American novelist
Neal Shusterman (born November 12, 1962) is an American writer of
young-adult fiction . He won the 2015
National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his book
Challenger Deep and his novel,
Scythe , was a 2017
Michael L. Printz Honor book.
[1]
Early life
Shusterman was born on November 12, 1962, and raised in
Brooklyn ,
New York City . From a young age, Shusterman was an avid reader. His family is
Jewish , and has claimed that he is at least 40-50% North African Sephardic according to a DNA test.
[2]
[3] At the age of 16, Shusterman and his family moved to
Mexico City .
[4]
He finished high school there at
the American School Foundation and is quoted as saying that "Having an international experience changed my life, giving me a fresh perspective on the world, and a sense of confidence I might not have otherwise."[
citation needed ] He attended the
University of California, Irvine , where he double-majored in
psychology and theater,
[5] and was also on the varsity swim team.
[6]
[7]
Career
After college, Shusterman worked as an assistant at the Irvin Arthur Associates, a talent agency in Los Angeles, where
Lloyd Segan became his agent. Within a year, Shusterman had his first book deal and a screenwriting job. He lives in Florida.
[8]
Shusterman has received numerous honors for his books, including the
National Book Award in 2015 for his novel
Challenger Deep , the
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award , and the 2008
California Young Reader Medal for
The Schwa Was Here . He served as a judge for the
PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship in 2012.
[9] His novels
Downsiders and
Full Tilt have each won over 20 awards.
Unwind has won more than 30 awards and is in development with Universal TV as a television series. His novel
Scythe is in development with Universal as a feature film.
He has been nominated four times (twice in 2019; 2020; 2023) in different categories of the
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis and won the youth jury award in 2019. In March 2023 the German translation of the book Roxy , written with his son Jarrod Shusterman, was nominated by the youth jury.
[10]
Shusterman has also written for TV, including the Original Disney Channel movie
Pixel Perfect , as well as episodes of
Goosebumps and
Animorphs .
[8] He has written for
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series and is also adapting his novel Challenger Deep for 20th Century Fox.
Fellow author
Orson Scott Card invited Shusterman to write novels parallel to
Ender's Game about other characters from the series, but schedules didn't permit it, and Card wrote
Ender's Shadow and the subsequent series himself.
[11]
Awards
Bibliography
Fiction series
The N.O.A.H. Files trilogy
I am the Walrus
[18]
Schock The Monkey
[19]
The Accelerati trilogy (with
Eric Elfman )
Antsy Bonano
Arc of a Scythe
Dark Fusion
Shadow Club
Skinjacker trilogy
Star Shards
Scorpion Shards (1995)
[48]
Thief of Souls (1999)
[49]
Shattered Sky (2002)
[50]
[51]
The Unwind dystology
The X-Files Young Adult Series
3) Bad Sign (1997) [writing as Easton Royce]
[61] novelization of The X-Files episode
Syzygy
10) Dark Matter (1999) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode
Soft Light
The X-Files Young Readers Series
8) Voltage (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode
D.P.O .
9) E.B.E. (1996) co-authored with Les Martin [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode
E.B.E.
1) The Aliens Approach (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of the pilot episode of the Space: Above and Beyond TV series
3) Mutiny (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of the Space: Above and Beyond episode, Mutiny
Novels
Picture books
Piggyback Ninja (1994) Illustrated by Joe Boddy
Short stories
Short story collections
Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1993)
Darkness Creeping II: More Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1995)
Mindquakes: Stories to Shatter Your Brain (1996)
Mindstorms: Stories to Blow Your Mind (1996)
Mindtwisters: Stories To Shred Your Head (1997)
Mindbenders: Stories to Warp Your Brain (2000)
Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales (2007)
Violent Ends (2015) co-authored with 17 other authors including, Brendon Shusterman,
Shaun David Hutchinson , and
Beth Revis
Games
How to Host a Murder: Roman Ruins (1997)
How to Host a Murder: The Grapes of Frath (1997)
How to Host a Teen Mystery: Hot Times at Hollywood High (1997)
How to Host a Murder: The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty (1998)
How to Host a Murder: Tragical Mystery Tour (1999)
How to Host a Teen Mystery: Barbecue with the Vampire (1999)
How to Host a Murder: Saturday Night Cleaver (2000)
How to Host a Murder: Maiming of the Shrew (2001)
How to Host a Teen Mystery: Roswell That Ends Well (2002)
How to Host a Murder: An Affair to Dismember (2003)
Nonfiction
Guy Talk (1987)
It's Ok to Say No to Cigarettes and Alcohol (1988)
Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story (1989) with Cherie Currie
Kid Heroes: True Stories of Rescuers, Survivors, and Achievers (1991)
Poems
"Shadows of Doubt" (1993)
Screenwriting credits
Television
Film
References
^
"About" . Neal Shusterman . Retrieved May 17, 2021 .
^
"Author Spotlight: Neal Shusterman" . www.hercampus.com . November 28, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2023 .
^ Jensen, Kelly (May 26, 2020).
"Neal Shusterman's Inclusive YA and Talking to the Author About Representation" . BOOK RIOT . Retrieved April 23, 2023 .
^ Gale, Thomas.
Neal Shusterman Biography .
BookRags . Retrieved May 8, 2009 .
^ Yolsirivat, Nattanont (April 10, 2018).
"The Wonderful Neal Shusterman" . PantherNation . Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^
"Exploring the abyss" . UCI News . March 10, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^
"Scythe :: Kling Memorial Library" . Kling Memorial Library . Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^
a
b Shusterman, Neal.
"Neal Shusterman: Bio" . storyman.com .
Self published . Archived from
the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2008 .
^
"Announcing the 2012 PEN Literary Award Recipients" .
PEN American Center . October 15, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2013 .
^
"Deutscher Jugendliteratur Preis 2023 Nominierungen" (PDF) . Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur . Retrieved March 23, 2023 .
^ Card himself describes the origins of the idea for Ender's Shadow and Shusterman's early involvement in the foreword of some editions of Ender's Shadow , including
ISBN
978-0-7653-4240-9 )
^
"Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners" . Horn Book Magazine. May 30, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^
"Winners" . CYRM. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^
"2015 National Book Award Winner, Young People's Literature" . Archived from
the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^ Alter, Alexandra (November 19, 2015).
"Ta-Nehisi Coates Wins National Book Award" .
The New York Times . Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^
"SCBWI | 2016 Golden Kite Winners" . Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^
"Past Winners: Young Hoosier Book Awards" (PDF) .
^
"Goodreads: I am the Walrus" .
Goodreads . Retrieved April 27, 2023 .
^
"Goodreads: Shock the Monkey" .
Goodreads . Retrieved March 19, 2024 .
^
"The Accelerati Trilogy, Book One: Tesla's Attic" .
Disney Publishing Worldwide . January 23, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^ Shusterman, Neal.
"Tesla's Attic – Book Description" . storyman.com .
Self published . Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^
"TESLA'S ATTIC" .
Kirkus Reviews . December 7, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^
"The Accelerati Trilogy, Book Two: Edison's Alley" .
Disney Publishing Worldwide . December 4, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^ Shusterman, Neal.
"Edison's Alley – Book Description" . storyman.com .
Self published . Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^ Shusterman, Neal (June 3, 2015).
"June 2015 News Tidbits" . storyman.com .
Self published . Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^
"The Schwa – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"THE SCHWA WAS HERE by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Antsy Does Time – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"ANTSY DOES TIME by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Ship Out Of Luck – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"SHIP OUT OF LUCK by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Sythe – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved December 14, 2016 .
^
"Four Questions for Neal Shusterman" . Publishers Weekly . Retrieved February 7, 2019 .
^
"Dread Locks – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"DREAD LOCKS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Red Rider's Hood – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"DARK FUSION by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Duckling Ugly – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"DUCKLING UGLY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"The Shadow Club Rising – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"THE SHADOW CLUB RISING by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Everlost – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"EVERLOST by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Everwild – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"EVERWILD by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Everfound – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"EVERFOUND by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Scorpion Shards – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Thief Of Souls – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Shattered Sky – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"SHATTERED SKY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Unwind – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UNWIND by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UnWholly – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UNWHOLLY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UnSouled – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UNSOULED by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UnDivided – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"UNDIVIDED by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Digital Catalog – UnBound" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^ royce, easton (1997).
the x files bad sign (first ed.). HarperCollins.
ISBN
9780064471701 .
^
"SPEEDING BULLET by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"WHAT DADDY DID by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"THE EYES OF KID MIDAS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"The Dark Side of Nowhere – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"THE DARK SIDE OF NOWHERE by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Downsiders – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"DOWNSIDERS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Full Tilt – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"FULL TILT by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Bruiser – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"BRUISER by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^
"Challenger Deep – Neal Shusterman" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
^ Archipelago, World.
"Resurrection Bay – Neal Shusterman – E-book" . Retrieved June 25, 2016 .
External links
International National Academics People Other