Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 82 (2003) Winner
Edward Irving Wortis (Avi)
エドワード・アーヴィング・ワーティス（アヴィ）
Edward Irving Wortis
Pen Names:
Avi（Pen name used for children's and young adult fiction）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1937-12-23 （Brooklyn, New York, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. → Rocky Mountains region, Colorado, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Children's/Young adult author
- Active Years
- 1970-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elisabeth Irwin High School | — | — | — | — | United States |
Elisabeth Irwin High School
Country:
United States
Studied with tutor Ella Ratner in high school. Has dysgraphia (a writing disorder).
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Newbery Medal | Crispin: The Cross of Lead | — | American Library Association | Winner |
| 1991 | Newbery Honor | The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle | — | American Library Association | Honor |
| 1992 | Newbery Honor | Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel | — | American Library Association | Honor |
| 2009 | Beacon of Freedom Award | Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac | — | Williamsburg Regional Library / Colonial Williamsburg Foundation | Winner |
Newbery Medal
2003
Work:
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Winner
Newbery Honor
1991
Work:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Honor
Newbery Honor
1992
Work:
Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Honor
Beacon of Freedom Award
2009
Work:
Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac
Organization:
Williamsburg Regional Library / Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 15 (2005) Winner
Works
Major Works
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
1990 Historical fictionA historical novel set at sea in the early 19th century. A young girl, Charlotte, grows and learns about self-determination and responsibility during a voyage.
Coming of ageResponsibilityFreedom and class
Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel
1991 Contemporary novel / Documentary styleTells a school-related story that escalates through media, presented as documents, letters, and news clippings. Highlights differences between truth and interpretation.
Truth vs. misunderstandingMedia influenceEthics
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
2002 Historical adventureA boy's adventure set in medieval England. The protagonist Crispin journeys in search of freedom and justice; the book won the 2003 Newbery Medal.
FreedomJusticeFriendship
Poppy
1995 Children's literature / FantasySet in Dimwood Forest, this animal tale deals with courage, adventure, and community; part of a series.
CourageCommunityAdventure
Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac
2007 Historical non-fiction (for children)Explains the naval battle and the ironclad Monitor's story during the American Civil War in an accessible way for younger readers.
Naval warfareTechnological innovationHistory education
Bibliography
- Things That Sometimes Happen: Very Short Stories for Little Listeners (1970)
- Snail Tale / End of the Beginning (1972 / republished 2004)
- The Fighting Ground (1984)
- The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990)
- Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel (1991)
- Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2002)
- Poppy (1995)
- Iron Thunder (2007)
- The Most Important Thing: Stories About Sons, Fathers, and Grandfathers (2016)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, accessible proseUse of historical detail in depictionBalance of humor and tension
- Recurring Motifs
- Coming-of-age and search for selfFather-son relationshipsMoral dilemmas
Health
-
Dysgraphia (writing disorder)幼少期〜学童期Affected school performance in childhood, but with tutoring and support he pursued a successful writing career.
Legacy
Avi is an acclaimed American writer in children's and young adult literature, known for Newbery Honors in 1991 and 1992 and the Newbery Medal in 2003. He is prolific across genres and highly regarded for historical fiction and coming-of-age stories.
Archives
- Library of Congress (catalog records)
Trivia
- Full name: Edward Irving Wortis.
- His twin sister gave him the nickname 'Avi'.
- First cousin of actor Alan Arkin.
- Has written around 80 books for children and young adults.