Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Cynthia Leitich Smith
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Writing period 2000-present
Genres Children's literature, Young Adult Literature, Native American literature, Gothic Fantasy/Horror, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Official website

Cynthia Leitich Smith is an 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.[1] These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms [2][3][4]. In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up.[5]. Regarded as an expert in Children's Literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources[6]. Smith is a faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.[7]

Contents

[edit] Books

Jingle Dancer[8], illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu[9]. A picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award[10], a runner-up for the Western Writers of America Storyteller Award[11], and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies[12], on the 2002 Texas 2x2 list[13], and on the 2002 Michigan Reader's Choice Award List[13].

Rain is Not My Indian Name[14] is a novel for middle school readers. Upon its publication by HarperCollins, Smith was recognized as 2001 Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers[15]. Like Jingle Dancer, it was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award[16]. An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House[17].

Indian Shoes[18] 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[18], the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education[13], and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center[13].

Santa Knows[19], also by Greg Leitich Smith[20] and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman[21], is a humorous holiday picture book, published by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book[22], "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews[23].

Tantalize[24] 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 [25] and Walker U.K.[26]

Eternal[27] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2009 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.

[edit] Bibliography

  • "Jingle Dancer" (2000)
  • "Rain is Not My Indian Name" (2001)
  • "Indian Shoes" (2002)
  • "Santa Knows" (2006)
  • "Tantalize" (2007)
  • "Eternal" (2009)

[edit] Short stories

  • "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,[28] 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,[29] 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002266_pf.html The Washington Post
  2. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140921767.html Childhood Education
  3. ^ http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/nabooklist.html National Education Association
  4. ^ http://applications.edreform.net/educationaltype/educatorsguide Education Reform
  5. ^ http://yaauthorscafe.blogspot.com/2007/02/tantalize-by-cynthia-leitich-smith.html Young Authors Cafe
  6. ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1108/p13s01-almo.html Christian Science Monitor
  7. ^ - MFA in Writing for Children
  8. ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688162412 HarperCollins
  9. ^ http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/authors/interviews/hu_vanwright.html CYALR
  10. ^ http://www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb/01final.htm Oklahoma Center for the Book
  11. ^ http://www.westernwriters.org/spur_award_history.htm#2002 Western Writers of America
  12. ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688162412
  13. ^ a b c d http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_smith_cynthial.html Children's Literature
  14. ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688173975 HarperCollins
  15. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25398616_ITM The Horn Book Magazine
  16. ^ http://www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb/02final.htm Oklahoma Center for the Book
  17. ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/results.pperl?title_subtitle_auth_isbn=rain+is+not+my+indian+name&btnG.x=&btnG.y=&btnG=GO Random House Audio
  18. ^ a b http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780060295318 HarperCollins
  19. ^ http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525477570,00.html?Santa_Knows_Cynthia_Leitich_Smith Penguin USA
  20. ^ http://www.gregleitichsmith.com/mt/books/archives/2006/07/santa_knows.html Author Greg Leitich Smith
  21. ^ http://www.stevebjorkman.com/ Illustrator Steve Bjorkman
  22. ^ http://www.hbook.com/magazine/reviews/group/holiday06.asp Horn Book Magazine
  23. ^ http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Santa-Knows/Cynthia-Leitich-Smith/e/9780525477570#TABS Barnes & Noble
  24. ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763627917&pix=n Candlewick Press
  25. ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/results.pperl?title_subtitle_auth_isbn=tantalize&btnG.x=0&btnG.y=0&btnG=GO Random House Audio
  26. ^ http://www.walker.co.uk/Tantalize-9781406315608.aspx Walker U.K.
  27. ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763635731&browse=Title Candlewick Press
  28. ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780066239576 HarperCollins
  29. ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763637521&pix=n Candlewick Press

[edit] See also

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