Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith (born 1967) is a New York Times best-selling 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 Native Americans. These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms. In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up. Regarded as an expert in children's-YA literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources. Smith is a current  faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program. She was named the inaugural Katherine Paterson Chair in 2020. In addition, she was the winner of the 2021 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature. Smith, a graduate of the University of Kansas and The University of Michigan Law School, lives in Austin, Texas. Selected texts. Section::::"Jingle Dancer". "Jingle Dancer", illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, is a picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for  the Oklahoma Book Award, a runner-up for the Western Writers of America Storyteller Award, and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, on the 2002 Texas 2x2 list, and on the 2002 Michigan Reader's Choice Award List. Section::::"Rain Is Not My Indian Name". "Rain Is Not My Indian Name" is a realistic novel for ages 10 and up. Upon its publication by HarperCollins, Smith was recognized as 2001 Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Like "Jingle Dancer", it was a finalist for the Oklahoma  Book Award. An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House. Section::::"Indian Shoes". "Indian Shoes" 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, the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education, and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center. Section::::"Santa Knows". "Santa Knows", also by Greg Leitich Smith and illustrated by  Steve Bjorkman, is a humorous holiday picture book, published in 2006 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book, "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews. Section::::"Tantalize". "Tantalize" 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, Walker Books U.K., Walker Books Australia and New Zealand, and Editions Intervista in France. "Tantalize" was named to the 2011 list of Popular Paperbacks by the Young Adult Library Services Association and featured at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Section::::"Eternal". "Eternal" is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2009 and 2010 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Listening Library/Random  House, Walker Books U.K., Walker Books Australia and New Zealand, and Amber in Poland. The U.S. paperback edition debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list (children's paperbacks) and #13 on the "Publishers Weekly" best-seller list. Section::::"Holler Loudly". "Holler Loudly", illustrated by Barry Gott, is a humorous tall tale picture book, published in 2010 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. "Holler Loudly" was featured at the 2010 Texas Book Festival and was a Dolly Parton's Imagination Library selection. Section::::"Blessed". "Blessed" is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press , for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand and Walker U.K. Blessed was a YALSA Teens Top 10 nominee. Section::::"Tantalize: Kieren's Story". "", illustrated by Ming Doyle, is a fully illustrated young adult gothic fantasy graphic novel, published in 2011 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 also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand and Walker U.K. Section::::"Diabolical". "Diabolical" is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, ghosts, demons, hell hounds, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand and Walker U.K. Section::::"Hearts Unbroken". "Hearts Unbroken" is a realistic young adult novel, published in 2018 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. It also was  published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand. "Hearts Unbroken" was named a Silver Medal Winner for Young Adult Fiction by Foreword Reviews. In addition, it was named winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Award (Best Young Adult Book) by the American Indian Library Association. Section::::"Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids". "Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids" is a collection of 18 intersecting short stories and poems set at a powwow, published in 2021 by Heartdrum/HarperCollins in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Cynthia Leitich Smith edited the collection, and also authored the story, Between the Lines, which  features characters from her earlier book, "Indian Shoes." Featured contributors include: Joseph Bruchac, Art Coulson, Christine Day, Eric Gansworth, Dawn Quigley, Carole Lindstrom, Rebecca Roanhorse, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Kim Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Monique Gray Smith, Traci Sorell, Tim Tingle, Erika T. Wurth, and Brian Young. Section::::"Sisters of the Neversea". "Sisters of the Neversea" is a middle grade novel, a modern-day re-imagining of "Peter Pan", published in 2021 by Heartdrum/HarperCollins in partnership with We Need Diverse Books for readers 8 and up. It was also published by HarperCollins Canada and paperback edition published by  Harper360 (June 2022), an imprint of HarperCollins UK. "Sisters of the Neversea" received starred reviews from "Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness and Booklist".