Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry published her first novel, A Summer to Die, in 1977, which reflected on her own experience of losing a sister at a young age. She turned to lighter fare temporarily with Anastasia Krupnik in 1979. It was the first in a series of humorous books. She won her first Newbery Award for the 1989 novel Number the Stars. The book explores the Nazi takeover of Denmark during World War II and follows the story of Annemarie Johansen, a friend of a Jewish girl named Ellen. She and her family help hide Ellen from the Nazis and eventually in their escape from Denmark. In 1993, Lowry received her second Newbery for The Giver, which is regularly targeted by would-be censors for some difficult themes. It was adapted into a film in 2014 with Jeff Bridges in the title role. Lowry has added to its examination of a dystopian future with Gathering Blue (2000), The Messenger (2004), and Son (2012).