Karen Hesse author page

Karen Hesse biography

Karen Hesse is an American author known for her works of children’s and young adult fiction. She studied at Towle Institute and later attended the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree in English with a minor in psychology. Hesse began her writing career with the publication of her first novel, Wish on a Unicorn, in 1991.

Hesse’s writing often explores historical themes and complex social issues. One of her most recognised works is Out of the Dust, published in 1997 by Scholastic Press. This novel, written in free verse, is set during the American Dust Bowl era and follows the story of a young girl named Billie Jo. Out of the Dust received the Newbery Medal in 1998.

Other notable books by Hesse include Letters from Rifka (1992), which tells the story of a young Jewish girl emigrating from Russia, and Witness (2001), a novel in verse that examines the impact of the Ku Klux Klan on a small Vermont town in the 1920s. Hesse has also written Stowaway (2000), a historical novel based on the true story of a boy who stowed away on Captain James Cook’s ship Endeavour.

Throughout her career, Hesse has received several awards and honours for her contributions to children’s literature. In 1998, she was awarded the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust.