Adam Gidwitz

Born (1982-02-14) February 14, 1982 (age 42)
San Francisco, CA
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
Alma materColumbia University
Bank Street College of Education
Period2011–present
GenreChildren's literature
Notable worksThe Inquisitor's Tale
Spouse
Lauren Mancia
​
(m. 2011)​
Signature
Website
adamgidwitz.com

Adam Gidwitz (born February 14, 1982) is an American author of children's books, best known for A Tale Dark and Grimm (2010), In a Glass Grimmly (2012), and The Grimm Conclusion (2013). He received a 2017 Newbery Honor for The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog (2016).[1] In 2021, his book A Tale Dark and Grimm was adapted into an animated miniseries on Netflix.

Biography

He was born in San Francisco in 1982 but grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.[2][3] His grandfather, Willard Gidwitz, was a president at Helene Curtis.[4] Through his father's family, he is also related to Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate and Trump appointee Ronald Gidwitz.

He attended Columbia University, where he majored in English literature and spent his junior year abroad in the university's Oxford/Cambridge Scholars program.

After university, Gidwitz became a teacher at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn. He credits a stint as a substitute librarian as the inspiration for writing The Grimm Trilogy.[5]

In 2011, Gidwitz married Lauren Mancia, whom he met in university.[6] They now live in Brooklyn, New York and Gidwitz writes full-time.

Awards and honors

A Tale Dark and Grimm was named a New York Times Editor's Choice.[7] Publishers Weekly,[8] School Library Journal,[9] and Shelf Awareness editor Jennifer M. Brown[10] named it one of the best children's books of 2010. An animated series based on the book was one of the top ten most watched shows for kids on Netflix in October 2021.[11]

The Inquisitor's Tale is a New York Times Bestselling book.[12] Both and book and audiobook are Junior Library Guild selections.[13][14] Kirkus Reviews,[12] The New York Times,[14] Publishers Weekly,[15] School Library Journal,[14] and The Washington Post[14] named it one of the best children's books of 2016. Booklist included it on their 2016 "Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books for Youth"[16] and 2017 "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth"[17] lists. They also included the audiobook edition on their 2017 "Top 10 Middle-Grade Fiction on Audio"[18] and "Top 10 Youth Historical Fiction on Audio" lists.[19] In 2019, Booklist included it on their list of the "50 Best Middle-Grade Novels of the 21st Century."[20]

The first two books of The Unicorn Rescue Society were included on Booklist's 2018 "Audio Stars for Youth"[21] and "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks for Youth" lists.[22] The Creature of the Pines is a Junior Library Guild book.[23]

Awards for Gidwitz's books
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2011 A Tale Dark and Grimm ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [24][25]
E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for Middle Reader Honor [26]
2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Selection [27]
2013 In a Glass Grimmly Listen Up Awards Shortlist [28]
2016 The Inquisitor's Tale Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth Selection [29]
Jewish Book Council Award for Children's Literature Finalist [30]
2017 ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [31]
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Selection [32][33]
Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth Selection [34]
Charlotte Huck Award Recommended [35]
E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for Middle Grade Finalist [36]
Newbery Medal Honor [37][38][1]
Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers Winner [12][39][40]
2019 The Creature of the Pines E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for Middle Grade Finalist [41]
2021 The Madre de Aguas of Cuba ALSC Notable Children's Recordings Selection [42]

Publications

Standalone books

Grimm trilogy

  1. A Tale Dark and Grimm. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2010.
  2. In a Glass Grimmly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2012.
  3. The Grimm Conclusion. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2013.

The Unicorn Rescue Society series

  1. The Creature of the Pines, Illustrated by Hatem Aly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2018.
  2. The Basque Dragon. Co-authored by Jesse Casey. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2018.
  3. Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot. Co-authored by Joseph Bruchac. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2018.
  4. The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande. Co-authored by David Bowles. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2019.
  5. The Madre de Aguas of Cuba. Co-authored by Emma Otheguy. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. New York: Dutton Penguin, 2020.

Operation Kinderspion duology

  1. Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2024.

References

  1. ^ a b "Newbery Honor Books: 2017". Booklist. 2017-01-23. Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  2. ^ Gidwitz, Adam. "About Adam Gidwitz". Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Amazon.com: Adam Gidwitz: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle". Amazon. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Adele Gidwitz". Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Adam Gidwitz '04 Reinvents the Brothers Grimm". Columbia College Today. Columbia University. March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  6. ^ Corbett, Sue (2016-09-27). "Q & A with Adam Gidwitz". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  7. ^ "Editors' Choice". The New York Times. 2010-11-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  8. ^ "PW's Best Children's Books 2010". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  9. ^ School Library Journal Best Children's Books of the Year, [1] Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine, accessed January 30, 2011
  10. ^ "Our Top Ten Lists: Part IV". Shelf Awareness. 2010-12-22. Archived from the original on 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  11. ^ Aquino, Gilcy (2021-10-28). "Now Streaming: 'A Tale Dark & Grimm'". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  12. ^ a b c "The Inquisitor's Tale". Kirkus Reviews. 2016-07-02. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  13. ^ "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog (Audiobook) by Adam Gidwitz". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  14. ^ a b c d "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  15. ^ "Best Books 2016 Publishers Weekly". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  16. ^ Cooper, Ilene (2016-11-15). "Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books for Youth: 2016". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  17. ^ Smith, Julia (2017-04-15). "Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth: 2017". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  18. ^ Saricks, Joyce (2017-03-15). "Top 10 Middle-Grade Fiction on Audio: 2017". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  19. ^ Saricks, Joyce (2018-03-15). "Top 10 Youth Historical Fiction on Audio: 2018". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  20. ^ Smith, Julia (2019-04-15). "Booklist's 50 Best Middle-Grade Novels of the 21st Century". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  21. ^ Booth, Heather (2019-02-20). "Audio Stars for Youth: 2018". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  22. ^ Booth, Heather (August 2020). "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks for Youth". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  23. ^ "The Creature of the Pines: The Unicorn Rescue Society by Adam Gidwitz". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  24. ^ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2011-01-18). "ALSC announces 2011 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  25. ^ "Notable Children's Books: 2011". Booklist. 2011-02-15. Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  26. ^ "ABA Unveils 2011 Indies Choice and E.B. White Award Winners". Publishers Weekly. 2011-04-08. Archived from the original on 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  27. ^ "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2012". Booklist. 2012-03-07. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  28. ^ Boretz, Adam (2014-01-03). "The 2013 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  29. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2016". Booklist. 2017-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  30. ^ "Past Winners". Jewish Book Council. Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  31. ^ "Notable Children's Books: 2017". Booklist. 2017-03-01. Archived from the original on 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  32. ^ "2017 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2017-01-25. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  33. ^ "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults: 2017". Booklist. 2017-03-01. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  34. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth, 2017". Booklist. 2018-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  35. ^ "Past Winners" (PDF). National Council of Teachers of English. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  36. ^ Hawkins, Rosemary (2017-05-10). "2017 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  37. ^ "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog". American Library Association. 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  38. ^ Communications and Marketing Office (2017-01-23). "Kelly Barnhill, Javaka Steptoe win Newbery, Caldecott Medals". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  39. ^ "Sydney Taylor Book Award" (PDF). Association of Jewish Libraries. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  40. ^ "Awards: Sydney Taylor Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2017-01-12. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  41. ^ Button, Liz (2019-05-01). "2019 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  42. ^ "2021 Notable Children's Recordings". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 2022-01-25. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adam Gidwitz.
  • Official website
  • The New York Times, "When Stories Had Sharp Teeth" [2]
  • American Library Association Notable Book List [3]