature. The journal's motto is "Art, Faith, Mystery," and its articles and glossy photos explore contemporary spirituality by featuring provocative art...
, and appears in Jesus Girls: True Tales of Growing Up Female and Evangelical, edited by Hannah Faith Notess, 2009
Awards
- Story of a Girl - 2007 National Book Award finalist; 2008 American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Best Books for Young Adults - Sweethearts - 2008 Cybil Award Finalist; 2009 American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Best Books for Young Adults - Story of a Girl (audiobook) - 2009 American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults