Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith (born 1967) is a New York Times best-selling [1] author of fiction for children and young adults. A member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, she writes fiction for children centered on the lives of modern-day American Indians.[2] These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms.[3][4][5] In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up.[6] Regarded as an expert in children's-YA literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources.[7] Smith is a current faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.[8]
Cynthia Leitich Smith | |
---|---|
Born | 1967 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Michigan (J.D.) |
Period | 2000-present |
Genre | Children's and young adult fiction, Native American literature, Gothic fantasy/horror, humor, realistic fiction |
Website | |
cynthialeitichsmith |
Smith, a graduate of the University of Kansas and University of Michigan, lives in Austin, Texas.[9]
Books
Jingle Dancer,[10] illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.[11] A picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award,[12] a runner-up for the Western Writers of America Storyteller Award,[13] and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,[14] on the 2002 Texas 2x2 list,[15] and on the 2002 Michigan Reader's Choice Award List.[15]
Rain Is Not My Indian Name[16] is a realistic novel for ages 10 and up. Upon its publication by HarperCollins, Smith was recognized as 2001 Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.[17] Like Jingle Dancer, it was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.[18] An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House.[19]
Indian Shoes[20] is a chapter book for ages 7 and up. Published in 2002 by HarperCollins, it was selected for inclusion on the NEA Native American Book List. It is also listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,[20] the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education,[15] and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.[15]
Santa Knows,[21] also by Greg Leitich Smith[22] and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman,[23] is a humorous holiday picture book, published in 2006 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book,[24] "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews.[25]
Tantalize[26] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2007 and 2008 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and gothic fantasy. It was also published in 2008 by Listening Library/Random House,[27] Walker Books U.K.,[28] Walker Books Australia and New Zealand,[29] and Editions Intervista in France.[30] Tantalize was named to the 2011 list of Popular Paperbacks by the Young Adult Library Services Association[31] and featured at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.[32]
Eternal[33] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2009 and 2010 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Listening Library/Random House,[34] Walker Books U.K.,[35] Walker Books Australia and New Zealand,[36] and Amber in Poland. The U.S. paperback edition debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list (children's paperbacks) and #13 on the Publishers Weekly best-seller list.[1]
Holler Loudly,[37] illustrated by Barry Gott,[38] is a humorous tall tale picture book, published in 2010 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. Holler Loudly was featured at the 2010 Texas Book Festival [39] and was a Dolly Parton's Imagination Library selection.[40]
Blessed[41] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand [42] and Walker U.K.[43] Blessed was a YALSA Teens Top 10 nominee.[44]
Tantalize: Kieren's Story,[45] illustrated by Ming Doyle,[46] is a fully illustrated young adult gothic fantasy graphic novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand [47] and Walker U.K.[48]
Diabolical[49] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, ghosts, demons, hell hounds, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand [50] and Walker U.K.[51]
Hearts Unbroken[52] is a realistic young adult novel, published in 2018 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand. [53] Hearts Unbroken was named a Silver Medal Winner for Young Adult Fiction by Foreword Reviews. [54]
Works
Books
- Jingle Dancer (2000)
- Rain is Not My Indian Name (2001)
- Indian Shoes (2002)
- Santa Knows (2006)
- Tantalize (2007)
- Eternal (2009)
- Holler Loudly (2010)
- Blessed (2011)
- Tantalize: Kieren's Story (2011)
- Diabolical (2012)
- Feral Nights (2013)
- Eternal: Zachary's Story (2013)
- Feral Curse (2014)
- Feral Pride (2015)
- Hearts Unbroken (2018)
Short stories, essays and poetry
- "The Gentleman Cowboy" in Period Pieces: Stories for Girls, published by HarperCollins in 2003 for ages 8 and up.
- "The Naked Truth" in In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Authors tell Stories about their Grandmothers, published by HarperCollins in 2003 for ages 8 and up.
- "A Real-Live Blonde Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate" in Moccasin Thunder,[55] published by HarperCollins in 2005 for ages 12 and up.
- "Riding With Rosa" in Cicada literary magazine (Vol. 7, No. 4, March/April 2005) for ages 12 and up.
- "Haunted Love" in Immortal: Love Stories with Bite, published by BenBella in 2008 for ages 12 and up.
- "Cat Calls" in Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical,[56] published by Candlewick Press in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
- "The Wrath of Dawn," co-authored by Greg Leitich Smith in Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, published by Little, Brown in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
- "Isolation" in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories, published by HarperCollins in 2011 for ages 13 and up.
- "Mooning Over Broken Stars" in Girl Meets Boy, published by Chronicle in 2012 for ages 12 and up.
- "Friends in Dark Places" in Dear Teen Me, published by Zest in 2012 for ages 12 and up.
- "Cupid's Beaux" in Things I'll Never Say: Stories About Our Secret Selves, published by Candlewick in 2015 for ages 12 and up.
- "All's Well" in Violent Ends, published by Simon Pulse in 2015 for ages 12 and up.
- "Dreams to Write" in Our Story Begins: Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids, published by Atheneum in 2017 for ages 7 and up.
- "Girl's Best Friend" in The Hero Next Door, published by Random House in 2019 for ages 8 and up.
- "Stories for Dinner" in Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, published by Millbrook in 2019 for ages 4 and up.
- "Amazing Auntie Ann" in I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage, published by Lee & Low in 2019 for ages 4 and up.
References
- EarlyWord: The Publisher | Librarian Connection » Blog Archive New Vampires in Town » EarlyWord: The Publisher | Librarian Connection
- The Washington Post
- "Childhood Education". Questia Online Library. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- "Read Across America". NEA. August 14, 2008. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- "De beste bron van informatie over digital equity. Deze website is te koop!". Edreform.net. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- Young Authors Cafe
- "Has Harry lost the magic? / The Christian Science Monitor". CSMonitor.com. November 8, 2002. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- "Faculty VCFA". Archived from the original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- "About the Author". Cynthia Leitich Smith. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- "Jingle Dancer". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- CYALR
- Oklahoma Center for the Book
- Western Writers of America Archived January 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Jingle Dancer, By Cynthia L. Smith , Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright: HarperCollins Children's Books
- "Cynthia Leitich Smith". Children's Literature. Archived from the original on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- "Rain is Not My Indian Name". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- The Horn Book Magazine
- Oklahoma Center for the Book
- "Rain is not my Indian Name Audio". Random House.
- "Indian Shoes". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- Penguin USA Archived March 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Author Greg Leitich Smith
- http://www.stevebjorkman.com/ Illustrator Steve Bjorkman
- Horn Book Magazine Archived June 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- Barnes & Noble
- Candlewick Press
- Random House Audio
- Walker U.K.
- TANTALIZE - Books - Welcome to Walker Books Australia
- ::Editions Intervista:: Archived 2011-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- 2012 Book Festival | National Book Festival - Library of Congress
- Candlewick Press
- Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith - Listening Library - Random House Audio
- Walker Books - Eternal
- ETERNAL - Books - Welcome to Walker Books Australia
- Holler Loudly - Books by Cynthia Leitich Smith - Penguin Group (USA)
- Illustrator Barry Gott Archived October 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Texas Book Festival - Home
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - USA, United Kingdom, Canada
- Candlewick Press - Catalog
- BLESSED - Books - Welcome to Walker Books Australia Archived 2011-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
- Walker Books - Blessed Archived September 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- 2011 Teens' Top Ten | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
- Candlewick Press - Catalog
- Ming Doyle | comic artist and illustrator
- "TANTALIZE: KIEREN'S STORY - Books - Welcome to Walker Books Australia". Archived from the original on 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
- Walker Books - Tantalize: Kieren's Story
- Candlewick Press - Catalog
- DIABOLICAL - Books - Welcome to Walker Books Australia
- Walker Books - Diabolical
- Candlewick Press - Catalog
- HarperCollins
- Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical. Editor: Deborah Noyes. Candlewick Press
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cynthia Leitich Smith. |
- Official website
- Cynsations blog
- 100 Books by Cynthia Leitich Smith at Kirkus Reviews.
- CL Smith Interview at BookReviewsAndMore.ca
- Cynthia Leitich Smith at Library of Congress Authorities, with 10 catalog records