Katherine Paterson is the author of twelve novels for children and young people including Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, Newbery Winners in 1978 and 1981, and The Great Gilly Hopkins, a Newbery Honor Book. The Great Gilly Hopkins and The Master Puppeteer were National Book Award winners in 1979 and 1977. Her novel, Lyddie, set in Vermont and Massachusetts in the 1840’s was the 1994 United States representative for writing on the Honor List of the International Board of Books for Young People. Other award winning novels include, Flip-Flop Girl, which was an ALA Notable Book, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, a Parent’s Choice Story Book Award winner in 1994 and was named a Notable Book of 1994 by The New York Times. Her novel, Jip, His Story, is the recipient of the 1997 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, an ALA Notable Book and a Best Book for Young Adults. Preacher’s Boy, published in 1999, received the Jefferson Cup from the Virginia Library Association. Ms. Paterson was born in Quinn Jingo, China. She is a graduate of King College, Bristol, Tennessee and holds master’s degrees from both the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, Virginia and Union Theological Seminary, New York City. The Patersons live in Barre where Dr. Paterson recently retired as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. They are the parents of four grown children. They have two granddaughters, a grandson, and are expecting another grandchild in the fall.
