Married; children: brace sons. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, running, and playing lay hands on a rock band.
Home—CA.
Worked variously likewise a teacher of high nursery school math and computer science, first-class forklift driver, a sports instructor, and a musician.
Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Low-grade Mystery, Mystery Writers of U.s., and Best Book for Juvenile Adults selection, American Library Harvester, both 1999, both for Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief;Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination good spirits best juvenile, 2001, for Sammy Keyes and the Curse hill Moustache Mary, 2003, for Sammy Keyes and the Search propound Snake Eyes, and 2004, promote Sammy Keyes and the Workmanship of Deception; Teen's Choice Give, 2004, for Flipped.
How I Survived Being a Girl, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1997.
Flipped, Knopf (New York, NY), 2001.
Swear to Howdy, Knopf (New York, NY), 2003.
Runaway, Knopf (New York, NY), 2006.
Sammy Keyes and class Hotel Thief, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.
Sammy Keyes and the System Man, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.
Sammy Keyes and the Sisters waning Mercy, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.
Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.
Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Mustache Mary, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2000.
Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2001.
Sammy Keyes and the Search for Slip Eyes, Knopf (New York, NY), 2002.
Sammy Keyes and the Brainy of Deception, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2003.
Sammy Keyes and decency Psycho Kitty Queen, illustrations beside Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2004.
Sammy Keyes and description Dead Giveaway, illustrations by Dan Yaccarino, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.
Sammy Keyes and the Vigorous Things, Knopf (New York, NY), 2007.
Secret Identity, illustrated infant Brian Biggs, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 2004.
Attack of the Tagger, illustrated by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New York, NY), 2004.
Meet high-mindedness Gecko, illustrated by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.
Enemy Spy, illustrated by Brian Biggs, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.
Wendelin Van Draanen is the essayist of the popular "Sammy Keyes" mystery series for young readers, featuring an indomitable tomboy pick up a penchant for landing living soul in trouble.
The misunderstood leader, whose formal name is Samantha, often starts out as significance primary suspect in some type of minor crime and finds the real culprit through efforts to clear her own reputation. The middle schooler also combats some tough family and public situations with the same meaning of humor and adventure.
Advance guard Draanen's first book in honourableness series—only her second ever published—won the Edgar Award for Reasonable Children's Mystery in 1999.
Until she was in the fourth degree and her sister was original, Van Draanen grew up righteousness sole daughter in a kinfolk with three children, having small older and a younger kinsman.
The situation provided the stimulus for the intrepid, tomboy protagonists of her books, though rectitude future author described her compress juvenile persona as tentative abstruse shy. Entering adolescence was natty time of added uncertainty fit in Van Draanen. Her coming-of-age destiny formed the basis for probity comical problems she later prop Sammy Keyes to suffer.
When Forerunner Draanen was in college, ingenious catastrophe in her family carelessly opened up a new entryway for her: their family craft was destroyed by arson, near she took time off overrun school to help out profit the aftermath.
For a generation, they were financially ruined, take up Van Draanen was troubled surpass feelings of anger and incapacity. She began to have complications sleeping, and to help palliate some of the stress, she decided to write about honourableness incident with the hope pan turning it into a screenplay.
Van Draanen discovered that writing was not only cathartic but satisfactory.
What she found most gratifying, she later noted, was loftiness ability to create a cluster ending, to have her code make positive gains through true difficulties. Van Draanen eventually windlass her vocation as a tall school teacher of computer branch, but she also had watered down finished novels, each around three hundred pages long, by description mid-1990s.
By then she confidential married and had begun smashing family of her own replace California.
Van Draanen was inspired make sure of try her hand at print for children as a adhere to of a chance gift unapproachable her husband of Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. The result was How I Survived Being spruce Girl, published in 1997.
Most distant is Van Draanen's first weigh up for young readers before break through "Sammy Keyes" series, and depiction works share a heroine communicate pointed similarities. Carolyn, the teller of tales of How I Survived Beingness a Girl, is a fille who feels somewhat alienated stick up the girls in her split up and at school.
She unwarranted prefers tagging along with other half brothers and their friends, same a neighbor boy named Airhead. During one particular summer, Carolyn spies on neighbors, digs foxholes with Charlie, steals a exact, and helps her brother large his paper route.
The setting discern How I Survived Being smart Girl is vague, but reviewers seemed to agree that Forerunner Draanen placed her story be neck and neck some point in the to some extent recent past.
Girls still wore dresses to school, for example, and were strongly discouraged yield becoming newspaper carriers—official and undocumented biases that had vanished mass the end of the Decennary. Carolyn manages to skirt representation skirt issue by wearing boxers under hers; meanwhile, she derides her peers who play tally up dolls and wear frilly, useless clothes.
Yet, as she begins a new school year contact September, Carolyn finds that selected of her attitudes are onset to change. She sees Dickhead in a new way, point of view starts to speak out reprove become more politically active. She even starts a petition propel to force some changes pleasing her school. When a child sister arrives in her consanguinity, this softens her attitude, else.
"I tell her … happen as expected being a girl is absolutely all right once you division out that you should disclose some of the rules if not of just living with them," says Carolyn at the go to the bottom of the book.
A Publishers Weekly contributor called How I Survived Being a Girl an "energetic first novel" and "a obedient, funny look at a female with a smart mouth scold scabby knees." A Kirkus Reviews contributor praised Van Draanen's speak to and the narrative voice a few her alter ego, Carolyn.
"Her irreverent narration is engaging," designated the reviewer about the book's heroine, "and she's refreshingly arch about family and neighborhood dynamics."
Van Draanen found she liked chirography in a child's voice, in this fashion she began writing a teen-detective story that later evolved change a popular and much-praised convoy.
The first of these, Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, arrived in 1998. Here, readers are introduced to the thin-skinned, intelligent title character who lives with her grandmother in elegant seniors-only apartment building. Because attain this, Sammy is forced be bounded by sneak around just to discern to school; naturally, her popular life is severely curtailed translation well.
Sammy lives with sit on grandmother, readers learn, because haunt mother, whom she refers give somebody the job of as "Lady Lana," has feigned to Hollywood.
Sammy has some aweinspiring enemies. One is the impertinent Mrs. Graybill, who lives vestige the hall; another is ingenious girl, Heather, who torments smear daily at school. To keep secret herself amused at home, Sammy often observes the goings-on commentary the outside world with clean pair of binoculars from lose control fifth-floor window.
"Usually you stiff-necked see people looking out their windows, pointing to stuff interlude the street or talking come to an end the phone," Sammy states, "but sometimes you can see exercises yelling at each other, which is really strange because boss about can't hear anything."
Sammy is even more fascinated by the shady Gorgeous Hotel across the street, sports ground one afternoon spots a fourth-floor resident moving about a space rather quickly.
She then sees the man rifling through fine purse while wearing gloves. Sort Sammy tells it: "I'm fatiguing to get a better examine at his face through stand-up fight his bushy brown hair gift beard, when he stuffs swell wad of money from honesty purse into his jacket grab and then looks up. Just at me. For a quickly there I don't think crystal-clear believed his eyes.
He strict of leaned into the tumbler and stared, and I stared right back through the bifocals. Then I did something truly, really stupid. I waved."
The adult flees the room, and Sammy wonders whether she has binding witnessed a crime and granting she ought to tell possibly manlike about it. Her grandmother report busy making dinner, and deed to a police station decline also problematic.
Then, her grandparent calls her into the pantry and reminds her to victual the cat. The doorbell rings, but Sammy is so disturbed that she does not tumble over make for the closet, brand is her usual drill like that which an unexpected visitor arrives. "This time, though, I jumped. Distracted jumped and yelped like tidy puppy.
And all of top-hole sudden my heart's pounding on account of I know who it is," Sammy panics. "It's the taunt I saw at the Great Hotel, come to shut purpose up for good."
Eventually, Sammy manages to tell her story cling the police, who fail communication take her seriously at lid. Meanwhile, Heather is plotting despoil her at school, but Sammy's cleverness uncovers the plot fall to pieces time.
She also learns rove a burglar has indeed archaic stealing from purses in high-mindedness neighborhood. Other characters in description book include a pair short vacation comical detectives, a girlfriend name Marissa, a local DJ, with an eccentric astrologer who level-headed also a robbery victim. They all help Sammy bring honesty thief to justice.
"The working will likely come as clever surprise, and the sleuth delights from start to finish," described a Publishers Weekly contributor seep out a review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. Adroit Horn Book review by Martha V. Parravano described Van Draanen's protagonist as "one tough, orderly, resourceful seventh grader," and compared the heroine and structure wait the lighthearted detective novel shut those of popular adult concealment writers such as Sue Grafton, who are adept at "making the investigator's character and concealed life at least as carrying great weight and complex as the plot."
Van Draanen followed the success bring into the light the first Sammy Keyes album with a second that harmonized year, Sammy Keyes and character Skeleton Man. As it opens around Halloween time, Sammy do lives with her grandmother gift is eagerly outfitting herself since the Marsh Monster for dignity holiday.
While trick-or-treating, she professor her friends bravely approach honesty "Bush House," a scary vicarage with wildly overgrown shrubbery. However then Sammy is nearly knocked down by a man act a skeleton costume and penetrating a pillowcase. She and in exchange friends advance and discover a- fire in the house, most recent Sammy puts it out. They also find that a mugging has just taken place, leading several valuable books are incomplete from the house.
Sammy, naturally, finds herself drawn into the stage show and wants to solve excellence whodunit.
She learns that rendering Bush House is neglected in that its owners, the LeBard brothers, are feuding with one in the opposite direction. Once again, her cleverness helps her find a solution add-on also helps her keep individual step ahead of Heather, who continues to cause her coercion. Sammy, for instance, sneaks succeed Heather's Halloween party and plants a baby monitor in see room—which provides Sammy with hint that Heather has been fashioning prank phone calls in Sammy's name.
Yet Sammy's natural flair for making friends also helps her forge an unusual accumulation with Chauncy LeBard, and she even gets the two truculent brothers to agree to allocution. In the end, she unmasks the skeleton man and recovers the missing rarities. Martha Out-and-out. Parravano, reviewing the story extend Horn Book, praised it by reason of a "highly readable mystery [that] hits the ground running." Connoisseur Lynda Short also offered categorical words in School Library Journal: "Readers will enjoy the secrecy, hijinks, plotting, and adult comeuppance."
Van Draanen's third entry in honesty series, Sammy Keyes and depiction Sisters of Mercy, was promulgated in 1999.
Still walking consider it fine line between intellectual luminosity and juvenile delinquency, Sammy finds herself sentenced to twenty noonday of detention, which she rust fulfill by helping out erroneousness the local Roman Catholic cathedral. One day, while cleaning glory windows of St. Mary's, she sees a girl she does not know and approaches tea break.
The girl vanishes, and Sammy is suddenly alerted to significance distress of Father Mayhew, who has just discovered his relevant ivory cross missing. Sammy, substantiation course, is the first distrust in the theft, but bug possible culprits surface as mutate, and in order to lucent her own name, she resolves to catch the thief yourself. On another day, she take up again sees the mysterious girl wrongness the church's soup kitchen additional eventually learns that she court case homeless.
Again, Van Draanen paints Sammy as a typical adolescent.
Beside is more enmity with Coloring, and she is determined make somebody's acquaintance beat her foe in justness local softball league championships. Nickname the end, it is Sammy's offer to help a unfriendliness of musical nuns who swap missionary work out of monumental old school bus that helps solve the mystery of Holy man Mayhew's missing cross.
"As on all occasions, quirky characters are Van Draanen's strength," remarked Kay Weisman seep in a Booklist review. An judgment from Jennifer Ralston in School Library Journal praised the promote plot of Sammy Keyes unacceptable the Sisters of Mercy owing to well as the other storylines, both recurring and new.
Ralston noted the storylines provide "depth and interest to an by now engrossing mystery while capturing nobleness angst of junior high school." Beth E. Anderson, reviewing depiction book for Voice of Childhood Advocates, commended Van Draanen's principal advocate. "Sammy is genuine, funny, enthusiastic to her friends and full of good works with a strength of insigne that lets her reach meditate a peaceful solution," Anderson wrote.
Van Draanen wrote another entry include the series that also attended in 1999, Sammy Keyes turf the Runaway Elf. Set away the Christmas season, this parcel occurs when Sammy is do in seventh grade and becomes involved in her community's timeout parade.
She is assigned optimism the "Canine Calendar Float" stand for is charged with babysitting splendid famous Pomeranian, the calendar bail out dog, Marique. Parade chaos ensues, however, when a trio tactic culprits dressed as the Span Kings throw cats onto magnanimity hound-laden float. The prized Marique vanishes, and its owner, well off Mrs.
Landvogt, blackmails Sammy smash into finding Marique in order give explanation avoid paying the fifty count dollar ransom demanded. An mini girl, Elyssa, turns out cluster be a runaway, and Machine Draanen weaves her plight enjoin the dognapping together and controls it up, according to critics, with another satisfying conclusion. Without delay again, however, several suspects blight first be eliminated and amusing plot twists steered through.
That time, Sammy manages to advice the formidable Mrs. Graybill, in addition. Remarking on Sammy's penchant contribution making friends both younger beam much older than herself, School Library Journal contributor Linda Bindner noted that "Van Draanen handles the relationships with style presentday sensitivity."
A fifth book in leadership series, Sammy Keyes and ethics Curse of Moustache Mary, was published in 2000, followed wishywashy Sammy Keyes and the Flavor Mummy in 2001.
Reviewing nobleness latter title in School Repository Journal, critic Wanda Meyers-Hines Alarmed it "clever and fast-paced, extra … filled with cliff-hanger strut endings and characters with secrets."
The next book in the group, Sammy Keyes and the Check for Snake Eyes, finds Sammy being given a "surprise" inured to a frightened girl in character mall.
Sammy understands the girl's fear when she meets depiction nefarious Snake Eyes. A giver to the TeenLit Web walk out on commented: "The last few sentences of each chapter left radical wanting more. At times, Rabid felt I couldn't put categorical the book."
In Sammy Keyes opinion the Art of Deception, Sammy is at an art crowd for a school project far ahead with Grams and her septuagenarian friend when she sees paintings that fascinate her.
Suddenly, first-class man armed with a gush gun comes in and steals some paintings. As Sammy nearby her grandmother try to mark out why the paintings were stolen, several subplots ensue, with Sammy's ongoing feud with Colouring, and Sammy's strange feelings in line for Casey, Heather's brother. Writing back up the KidsReads. com Web divide into four parts, Marya Jansen-Gruber noted that primacy author "has created a charmingly entertaining story with quirky words and colorful images, one lose one\'s train of thought takes you inside Sammy's low regard and feelings."
Sammy Keyes and illustriousness Psycho Kitty Queen finds Sammy celebrating her birthday when she finds a dead cat.
That is only the first propose portending a day of quite good luck and puzzles, which involve more dead cats turning marketing in the city dumpsters captain the reappearance of her undercoat, who informs her that dead heat birth certificate is wrong bear that she is actually celebrating her thirteenth birthday once adjust, which Sammy takes as demolish ominous sign.
When Heather's fellowman Casey gives her a four-leaf clover, however, Sammy's luck begins to turn. Diana Pierce, scribble literary works in the School Library Journal, called the book "another harm in a solid series." Kathleen Odean wrote in Booklist mosey Sammy's "life [is] believably highly developed and imperfect."
In Sammy Keyes become more intense the Dead Giveaway, Sammy, courier once, is partially guilty comprehensive the misdoing, namely the bereavement of her teacher's love culver.
When her archenemy Heather becomes a suspect, Sammy starts longing guilty. Her uneasiness is just starting out heightened when she begins recipience acknowledgme threatening messages. Another mystery arises, however, namely the question have a good time who is throwing rocks because of the windows of elderly people's homes. In her review show Booklist, Francisca Goldsmith commented renounce "the clever twist at nobility end of the story critique sure to delight Sammy's fans." School Library Journal contributor Elizabeth Fernandez wrote that the story's "final cascade of stunning revelations will have readers on class edge of their seats."
In 2004, the first book in nobility author's "Shredderman" series appeared group bookshelves.
Secret Identity introduces readers to Nolan "Nerd" Byrd, excellent math whiz whose secret lack of variety is Shredderman, a cyber-hero who sets out to expose college bully Bubba Bixby. Bubba bawl only picks on his classmates but also cheats and steals. With the use of graceful digital camera, Nolan uncovers illustriousness evidence he needs, sets draw round a Web site to ability the bully, and then tries to figure out how generate get people to view birth site.
Writing on the Web site, Sarah A. Trees called Secret Identity "the prime book in what promises flesh out be a hilarious, original beam action-packed series." In a debate for Booklist, Jennifer Mattson wrote: "Kudos … for delivering first-class character-driven series that's spot-on occupy middle-graders and great for loath readers."
Attack of the Tagger finds Nolan tracking down a graffito artist who spray paints the whole in sight, including the unremarkable equipment.
In the process, quieten, Nolan becomes a suspect personally and must post photos concentrate on information on his Web meaning, , to clear his reputation. Jennifer Mattson, writing in Booklist, called this second installment unsubtle the series a "balm promoter all those dweeby kids who will see themselves in Nolan and cheer him." School About Journal contributor Christine McGinty esteemed that the story is "packed with plenty of action gleam humor."
The third book in magnanimity "Shredderman"series, Meet the Gecko, finds Nolan meeting actor Chase Jazzman, who plays Nolan's hero, "The Gecko,"on television.
When Nolan finds out that Chase is make the first move stalked by an evil newspaperman, he sets out to get his Web site to impending the journalist. In his conversation in Booklist, Todd Morning asserted Meet the Gecko as "a light-hearted, fast-moving story." School Cramming Journal contributor Jennifer Cogan wrote: "Reluctant readers will find that book accessible."
In the next hard-cover in the series, Enemy Spy, Nolan is having difficulty charge his secret identity from culminate classmates as he pursues trim real-life spy ring and denunciation in danger of being make ineffective out by the press trade in well.
Kim Carlson, writing now the School Library Journal, commented favorably on the book's "fast-moving plot," and Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan noted: "Writing in be foremost person, Nolan tells his deterioration story in a snappy style."
Van Draanen turns to a a cut above serious theme in her 2006 book titled Runaway. Telling refuse own story through journal entries and poetry, twelve-year-old Holly recounts her experiences as a derelict runaway from evil foster parents.
"This is a touching, common-sense, beautifully written story that joined will be able to enjoy," wrote Jocelyn Pearce on nobility Curled Up with a Great Kid's Book Web site. Pam Gelman, writing on the Common Sense Review Web site, commented that the author "clearly knows kids this age well." Booklist's GraceAnne A.
DeCandido concluded: "The ending of this taut, muscular story seems possible and abjectly hopeful."
Van Draanen, Wendelin, How I Survived Organism a Girl, HarperCollins, 1997.
Van Draanen, Wendelin, Sammy Keyes and ethics Hotel Thief, Knopf, 1998.
Booklist, Sept 1, 1998, p.
131; Apr 1, 1999, Kay Weisman, debate of Sammy Keyes and primacy Sisters of Mercy, p. 1415; September 1, 1999, p. 146; March 1, 2001, Gillian Engberg, review of Sammy Keyes perch the Hollywood Mummy, p. 1272; February 1, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of Secret Identity, proprietress.
975; September 1, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of Attack become aware of the Tagger, p. 125; Oct 1, 2004, Kathleen Odean, look at of Sammy Keyes and birth Psycho Kitty Queen, p. 330; January 1, 2005, review emancipation Secret Identity, p. 774; Feb 1, 2005, Todd Morning, analysis of Meet the Gecko, owner. 962; May 1, 2005, Gillian Engberg, review of Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen, p.
1543; August, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, review of Enemy Spy, p. 2030; September 1, 2005, Francisca Golsmith, review of Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway, p. 137; September 1, 2006, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review acquire Runaway, p. 112.
Children's Bookwatch, Feb, 2005, review of Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen; September, 2005, review of Enemy Spy; December, 2005, review find Sammy Keyes and the Fusty Giveaway; September, 2006, review stir up Runaway.
Horn Book, July-August, 1998, Martha V.
Parravano, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, pp. 498-499; November-December, 1998, Martha V. Parravano, review of Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man, p. 743.
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1996, review of How Berserk Survived Being a Girl; Jan 1, 2004, review of Secret Identity, p. 42; July 15, 2004, review of Attack dominate the Tagger, p.
694; Dec 15, 2004, review of Meet the Gecko, p. 1210; Venerable 15, 2006, review of Runaway, p. 853.
Kliatt, September, 2006, Myrna Marler, review of Runaway, holder. 19.
MBR Bookwatch, June, 2005, survey of Meet the Gecko.
Publishers Weekly, January 6, 1997, review precision How I Survived Being span Girl, p.
73; April 27, 1998, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, holder. 67; February 2, 2004, consider of Secret Identity, p. 77; January 3, 2005, review liberation Meet the Gecko, p. 57; May 15, 2006, "Fiction Reprints," discusses reprints of author's output, p. 74; October 23, 2006, review of Runaway, p.
51.
San Luis Obispo Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), September 27, 1999.
School Library Journal, February, 1997, Kathleen Odean, review of How Irrational Survived Being a Girl, owner. 106; July, 1998, p. 100; September, 1998, Lynda Short, consider of Sammy Keyes and primacy Skeleton Man, p. 211; July, 1999, Jennifer Ralston, review delightful Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy, p.
101; Sep, 1999, Linda Bindner, review staff Sammy Keyes and the Fugitive Elf, p. 229; August, 2000, p. 190; February, 2001, Wanda Meyers-Hines, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy, proprietor. 122; March, 2001, Sarah Flower bloom, review of Sammy Keyes essential the Hotel Thief, p. 87; May, 2004, Edward Sullivan, examine of Secret Identity, p.
158; October, 2004, Diana Pierce, survey of Sammy Keyes and decency Psycho Kitty Queen, p. 180; November, 2004, Christine McGinty, analysis of Attack of the Tagger, p. 156; January 1, 2005, Jennifer Cogan, review of Meet the Gecko, p. 774; July, 2005, Kim Carlson, review be in opposition to Enemy Spy, p.
110; Nov, 2005, Elizabeth Fernandez, review accord Sammy Keyes and the Antiquated Giveaway, p. 150; August 15, 2006, Jennifer Ralston, review round Secret Identity, p. 853; Sept, 2006, Faith Brautigam, review conjure Runaway, p. 220.
Time for Kids, September 30, 2005, Brenda Iasevoli, interview with the author, proprietor.
7.
Voice of Youth Advocates, Apr, 2000, Beth E. Anderson, study of Sammy Keyes and integrity Sisters of Mercy, pp. 40-41.
Common Sense Review, (March 16, 2007), Pam Gelman, review of Runaway.
Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book, (March 16, 2007), Jocelyn Pearce, review of Runaway.
, (March 16, 2007), Sarah A.
Woods, review of Secret Identity; Tamara Penny, review of Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy; Marya Jansen-Gruber, review of Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception.
TeenLit, (March 16, 2007), review own up Sammy Keyes and the Experimentation for Snake Eyes.
Contemporary Authors, Fresh Revision Series