Monique Polak

Last updated
Monique Polak
BornMay 20, 1960 (1960-05-20) (age 65)
Occupationwriter
NationalityCanadian
Notable awards Janet Savage Blachford Prize (2009, 2014, 2020)
Spouse
  • Chaim Melamed (1979–1985)
  • Michael Shenker (1996–present)
ChildrenAlicia

Monique Polak (born May 20, 1960) [1] is a writer from Montreal, Quebec. She has won the Janet Savage Blachford Prize, formally known as the Quebec Writer's Foundation Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature, three times: What World is Left (2009), Hate Mail (2014), and Room for One More (2020). [2]

Contents

Personal life and education

Polak was born May 20, 1960, in Montreal to Maximilien, a criminal court judge, and Celina, a homemaker, Polak. [1] Celina survived the Holocaust, as did her two brothers and both parents. [3] [4] Maximilien survived the Holocaust because he was a painter in Holland and was forced to do propaganda art for the Nazis. [3] Polak also has a sister named Carolyn. [5]

She married Chaim Melamed December 16, 1979, and the couple have a daughter named Alicia. [1] They divorced in 1985. [1] She married Michael Shenker, a journalist, on June 2, 1996. [1]

Polak received a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from McGill University in 1981, and a Master of Arts in English literature from Concordia University. [1]

Polak is Jewish. [1]

Career

In 1987, Polak began teaching in English and humanities at Marianopolis College, where she has worked since. [6]

She is also a freelance journalist. Her articles appear regularly in The Montreal Gazette and other Postmedia newspapers across the country. Several of her feature stories have also been published in Maclean's Magazine .

In 2015, Polak was named the inaugural CBC/QWF Montreal writer-in-residence. [7] [3]

Awards and honours

Awards for Polak's writing
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2007All In Arthur Ellis Award Winner [7]
2008What World Is Left Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for YouthSelection [8] [9]
2009What World is Left QWF Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature Winner [2]
2010The Middle of Everywhere Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [2]
2012Pyro Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [2]
2014Hate Mail Janet Savage Blachford Prize Winner [10]
2014Straight Punch Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [2]
2019I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [2]
2019Planet GriefRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book AwardShortlist [11]
2020Room for One MoreGeoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young PeopleShortlist [12]
2020Room for One More Janet Savage Blachford Prize Winner [13] [14]

Publications

Novels

Nonfiction

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Polak, Monique 1960–". Encyclopedia.com . Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature". Quebec Writers' Federation . Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. 1 2 3 "Monique Polak talks about inspiration for new role as CBC/QWF Writer-in-Residence". CBC News . 2016-01-16. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  4. ↑ Hanes, Allison (2022-10-08). "The story behind the story of a mother's Holocaust secret". Montreal Gazette . Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  5. ↑ Davis, Emma (2022-05-31). "Creator Corner: Meet author Monique Polak". Owlkids Books. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  6. ↑ "Monique Polak". QWF Literary Database of Quebec English-language Authors. Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  7. 1 2 "Author Monique Polak named CBC/QWF Montreal writer-in-residence". CBC News . 2015-11-18. Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  8. ↑ "2008 booklist editors choice youth | Awards & Grants". American Library Association . 2009-10-04. Archived from the original on 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  9. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2008". Booklist . 2009-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  10. ↑ "Sean Michaels wins Quebec Writer's Federation fiction award". CBC News . 2014-11-19. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  11. ↑ Carter, Sue (2019-05-09). "Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award shortlists announced". Quill and Quire . Archived from the original on 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  12. ↑ Deziel, Shanda (2020-09-16). "Julie Flett, Tom Ryan, and Sydney Smith lead the CCBC Award nominees". Quill and Quire . Archived from the original on 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  13. ↑ Neal, Christopher (2022-01-16). "Doctor's study of health care for Indigenous children wins two 2021 Quebec Writers' Federation literary awards". The Montrealer. Archived from the original on 2022-06-19. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  14. ↑ Qiao, Vicky (2021-12-02). "Samir Shaheen-Hussain and Monique Polak among winners for Quebec Writers' Federation Literary Awards". CBC Books . Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
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