Laurie Halse Anderson





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Laurie Halse Anderson

Goodreads author profile


born
October 23, 1961 in Postdam, New York, The United States

gender
female

website

genre

influences
My Grandparents

member since
February 2009


About this author

Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous ALA and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists.

Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, http://twitter.com/halseanderson and on her blog, http://madwomanintheforest.com/blog/.

Check out Laurie's new website, http://madwomanintheforest.com/ .


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"When you are not writing, you're going to be sad. You are going to feel inadequate. You are going to feel untalented. You are going to feel incompetent. It's crucially important to understand that the impulse to write is a reaching out to God."





—David Milch, creator of Deadwood and so much more, in a presentation at the...

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Published on February 09, 2012 03:41 • 49 views
Average rating: 3.92 · 130,135 ratings · 17,142 reviews · 40 distinct works
Speak
3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 69,084 ratings — published 1999 — 47 editions
My rating:
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Wintergirls
3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 17,005 ratings — published 2009 — 27 editions
My rating:
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Fever 1793
3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 16,471 ratings — published 2000 — 19 editions
My rating:
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Twisted
3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 8,807 ratings — published 2007 — 18 editions
My rating:
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Chains (Seeds of America, #1)
4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 6,597 ratings — published 2008 — 17 editions
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Catalyst
3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 avg rating — 5,125 ratings — published 2002 — 17 editions
My rating:
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Prom
3.27 of 5 stars 3.27 avg rating — 3,465 ratings — published 2005 — 14 editions
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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Forge (Seeds of America, #2)
4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 1,634 ratings — published 2010 — 12 editions
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Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Wh...
4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 282 ratings — published 2002 — 4 editions
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The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher...
by
3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 202 ratings — published 2009
My rating:
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More books by Laurie Halse Anderson…
Chains Forge
Seeds of America (3 books)
by
4.10235551238465 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 8,236 ratings
Fight for Life Homeless Trickster Manatee Blues Say Good-Bye Storm Rescue Teacher's Pet
Wild at Heart (12 books)
by
3.94398530762167 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 1,089 ratings
Fight for Life Homeless Manatee Blues Say Good-Bye Storm Rescue Teacher's Pet Trapped
Wild at Heart (11 books)
by
3.94011976047904 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 1,002 ratings

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Interviews

February 2010, Laurie Halse Anderson
" Quick Start SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words? LA: Family Friends Readers: too many blessings to count SS: What is your motto or maxim? LA: It's not a mistake, if you learn from it. Questions About Books and Writing SS: Who are you..." ...More

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Laurie's Recent Updates








"When you are not writing, you're going to be sad. You are going to feel inadequate. You are going to... read more »
Laurie Anderson gave 2 of 5 stars to:
Mason and Dixon by Thomas Pynchon
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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I gave up half-way through. I loved his language and details, but the story did not hold my attention. Or, conversely, I don't have the attention span necessary for this book.
10003
date: November 22, 2009 01:00PM
location: Children's Book World, 17 Haverford Station Road, Haverford, PA, The United States
description: Open to the public! book signing and fundraising event.
Laurie Anderson gave 5 of 5 stars to:
The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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5060378
"I wish that he (or his editor) would have cut out all the scenes in the Caribbean. I don't see how that added to either the plot or my understanding o...more"
Laurie Anderson gave 5 of 5 stars to:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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Best fiction I've read in years.
Laurie Anderson gave 3 of 5 stars to:
Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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I liked it enough to finish it, but struggled to understand why I never was captured - I enjoy Wharton's books and thought the biography would be a delight. I think it came down to this; I prefer biographies that really set up the culture and the pol...more
Laurie Anderson gave 3 of 5 stars to:
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Little Bee
by Chris Cleave (Goodreads Author)
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. I liked most of it... was bogged down by a couple of sections of dialog between the British woman and her lover. They felt really out of place in the context of the story for me.

But I keep thinking of the characters,...more
Laurie Anderson gave 4 of 5 stars to:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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Laurie Anderson gave 5 of 5 stars to:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Unwind (Unwind, #1)
by Neal Shusterman (Goodreads Author)
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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More of Laurie's books…
“THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL

1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with you in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.

TEN MORE LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL

1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus during lunch.
4. The new text books will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care more about you than your SAT scores.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals.
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say.”
Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

“You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.”
Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

“When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”
Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

Polls

Please vote for the book you would like to read for January's Category Two (New Releases):

 
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  20 votes, 29.4%

 
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  10 votes, 14.7%

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Comments (showing 1-16)    post a comment »
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message 16: by Joyzi

Joyzi Thanks for accepting^^


message 15: by Pamela

Pamela Hi Laurie...Thanks for accepting my friend request.


message 14: by G N

G N F Laurie, thank you very much for adding me.


message 13: by Lacie (last edited Nov 15, 2010 04:15pm)

Lacie Solt You have changed my life with the books you write, Laurie. You are my inspiration. I have never found someone in a book that I can relate to as much as I have in Melinda.


Emily Christine Some of my very favorite books that i've read, are ones you've written. They're the kind of books that I will never be able to forget, and the kind of books that i simply don't want to forget. They're also, the kind of books that I can read again and again, and teach me to be a better person. Thanks for making my life sweeter.


message 11: by Stuart

Stuart Hi Laurie, I am delighted that we are friends on GoodReads. All the best from Australia, Stuart


message 10: by Jessica

Jessica I LOVE WINTERGIRLS ITS MY FAV BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!


Carmen Thanks for adding me! Speak was one of the first YA novels I ever read that meant something to me. Thank you for that! :)


message 8: by Emily

Emily I loved your books. I read Speak when I was thirteen and it really impressed me a lot. It's one of my favourite books.


message 7: by Terra

Terra Hi Laurie!! I just had a trip to San Diego last week and I finished Speak and Catalyst. I am also just about done with Fever. I don't want to finish all of them, I can't wait for more of your great books to come out, hope there is more along the same lines of the Speak, Catalyst and Fever. It's kind of nice reading non-vamp books. I am also recording on my tivo the movie Speak which is airing this saturday on Lifetime! I think I watched it a few years back and didn't realize it was a book. Keep up the FABULOUS writting!!!! I am a HUGE fan of yours!!!!!!!! GO TEAM LAURIE!!!!! xoxox


message 6: by Terra

Terra I just went out over the weekend and bought; Catalyst, Speak and Fever! I'm so excited to start!!!!


Gabriela Speak is my favorite book :]


message 4: by Terra

Terra Ok, so I finished the book last night. I loved how it ended, I was on the edge of my seat there for a while, gasping, saying NOO NOOOO! Then what a fantastic ending, had me in tears! I am off now to buy every book you've written. I loved it, I especially loved the aknowledgments at the end. You are a fabulous author and seem like such a sweet down to earth woman. I am recommending this book to all of my friends! Thank you!!


message 3: by Terra

Terra I began reading Twisted yesterday at about 6pm and I could not put it down. I am more than half way done with it, I don't want it to end. What a fabulous book! I laughed, I cringed, and I could relate to the torment of kids in high school. I am so glad I bought the book. After I am finished I am definitly going to get your other books. great job!!


message 2: by Terra

Terra I came across a lot of your books on here, I am so thankful for this site. I can not wait to read your books!!!


message 1: by Kyra

Kyra Dougherty I love your book Wintergirls. I think it has a character almost anyone can relate to. I hate the way Cassie died though. It was very sad to figure that out with Lia. I felt like I knew Lia and I was there with her. It is very well written and an over-all wonderful book.

-Kyra


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