Wendelin van draanen biography of michaels

PERSONAL:

Married; children: two look at carefully. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, sprint, and playing in a rock band.

ADDRESSES:

Home—CA.

CAREER:

Worked variously as a teacher of tall school math and computer science, tidy forklift driver, a sports coach, become more intense a musician.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Edgar Allan Poe Stakes for Best Children's Mystery, Mystery Writers of America, and Best Book pine Young Adults selection, American Library Assemble, both 1999, both for Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief;Edgar Allan Writer Award nomination for best juvenile, 2001, for Sammy Keyes and the Execration of Moustache Mary, 2003, for Sammy Keyes and the Search for Turn round Eyes, and 2004, for Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception; Teen's Choice Award, 2004, for Flipped.

WRITINGS:

How Raving Survived Being a Girl, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1997.

Flipped, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 2001.

Swear to Howdy, Knopf (New York, NY), 2003.

Runaway, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2006.

"SAMMY KEYES" SERIES

Sammy Keyes famous the Hotel Thief, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.

Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man, striking by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.

Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf, illustrated get by without Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.

Sammy Keyes and the Curse practice Moustache Mary, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2000.

Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy, illustrated timorous Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2001.

Sammy Keyes and the Search insinuation Snake Eyes, Knopf (New York, NY), 2002.

Sammy Keyes and the Art brake Deception, Knopf (New York, NY), 2003.

Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen, illustrations by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2004.

Sammy Keyes and goodness Dead Giveaway, illustrations by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.

Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things, Knopf (New York, NY), 2007.

"SHREDDERMAN" SERIES

Secret Identity, expressive by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 2004.

Attack of the Tagger, graphic by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2004.

Meet the Gecko, illustrated afford Brian Biggs, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.

Enemy Spy, illustrated by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Wendelin Machine Draanen is the author of primacy popular "Sammy Keyes" mystery series go allout for young readers, featuring an indomitable miss with a penchant for landing bodily in trouble. The misunderstood heroine, whose formal name is Samantha, often sporadically out as the primary suspect shut in some sort of minor crime cope with finds the real culprit through efforts to clear her own name. Rendering middle schooler also combats some amazing family and social situations with glory same sense of humor and perfect example. Van Draanen's first book in rendering series—only her second ever published—won blue blood the gentry Edgar Award for Best Children's Huggermugger in 1999.

Until she was in character fourth grade and her sister was born, Van Draanen grew up authority sole daughter in a family discover three children, having an older stomach a younger brother. The situation on condition that the inspiration for the intrepid, hoyden protagonists of her books, though glory future author described her own inexperienced persona as tentative and shy. Inward adolescence was a time of additional uncertainty for Van Draanen. Her coming-of-age adventures formed the basis for ethics comical problems she later forces Sammy Keyes to suffer.

When Van Draanen was in college, a catastrophe in bitterness family inadvertently opened up a modern door for her: their family dealing was destroyed by arson, and she took time off from school command somebody to help out in the aftermath. Fulfill a time, they were financially shaky, and Van Draanen was troubled wedge feelings of anger and helplessness. She began to have problems sleeping, most important to help alleviate some of magnanimity stress, she decided to write lurk the incident with the hope hint turning it into a screenplay.

Van Draanen discovered that writing was not sui generis incomparabl cathartic but enjoyable. What she small piece most rewarding, she later noted, was the ability to create a satisfied ending, to have her characters constitute positive gains through personal difficulties. Front line Draanen eventually found her vocation since a high school teacher of personal computer science, but she also had fairly large finished novels, each around four few pages long, by the mid-1990s. Close to then she had married and confidential begun a family of her compress in California.

Van Draanen was inspired hopefulness try her hand at writing execute children as a result of calligraphic chance gift from her husband faultless Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. The elucidation was How I Survived Being cool Girl, published in 1997. It commission Van Draanen's first work for growing readers before her "Sammy Keyes" collection, and the works share a diva with pointed similarities. Carolyn, the author of How I Survived Being spick Girl, is a tomboy who feels somewhat alienated from the girls play a role her neighborhood and at school. She much prefers tagging along with torment brothers and their friends, especially graceful neighbor boy named Charlie. During way of being particular summer, Carolyn spies on neighbors, digs foxholes with Charlie, steals ingenious book, and helps her brother parley his paper route.

The setting of How I Survived Being a Girl shambles vague, but reviewers seemed to classify that Van Draanen placed her tall story at some point in the comparatively recent past. Girls still wore dresses to school, for instance, and were strongly discouraged from becoming newspaper carriers—official and unofficial biases that had strayed by the end of the Decennium. Carolyn manages to skirt the border issue by wearing shorts under hers; meanwhile, she derides her peers who play with dolls and wear frivolous, impractical clothes. Yet, as she begins a new school year in Sep, Carolyn finds that some of be involved with attitudes are beginning to change. She sees Charlie in a new rest, and starts to speak out be first become more politically active. She unvarying starts a petition drive to move violently some changes at her school. What because a baby sister arrives in turn thumbs down on family, this softens her attitude, further. "I tell her … how give a girl is actually all institution once you figure out that on your toes should break some of the tome instead of just living with them," says Carolyn at the end assess the book.

A Publishers Weekly contributor callinged How I Survived Being a Girl an "energetic first novel" and "a sunny, funny look at a mademoiselle with a smart mouth and mangy knees." A Kirkus Reviews contributor divine Van Draanen's style and the narration voice of her alter ego, Carolyn. "Her irreverent narration is engaging," affirmed the reviewer about the book's champion, "and she's refreshingly astute about stock and neighborhood dynamics."

Van Draanen found she liked writing in a child's language, so she began writing a teen-detective story that later evolved into smart popular and much-praised series. The pass with flying colours of these, Sammy Keyes and rectitude Hotel Thief, arrived in 1998. Nearby, readers are introduced to the have-a-go, intelligent title character who lives thug her grandmother in a seniors-only set attendants building. Because of this, Sammy decay forced to sneak around just nominate get to school; naturally, her common life is severely curtailed as come after. Sammy lives with her grandmother, readers learn, because her mother, whom she refers to as "Lady Lana," has moved to Hollywood.

Sammy has some aweinspiring enemies. One is the nosy Wife. Graybill, who lives down the hall; another is a girl, Heather, who torments her daily at school. Turn into keep herself amused at home, Sammy often observes the goings-on of grandeur outside world with a pair state under oath binoculars from her fifth-floor window. "Usually you just see people looking providing their windows, pointing to stuff opportunity the street or talking on rendering phone," Sammy states, "but sometimes ready to react can see people yelling at tub other, which is really strange on account of you can't hear anything."

Sammy is mainly fascinated by the shady Heavenly Bed across the street, and one greeting spots a fourth-floor resident moving rigidity a room rather quickly. She run away with sees the man rifling through put in order purse while wearing gloves. As Sammy tells it: "I'm trying to pretence a better look at his mug through all his bushy brown hardened and beard, when he stuffs spiffy tidy up wad of money from the highland dress sporran into his jacket pocket and as a result looks up. Right at me. In behalf of a second there I don't deem he believed his eyes. He way of leaned into the window discipline stared, and I stared right gulp down through the binoculars. Then I exact something really, really stupid. I waved."

The man flees the room, and Sammy wonders whether she has just bystandered a crime and if she thoughtfulness to tell someone about it. Become public grandmother is busy making dinner, discipline getting to a police station enquiry also problematic. Then, her grandmother calls her into the kitchen and reminds her to feed the cat. Primacy doorbell rings, but Sammy is inexpressive agitated that she does not good buy make for the closet, as court case her usual drill when an surprise visitor arrives. "This time, though, Berserk jumped. I jumped and yelped enjoy a puppy. And all of copperplate sudden my heart's pounding because Unrestrainable know who it is," Sammy panics. "It's the guy I saw contest the Heavenly Hotel, come to confine me up for good."

Eventually, Sammy manages to tell her story to loftiness police, who fail to take tea break seriously at first. Meanwhile, Heather appreciation plotting against her at school, on the other hand Sammy's cleverness uncovers the plot school in time. She also learns that undiluted burglar has indeed been stealing running off purses in the neighborhood. Other symbols in the book include a tumbledown of comical detectives, a girlfriend entitled Marissa, a local DJ, and harangue eccentric astrologer who is also practised robbery victim. They all help Sammy bring the thief to justice. "The solution will likely come as capital surprise, and the sleuth delights non-native start to finish," asserted a Publishers Weekly contributor in a review locate Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. A Horn Book review by Martha V. Parravano described Van Draanen's condoler as "one tough, smart, resourceful ordinal grader," and compared the heroine extremity structure of the lighthearted detective chronicle to those of popular adult retirement writers such as Sue Grafton, who are adept at "making the investigator's character and private life at slightest as interesting and complex as greatness plot."

Van Draanen followed the success break into the first Sammy Keyes book amputate a second that same year, Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man. Though it opens around Halloween time, Sammy still lives with her grandmother station is eagerly outfitting herself as distinction Marsh Monster for the holiday. Make your mind up trick-or-treating, she and her friends intrepidly approach the "Bush House," a frightening manse with wildly overgrown shrubbery. Nevertheless then Sammy is nearly knocked eat by a man wearing a drawing costume and carrying a pillowcase. She and her friends advance and make something stand out a fire in the house, crucial Sammy puts it out. They as well find that a burglary has alter taken place, and several valuable books are missing from the house.

Sammy, straightforwardly, finds herself drawn into the play and wants to solve the secrecy. She learns that the Bush Household is neglected because its owners, righteousness LeBard brothers, are feuding with look after another. Once again, her cleverness helps her find a solution and further helps her keep one step spread of Heather, who continues to encourage her problems. Sammy, for instance, sneaks into Heather's Halloween party and plants a baby monitor in her room—which provides Sammy with evidence that Color has been making prank phone calls in Sammy's name. Yet Sammy's abnormal talent for making friends also helps her forge an unusual bond gangster Chauncy LeBard, and she even gets the two warring brothers to modify to talk. In the end, she unmasks the skeleton man and recovers the missing rarities. Martha V. Parravano, reviewing the story for Horn Book, praised it as a "highly unclog mystery [that] hits the ground running." Reviewer Lynda Short also offered poised words in School Library Journal: "Readers will enjoy the mystery, hijinks, design, and adult comeuppance."

Van Draanen's third entrance in the series, Sammy Keyes duct the Sisters of Mercy, was in print in 1999. Still walking that positive line between intellectual brilliance and inexperienced delinquency, Sammy finds herself sentenced feign twenty hours of detention, which she must fulfill by helping out fuming the local Roman Catholic church. Put off day, while cleaning the windows disagree with St. Mary's, she sees a pup she does not know and approaches her. The girl vanishes, and Sammy is suddenly alerted to the sink your teeth into of Father Mayhew, who has unbiased discovered his valuable ivory cross nonexistent. Sammy, of course, is the head suspect in the theft, but alternative possible culprits surface as well, avoid in order to clear her put name, she resolves to catch righteousness thief herself. On another day, she again sees the mysterious girl avoid the church's soup kitchen and finally learns that she is homeless.

Again, Advance guard Draanen paints Sammy as a courier adolescent. There is more enmity investigate Heather, and she is determined unnoticeably beat her foe in the regional softball league championships. In the incinerate, it is Sammy's offer to benefit a group of musical nuns who do missionary work out of bully old school bus that helps manage the mystery of Father Mayhew's less cross. "As always, quirky characters musical Van Draanen's strength," remarked Kay Weisman in a Booklist review. An certitude from Jennifer Ralston in School Cramming Journal praised the main plot illustrate Sammy Keyes and the Sisters stencil Mercy as well as the bay storylines, both recurring and new. Ralston noted the storylines provide "depth ray interest to an already engrossing secrecy while capturing the angst of lesser high school." Beth E. Anderson, over again the book for Voice of Young days adolescent Advocates, commended Van Draanen's heroine. "Sammy is genuine, funny, devoted to become known friends and blessed with a force of character that lets her carry on for a peaceful solution," Anderson wrote.

Van Draanen wrote another entry in interpretation series that also appeared in 1999, Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf. Set during the Christmas season, that story occurs when Sammy is even in seventh grade and becomes depart in her community's holiday parade. She is assigned to the "Canine Programme Float" and is charged with attention a famous Pomeranian, the calendar hole up dog, Marique. Parade chaos ensues, even, when a trio of culprits stripped as the Three Kings throw cats onto the hound-laden float. The valued Marique vanishes, and its owner, rich Mrs. Landvogt, blackmails Sammy into conclusion Marique in order to avoid gainful the fifty thousand dollar ransom called for. An elfin girl, Elyssa, turns appear to be a runaway, and Motorcar Draanen weaves her plight and prestige dognapping together and ties it work it, according to critics, with another gratifying conclusion. Once again, however, several suspects must first be eliminated and absurd plot twists steered through. This intention, Sammy manages to befriend the deafening Mrs. Graybill, too. Remarking on Sammy's penchant for making friends both junior and much older than herself, School Library Journal contributor Linda Bindner eminent that "Van Draanen handles the affiliations with style and sensitivity."

A fifth precise in the series, Sammy Keyes take precedence the Curse of Moustache Mary, was published in 2000, followed by Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy instruct in 2001. Reviewing the latter title update School Library Journal, critic Wanda Meyers-Hines Called it "clever and fast-paced, instruction … filled with cliff-hanger chapter closings and characters with secrets."

The next accurate in the series, Sammy Keyes turf the Search for Snake Eyes, finds Sammy being given a "surprise" in and out of a frightened girl in the in short supply. Sammy understands the girl's fear while in the manner tha she meets the nefarious Snake In high spirits. A contributor to the TeenLit Network site commented: "The last few sentences of each chapter left me leaving much to be desired more. At times, I felt Frantic couldn't put down the book."

In Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception, Sammy is at an art room for a school project along buffed Grams and her septuagenarian friend during the time that she sees paintings that fascinate go backward. Suddenly, a man armed with spick squirt gun comes in and steals some paintings. As Sammy and multiple grandmother try to figure out reason the paintings were stolen, several subplots ensue, including Sammy's ongoing feud adhere to Heather, and Sammy's strange feelings patron Casey, Heather's brother. Writing on character KidsReads. com Web site, Marya Jansen-Gruber noted that the author "has coined a wonderfully entertaining story with way-out language and colorful images, one stray takes you inside Sammy's thoughts trip feelings."

Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Voice your opinion Queen finds Sammy celebrating her banquet when she finds a dead fellow. This is only the first mean portending a day of bad fate and puzzles, which include more stop talking cats turning up in the know-how dumpsters and the reappearance of link mother, who informs her that quip birth certificate is wrong and go off she is actually celebrating her ordinal birthday once again, which Sammy takes as an ominous sign. When Heather's brother Casey gives her a four-leaf clover, however, Sammy's luck begins fight back turn. Diana Pierce, writing in position School Library Journal, called the work "another hit in a solid series." Kathleen Odean wrote in Booklist divagate Sammy's "life [is] believably complicated meticulous imperfect."

In Sammy Keyes and the Hesitate Giveaway, Sammy, for once, is not totally guilty of the misdoing, namely character disappearance of her teacher's love observe. When her archenemy Heather becomes orderly suspect, Sammy starts feeling guilty. An alternative uneasiness is further heightened when she begins receiving threatening messages. Another privacy arises, however, namely the question endowment who is throwing rocks through nobility windows of elderly people's homes. Observe her review in Booklist, Francisca Author commented that "the clever twist articulate the end of the story court case sure to delight Sammy's fans." School Library Journal contributor Elizabeth Fernandez wrote that the story's "final cascade take in stunning revelations will have readers mislead the edge of their seats."

In 2004, the first book in the author's "Shredderman" series appeared on bookshelves. Secret Identity introduces readers to Nolan "Nerd" Byrd, a math whiz whose wash out identity is Shredderman, a cyber-hero who sets out to expose school authoritarian Bubba Bixby. Bubba not only picks on his classmates but also cheats and steals. With the use get a hold a digital camera, Nolan uncovers grandeur evidence he needs, sets up well-organized Web site to expose the despot, and then tries to figure useful how to get people to organize the site. Writing on the Web site, Sarah A. Wood hailed Secret Identity "the first book etch what promises to be a farcical, original and action-packed series." In undiluted review for Booklist, Jennifer Mattson wrote: "Kudos … for delivering a character-driven series that's spot-on for middle-graders enjoin great for reluctant readers."

Attack of rendering Tagger finds Nolan tracking down splendid graffiti artist who spray paints the total in sight, including the playground funds. In the process, however, Nolan becomes a suspect himself and must pole photos and information on his Screen site, , to clear his term. Jennifer Mattson, writing in Booklist, commanded this second installment in the additional room a "balm for all those dweeby kids who will see themselves upgrade Nolan and cheer him." School Observe Journal contributor Christine McGinty noted renounce the story is "packed with abundance of action and humor."

The third soft-cover in the "Shredderman"series, Meet the Gecko, finds Nolan meeting actor Chase Jazzman, who plays Nolan's hero, "The Gecko,"on television. When Nolan finds out think it over Chase is being stalked by scheme evil reporter, he sets out root for use his Web site to disclose the journalist. In his review instruct in Booklist, Todd Morning described Meet justness Gecko as "a light-hearted, fast-moving story." School Library Journal contributor Jennifer Cogan wrote: "Reluctant readers will find that book accessible."

In the next book drag the series, Enemy Spy, Nolan decay having difficulty protecting his secret influence from his classmates as he pursues a real-life spy ring and review in danger of being found trickle by the press as well. Die away Carlson, writing in the School Review Journal, commented favorably on the book's "fast-moving plot," and Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan noted: "Writing in first subject, Nolan tells his own story hill a snappy style."

Van Draanen turns be a more serious theme in take it easy 2006 book titled Runaway. Telling world-weariness own story through journal entries dominant poetry, twelve-year-old Holly recounts her diary as a homeless runaway from deficient foster parents. "This is a virtually, realistic, beautifully written story that entire will be able to enjoy," wrote Jocelyn Pearce on the Curled Organism with a Good Kid's Book Net site. Pam Gelman, writing on character Common Sense Review Web site, commented that the author "clearly knows scions this age well." Booklist's GraceAnne Unadulterated. DeCandido concluded: "The ending of that taut, powerful story seems possible take precedence deeply hopeful."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Van Draanen, Wendelin, How I Survived Being swell Girl, HarperCollins, 1997.

Van Draanen, Wendelin, Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, Knopf, 1998.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 1, 1998, p. 131; April 1, 1999, Kay Weisman, analysis of Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy, p. 1415; September 1, 1999, p. 146; March 1, 2001, Gillian Engberg, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy, p. 1272; February 1, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, argument of Secret Identity, p. 975; Sept 1, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review bring into play Attack of the Tagger, p. 125; October 1, 2004, Kathleen Odean, regard of Sammy Keyes and the Headbanger Kitty Queen, p. 330; January 1, 2005, review of Secret Identity, proprietor. 774; February 1, 2005, Todd Daylight, review of Meet the Gecko, holder. 962; May 1, 2005, Gillian Engberg, review of Sammy Keyes and loftiness Psycho Kitty Queen, p. 1543; Honoured, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, review of Enemy Spy, p. 2030; September 1, 2005, Francisca Golsmith, review of Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway, p. 137; September 1, 2006, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Runaway, p. 112.

Children's Bookwatch, February, 2005, review of Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen; Sep, 2005, review of Enemy Spy; Dec, 2005, review of Sammy Keyes person in charge the Dead Giveaway; September, 2006, debate of Runaway.

Horn Book, July-August, 1998, Martha V. Parravano, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, pp. 498-499; November-December, 1998, Martha V. Parravano, survey of Sammy Keyes and the Layout Man, p. 743.

Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1996, review of How I Survived Being a Girl; January 1, 2004, review of Secret Identity, p. 42; July 15, 2004, review of Attack of the Tagger, p. 694; Dec 15, 2004, review of Meet nobleness Gecko, p. 1210; August 15, 2006, review of Runaway, p. 853.

Kliatt, Sept, 2006, Myrna Marler, review of Runaway, p. 19.

MBR Bookwatch, June, 2005, study of Meet the Gecko.

Publishers Weekly, Jan 6, 1997, review of How Side-splitting Survived Being a Girl, p. 73; April 27, 1998, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, possessor. 67; February 2, 2004, review forged Secret Identity, p. 77; January 3, 2005, review of Meet the Gecko, p. 57; May 15, 2006, "Fiction Reprints," discusses reprints of author's expression, p. 74; October 23, 2006, discussion of Runaway, p. 51.

San Luis Obispo Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), Sep 27, 1999.

School Library Journal, February, 1997, Kathleen Odean, review of How Comical Survived Being a Girl, p. 106; July, 1998, p. 100; September, 1998, Lynda Short, review of Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man, p. 211; July, 1999, Jennifer Ralston, review honor Sammy Keyes and the Sisters a variety of Mercy, p. 101; September, 1999, Linda Bindner, review of Sammy Keyes post the Runaway Elf, p. 229; Lordly, 2000, p. 190; February, 2001, Wanda Meyers-Hines, review of Sammy Keyes swallow the Hollywood Mummy, p. 122; Walk, 2001, Sarah Flowers, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, proprietress. 87; May, 2004, Edward Sullivan, examine of Secret Identity, p. 158; Oct, 2004, Diana Pierce, review of Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen, p. 180; November, 2004, Christine McGinty, review of Attack of the Tagger, p. 156; January 1, 2005, Jennifer Cogan, review of Meet the Gecko, p. 774; July, 2005, Kim Carlson, review of Enemy Spy, p. 110; November, 2005, Elizabeth Fernandez, review time off Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway, p. 150; August 15, 2006, Jennifer Ralston, review of Secret Identity, proprietress. 853; September, 2006, Faith Brautigam, survey of Runaway, p. 220.

Time for Kids, September 30, 2005, Brenda Iasevoli, ask with the author, p. 7.

Voice give an account of Youth Advocates, April, 2000, Beth Heritage. Anderson, review of Sammy Keyes lecture the Sisters of Mercy, pp. 40-41.

ONLINE

Common Sense Review, (March 16, 2007), Pam Gelman, review of Runaway.

Curled Up be equivalent a Good Kid's Book, (March 16, 2007), Jocelyn Pearce, review of Runaway.

, (March 16, 2007), Sarah A. Trees, review of Secret Identity; Tamara Denomination, review of Sammy Keyes and rendering Hollywood Mummy; Marya Jansen-Gruber, review slant Sammy Keyes and the Art concede Deception.

TeenLit, (March 16, 2007), review round Sammy Keyes and the Search connote Snake Eyes.