Varian Johnson

Varian Johnson
Johnson at the 2025 Texas Book Festival
Born	Florence, South Carolina
Occupation	Author
Nationality	American
Website
www.varianjohnson.com

Varian Johnson (born in 1977) is an American writer, who writes contemporary middle grade literature. He is the author of multiple novels including My Life as a Rhombus. ^[1]

Biography

Johnson is a twin and the father of two daughters. ^[2] He is also a member of The Brown Bookshelf, an organization that "is designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young authors". ^[3]

Published works

• A Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid (2005)
  • Essence best seller list, March 2005
• My Life as a Rhombus (2008) ^[1]
• Saving Maddie (2010)
  • Bank Street Best Children's Book, 2011
• Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices (2013), contributor
• Things I'll Never Say: Stories About Our Secret Selves (2015), contributor
• Been There, Done That: School Dazed (2016), contributor
• The Great Greene Heist (2014)
  • Kirkus Reviews Best Book, 2014
  • ALA ALSC Notable Children's Books List, 2015
  • Bank Street Best Children's Book, 2015
• To Catch a Cheat (A Jackson Greene Novel) (2016)
• The Return (2016), Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts book 3
• The Wildcat's Claw (2017), Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts book 6
• Gabriela: Time for Change (2017), American Girl: Girl of the Year 2017 book 3
• The Parker Inheritance (2018) ^[1]
  • Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, 2018 ^[4]
  • Coretta Scott King Book Awards Honor, 2019 ^[5]
• What Were The Negro Leagues? (2019) a Who HQ series book, Penguin Workshop
• Twins (2020), illustrated by Shannon Wright ^[6]
  • Eisner Award nominee ^[7]
  • NPR Best Book of 2020 ^[8]
• Playing the Cards You’re Dealt (2021) ^[9]
• Mister Miracle: The Great Escape (2022) ^[10]
• Little Big Man (2025)

References

1. Galluscio, Erica (September 22, 2022). "Banned in the USA Q&A: Varian Johnson asks if book bans are meant to 'keep a certain population of our country down'" . Retrieved October 15, 2022.
2. Quattlebaum, Mary (December 8, 2020). "Middle school worries inspired Varian Johnson's graphic novel 'Twins'". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved October 15, 2022.
3. "Home". thebrownbookshelf.com.
4. Johnson, Varian (December 14, 2018). "The Parker Inheritance: Varian Johnson's 2018 BGHB Fiction & Poetry Honor Speech". The Horn Book. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
5. "The Parker Inheritance | ALA". www.ala.org. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
6. Watson, Renée (October 31, 2020). "'Everyone Needs a Buddy'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 15, 2022.
7. Staff, S. L. J. "Reviews and Coverage of the 2021 Eisner Award Nominations". School Library Journal. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
8. "Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
9. Geiszler-Jones, Amy (September 27, 2022). "With a new book release, a major children's author is set to visit a Wichita school". The Wichita Eagle.
10. Allen, David (February 26, 2022). "Review: Mister Miracle: The Great Escape by Varian Johnson" . Retrieved October 15, 2022.

External links

• Official website

• Children's literature portal