Rita Williams-Garcia

AmericanLiterary FictionContemporary FictionHistorical FictionYoung Adult (YA)b. 1957

Rita Williams-Garcia is an American author known for her novels for children and young adults. Born in Queens, New York, her father's military career led to frequent family moves across the United States. She developed a passion for writing at a young age, selling her first short story to Highlights Magazine at 14. Williams-Garcia graduated from Hofstra University and has taught at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work often explores themes of identity, family, and recent American history, featuring authentic voices of young people. She is recognized for her realistic portrayal of teens of color and has received numerous awards for her contributions to children's literature.

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Awards

['Coretta Scott King Award', 'National Book Award Finalist', 'Newbery Honor Book', "Scott O'Dell Prize for Historical Fiction", 'PEN/Norma Klein Award', 'NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens', 'Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction', 'Los Angeles Times Book Award']

Notable Works

['One Crazy Summer', 'P.S. Be Eleven', 'Gone Crazy in Alabama', 'Clayton Byrd Goes Underground', 'Blue Tights', 'Fast Talk on a Slow Track', 'Like Sisters on the Homefront', 'Every Time a Rainbow Dies', 'No Laughter Here', 'Jumped', 'A Sitting in St. James']