Ron Koertge

Last updated
Ron Koertge
Born (1940-04-22) April 22, 1940 (age 84)
Olney, Illinois, US
Occupation

Ron Koertge (April 22, 1940) is an American poet and author of young adult fiction. Koertge is currently the Poet Laureate of South Pasadena, California. [1] Koertge's honors include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a California Arts Council grant, and inclusion in numerous anthologies. [2] His young-adult fiction has won many awards, including Friends of American Writers Young People’s Literature Award, New York Library’s 100 Best Children’s Books, ALA Best Book, New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, and P.E.N. awards. [3] In 2017, he was awarded a Pushcart Prize. [3]

Contents

Koertge grew up in Olney, Illinois. [2] He received a bachelor of arts degree (BA) from the University of Illinois and a master of arts degree (MA) from the University of Arizona. [4] Koertge was a faculty member at Pasadena City College for more than 25 years, where he taught a popular poetry writing workshop. He also taught at Hamline University in the master of fine arts (MFA) in Writing for Children & Young Adults program. [4]

Along with his wife, Koertge lives in South Pasadena, California. His house was the home of Laurie Strode in the original Halloween movie.

Koertge is currently the Poet Laureate of South Pasadena, "an honorary position given to a South Pasadena resident poet to serve as the city's official ambassador for the literary arts." [1]

Selected Texts

Young adult and children's fiction

The Arizona Kid

The Arizona Kid was originally published in 1988, then republished by Candlewick Press on May 24, 2005. [5] According to the American Library Association, it was the 75th most banned and challenged book in the United States between 1990 and 1999 due to LGBT content. [6]

The Harmony Arms

The Harmony Arms was originally published October 1, 1992 by Joy Street Books, then republished September 1994 by HarperCollins Publishers. [7] The American Library Association named it a popular book for young adults. [8]

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright was published in 1994 by Orchard Books. [9] The book received the following awards:

  • Notable Children’s Books (1995) [10]
  • Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Nominee (1995) [11]
  • Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (1996) [11]

Confess-O-Rama

Confess-O-Rama was originally published in 1996 by Laurel Leaf, then republished March 1998 by Random House Children's Books. [12] The American Library Association named it a Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults in 2001. [13]

The Brimstone Journals

The Brimstone Journals was originally published February 1, 2001 by Candlewick Press, then republished in 2004. [14] The book has received the following awards:

Margaux with an X

Margaux with an X was published November 30, 2003 by Candlewick Press, then republished August 8, 2006. [19] The American Library Association named it one of the top ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2005. [20]

Strays

Strays was published May 8, 2007 by Candlewick Press, then republished October 9, 2012. [21] The American Library Association named it one of the top ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2008. The same year, it received the PEN Center USA Award in Children's/Young Adult Literature. [22]

Stoner and Spaz series

The original Stoner and Spaz book was first published May 1, 2002 by Candlewick, then republished April 26, 2011. [23] The book received the following awards:

The second book in the series, Now Playing: Stoner and Spaz II, was published August 1, 2011 by Candlewick Press. [28] It was named a Booklist Editors' Choice book for youth in 2011. [29]

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup series

The first book in the series, Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, was first published March 1, 2003 by Candlewick Press, then republished in 2006. [30] It was nominated for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee in 2005. [31]

The second book in the series, Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs, was first published March 9, 2010 by Candlewick Press, then republished in 2012. [32]

Poetry

The Ogre's Wife: Poems was published September 1, 2013 by Red Hen Press. [33] The American Library Association named it to the 2014 list of Notable Poetry. [34]

Publications

Young adult and children's fiction

Stoner and Spaz series

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup series

Backyard Witch series

Poetry

Academic

Contributor

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References

  1. 1 2 "South Pasadena Poet Laureate | South Pasadena, CA". City of South Pasadena. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  2. 1 2 "Ron Koertge". Poetry Foundation. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  3. 1 2 Debritto, Abel (2018-05-18). "Interview with Ron Koertge". The Los Angeles Review. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  4. 1 2 "Ron Koertge". Ron Koertge. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  5. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2005). The Arizona Kid. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-2695-2.
  6. ↑ Office of Intellectual Freedom (2013-03-26). "100 most frequently challenged books: 1990-1999". American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  7. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (September 1994). The Harmony Arms. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN   978-0-380-72188-7.
  8. ↑ "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  9. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (1994). Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright. Orchard Books. ISBN   978-0-531-08690-2.
  10. ↑ "1995 Notable Children's Books". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 1999-11-30. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  11. 1 2 "Mariposa Blues". Goodreads. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  12. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (March 1998). Confess-O-Rama. Random House Children's Books. ISBN   978-0-440-22713-7.
  13. ↑ "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2001". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  14. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2004-01-01). The Brimstone Journals. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-1742-4.
  15. ↑ "Brimstone Journals | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. April 13, 2010. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  16. ↑ "2002 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  17. ↑ Waddle, Linda (2007-02-26). "2002 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers announced". American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  18. ↑ "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2006". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  19. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2006-08-08). Margaux with an X. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-2679-2.
  20. ↑ "Margaux With An X | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. April 1, 2010. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  21. ↑ Koertge, Ron (2012-10-09). Strays. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-6221-9.
  22. 1 2 "Past Winners". PEN America. 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  23. ↑ Koertge, Ron (2011-04-26). Stoner & Spaz. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-5444-3.
  24. 1 2 3 "Stoner & Spaz (Stoner & Spaz, #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  25. ↑ "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  26. ↑ "Stoner & Spaz | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. April 13, 2010. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  27. ↑ "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  28. ↑ Koertge, Ron (2011-08-09). Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-5634-8.
  29. ↑ "Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II. | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. April 27, 2012. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  30. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2006). Shakespeare Bats Cleanup. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-2939-7.
  31. ↑ "Shakespeare Bats Cleanup (Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  32. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2012). Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-5852-6.
  33. ↑ Koertge, Ronald (2013). The Ogre's Wife: Poems. Red Hen Press. ISBN   978-1-59709-723-9.
  34. ↑ "2014 Notable List". Reference & User Services Association (RUSA). 2014-01-29. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
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