Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman (born November 12, 1962) is an American writer of young-adult fiction. He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his book Challenger Deep and his novel, Scythe, was a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor book.^[1]

Neal Shusterman
Shusterman at the 2013 Texas Book Festival
Born	(1962-11-12) November 12, 1962 (age 61) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Novelist
Language	English
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of California, Irvine
Period	1988–present
Genre	Young adult fiction, dystopian fiction, science fiction
Notable works	Challenger Deep (2015) Scythe (2016) Thunderhead (2018)
Notable awards	National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Children	4
Website
storyman.com

Early life

Shusterman was born on November 12, 1962, and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. From a young age, Shusterman was an avid reader. His family is Jewish, and has claimed that he is at least 40-50% North African Sephardic according to a DNA test.^[2][3] At the age of 16, Shusterman and his family moved to Mexico City.^[4] He finished high school there at the American School Foundation and is quoted as saying that "Having an international experience changed my life, giving me a fresh perspective on the world, and a sense of confidence I might not have otherwise."^{[citation needed]} He attended the University of California, Irvine, where he double-majored in psychology and theater,^[5] and was also on the varsity swim team.^[6][7]

Career

After college, Shusterman worked as an assistant at the Irvin Arthur Associates, a talent agency in Los Angeles, where Lloyd Segan became his agent. Within a year, Shusterman had his first book deal and a screenwriting job. He lives in Florida.^[8]

Shusterman has received numerous honors for his books, including the National Book Award in 2015 for his novel Challenger Deep, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the 2008 California Young Reader Medal for The Schwa Was Here. He served as a judge for the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship in 2012.^[9] His novels Downsiders and Full Tilt have each won over 20 awards. Unwind has won more than 30 awards and is in development with Universal TV as a television series. His novel Scythe is in development with Universal as a feature film.

He has been nominated four times (twice in 2019; 2020; 2023) in different categories of the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis and won the youth jury award in 2019. In March 2023 the German translation of the book Roxy, written with his son Jarrod Shusterman, was nominated by the youth jury.^[10]

Shusterman has also written for TV, including the Original Disney Channel movie Pixel Perfect, as well as episodes of Goosebumps and Animorphs.^[8] He has written for R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series and is also adapting his novel Challenger Deep for 20th Century Fox.

Fellow author Orson Scott Card invited Shusterman to write novels parallel to Ender's Game about other characters from the series, but schedules didn't permit it, and Card wrote Ender's Shadow and the subsequent series himself.^[11]

Awards

• 2005 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award.^[12]
• 2008 California Young Reader Medal for The Schwa Was Here.^[13]
• 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Golden Kite Award for Fiction for Challenger Deep.^[14][15][16]
• 2017 Micheal L. Printz Award Honour Book for "Scythe".
• 2019 Young Hoosier Book Award (Middle Grade) for Scythe.^[17]
• 2019 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Challenger deep (German: Kompass ohne Norden), chosen by the youth jury

Bibliography

Fiction series

The N.O.A.H. Files trilogy

• I am the Walrus^[18]
• Schock The Monkey^[19]

The Accelerati trilogy (with Eric Elfman)

• Tesla's Attic (2014) ISBN 978-1423148036^[20][21][22]
• Edison's Alley (2015) ISBN 978-1423148067^[23][24]
• Hawking's Hallway (2016) ISBN 978-1423155218^[25]

Antsy Bonano

• The Schwa Was Here (2004) ISBN 978-0756967192^[26][27]
• Antsy Does Time (2008) ISBN 978-0525478256^[28][29]
• Ship Out of Luck (2013) ISBN 978-0525422266^[30][31]

Arc of a Scythe

• Scythe (2016)
• Thunderhead (2018)^[32]
• The Toll (2019)^[33]
• Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe (2022)

Dark Fusion

• Dread Locks (2005)^[34][35]
• Red Rider's Hood (2005)^[36][37]
• Duckling Ugly (2006)^[38][39]

Shadow Club

• The Shadow Club (1988)
• The Shadow Club Rising (2002)^[40][41]

Skinjacker trilogy

• Everlost (2006)^[42][43]
• Everwild (2009)^[44][45]
• Everfound (2011)^[46][47]

Star Shards

• Scorpion Shards (1995)^[48]
• Thief of Souls (1999)^[49]
• Shattered Sky (2002)^[50][51]

The Unwind dystology

• Unwind (2007) ISBN 978-1416912040^[52][53]
• UnStrung (2012) (short story) ISBN 978-1442423664^[54][55]
• UnWholly (2012)
• UnSouled (2013) ISBN 978-1442423695^[56][57]
• UnDivided (2014) ISBN 978-1481409759^[58][59]
• UnBound (2015) (short story collection, contains UnStrung)^[60]

The X-Files

• The X-Files Young Adult Series

• 3) Bad Sign (1997) [writing as Easton Royce]^[61] novelization of The X-Files episode Syzygy
• 10) Dark Matter (1999) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode Soft Light

• The X-Files Young Readers Series

• 8) Voltage (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode D.P.O.
• 9) E.B.E. (1996) co-authored with Les Martin [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of The X-Files episode E.B.E.

Space: Above and Beyond

• 1) The Aliens Approach (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of the pilot episode of the Space: Above and Beyond TV series
• 3) Mutiny (1996) [writing as Easton Royce] novelization of the Space: Above and Beyond episode, Mutiny

Novels

• Dissidents (1989)
• Speeding Bullet (1991)^[62]
• What Daddy Did (1991) (later renamed Chasing Forgiveness)^[63]
• The Eyes of Kid Midas (1992)^[64]
• The Dark Side of Nowhere (1997) ISBN 978-0316789073^[65][66]
• Downsiders (1999)^[67][68]
• Full Tilt (2004) ISBN 978-0689803741^[69][70]
• Bruiser (2010) ISBN 978-0061134081^[71][72]
• Challenger Deep (2015) illustrated by Brendon Shusterman ISBN 978-0061134111^[73]
• Dry (2018) co-authored with Jarrod Shusterman ISBN 9781481481960
• Game Changer (February 2021) ISBN 9780061998676
• Roxy (November 2021) co-authored with Jarrod Shusterman ISBN 9781406392128

Picture books

• Piggyback Ninja (1994) Illustrated by Joe Boddy

Short stories

• Resurrection Bay (2013) ISBN 978-0062295163 [published only as an ebook]^[74]

Short story collections

• Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1993)
• Darkness Creeping II: More Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1995)
• Mindquakes: Stories to Shatter Your Brain (1996)
• Mindstorms: Stories to Blow Your Mind (1996)
• Mindtwisters: Stories To Shred Your Head (1997)
• Mindbenders: Stories to Warp Your Brain (2000)
• Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales (2007)
• Violent Ends (2015) co-authored with 17 other authors including, Brendon Shusterman, Shaun David Hutchinson, and Beth Revis

Games

• How to Host a Murder: Roman Ruins (1997)
• How to Host a Murder: The Grapes of Frath (1997)
• How to Host a Teen Mystery: Hot Times at Hollywood High (1997)
• How to Host a Murder: The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty (1998)
• How to Host a Murder: Tragical Mystery Tour (1999)
• How to Host a Teen Mystery: Barbecue with the Vampire (1999)
• How to Host a Murder: Saturday Night Cleaver (2000)
• How to Host a Murder: Maiming of the Shrew (2001)
• How to Host a Teen Mystery: Roswell That Ends Well (2002)
• How to Host a Murder: An Affair to Dismember (2003)

Nonfiction

• Guy Talk (1987)
• It's Ok to Say No to Cigarettes and Alcohol (1988)
• Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story (1989) with Cherie Currie
• Kid Heroes: True Stories of Rescuers, Survivors, and Achievers (1991)

Poems

• "Shadows of Doubt" (1993)

Screenwriting credits

Television

• Goosebumps (1996-1998)
• Animorphs (1998)
• The Haunting Hour: The Series (2011)

Film

• Double Dragon (1994)
• Pixel Perfect (2004)

References

1. "About". Neal Shusterman. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
2. "Author Spotlight: Neal Shusterman". www.hercampus.com. November 28, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
3. Jensen, Kelly (May 26, 2020). "Neal Shusterman's Inclusive YA and Talking to the Author About Representation". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
4. Gale, Thomas. Neal Shusterman Biography. BookRags. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
5. Yolsirivat, Nattanont (April 10, 2018). "The Wonderful Neal Shusterman". PantherNation. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
6. "Exploring the abyss". UCI News. March 10, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
7. "Scythe :: Kling Memorial Library". Kling Memorial Library. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
8. Shusterman, Neal. . storyman.com. Self published. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
9. "Announcing the 2012 PEN Literary Award Recipients". PEN American Center. October 15, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
10. "Deutscher Jugendliteratur Preis 2023 Nominierungen" (PDF). Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
11. Card himself describes the origins of the idea for Ender's Shadow and Shusterman's early involvement in the foreword of some editions of Ender's Shadow, including ISBN 978-0-7653-4240-9)
12. "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". Horn Book Magazine. May 30, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
13. "Winners". CYRM. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
14. . Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
15. Alter, Alexandra (November 19, 2015). "Ta-Nehisi Coates Wins National Book Award". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
16. "SCBWI | 2016 Golden Kite Winners". Retrieved March 11, 2021.
17. "Past Winners: Young Hoosier Book Awards" (PDF).
18. "Goodreads: I am the Walrus". Goodreads. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
19. "Goodreads: Shock the Monkey". Goodreads. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
20. "The Accelerati Trilogy, Book One: Tesla's Attic". Disney Publishing Worldwide. January 23, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
21. Shusterman, Neal. "Tesla's Attic – Book Description". storyman.com. Self published. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
22. "TESLA'S ATTIC". Kirkus Reviews. December 7, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
23. "The Accelerati Trilogy, Book Two: Edison's Alley". Disney Publishing Worldwide. December 4, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
24. Shusterman, Neal. "Edison's Alley – Book Description". storyman.com. Self published. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
25. Shusterman, Neal (June 3, 2015). "June 2015 News Tidbits". storyman.com. Self published. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
26. "The Schwa – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
27. "THE SCHWA WAS HERE by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
28. "Antsy Does Time – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
29. "ANTSY DOES TIME by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
30. "Ship Out Of Luck – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
31. "SHIP OUT OF LUCK by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
32. "Sythe – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved December 14, 2016.
33. "Four Questions for Neal Shusterman". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
34. "Dread Locks – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
35. "DREAD LOCKS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
36. "Red Rider's Hood – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
37. "DARK FUSION by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
38. "Duckling Ugly – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
39. "DUCKLING UGLY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
40. "The Shadow Club Rising – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
41. "THE SHADOW CLUB RISING by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
42. "Everlost – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
43. "EVERLOST by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
44. "Everwild – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
45. "EVERWILD by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
46. "Everfound – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
47. "EVERFOUND by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
48. "Scorpion Shards – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
49. "Thief Of Souls – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
50. "Shattered Sky – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
51. "SHATTERED SKY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
52. "Unwind – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
53. "UNWIND by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
54. "UnWholly – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
55. "UNWHOLLY by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
56. "UnSouled – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
57. "UNSOULED by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
58. "UnDivided – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
59. "UNDIVIDED by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
60. "Digital Catalog – UnBound". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
61. royce, easton (1997). the x files bad sign (first ed.). HarperCollins. ISBN 9780064471701.
62. "SPEEDING BULLET by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
63. "WHAT DADDY DID by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
64. "THE EYES OF KID MIDAS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
65. "The Dark Side of Nowhere – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
66. "THE DARK SIDE OF NOWHERE by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
67. "Downsiders – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
68. "DOWNSIDERS by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
69. "Full Tilt – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
70. "FULL TILT by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
71. "Bruiser – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
72. "BRUISER by Neal Shusterman – Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
73. "Challenger Deep – Neal Shusterman". Retrieved June 25, 2016.
74. Archipelago, World. "Resurrection Bay – Neal Shusterman – E-book". Retrieved June 25, 2016.

External links

 

Wikiquote has quotations related to Neal Shusterman.

 

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• Official website  
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• Neal Shusterman on Instagram
• Neal Shusterman at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Neal Shusterman at IMDb
• Neal Shusterman at Library of Congress, with 49 library catalog records