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Edition 10 (2021) Winner
Cynthia Leitich Smith
しんしあ・れいてぃっち・すみす
Shinshia Reititchi Sumisu
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1967-01-01 （Unknown）
- Nationality
- American, Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Austin, Texas
Career
- Occupations
- Children's literature writer, Young adult fiction author
- Active Years
- 2000-2024
- Affiliations
- Vermont College of Fine Arts (faculty), Heartdrum (author-curator)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas | — | — | — | — | United States |
| University of Michigan Law School | — | Law | Juris Doctor (JD) | — | United States |
University of Kansas
Country:
United States
University of Michigan Law School
Law
Degree:
Juris Doctor (JD)
Country:
United States
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature | — | — | World Literature Today | winner |
| 2024 | Southern Mississippi Medallion | — | — | Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival | winner |
| 2020 | American Indian Youth Literature Award | Hearts Unbroken | Best Young Adult Book | American Indian Library Association | winner |
NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature
2021
Organization:
World Literature Today
Result:
winner
Southern Mississippi Medallion
2024
Organization:
Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival
Result:
winner
American Indian Youth Literature Award
2020
Work:
Hearts Unbroken
Category:
Best Young Adult Book
Organization:
American Indian Library Association
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Jingle Dancer
2000 Children's picture bookA picture book about a modern-day Native American girl preparing for a jingle dance.
Native American cultureTradition
Rain Is Not My Indian Name
2001 Realistic fictionA realistic novel for ages 10+ about grief and identity in a Native American girl's life.
GriefIdentityNative American life
Tantalize
2007 Gothic fantasyYA gothic fantasy novel featuring vampires and shapeshifters, blending mystery, romance, and more.
SupernaturalRomanceMystery
Translations
- Published in UK, Australia, New Zealand, France
Hearts Unbroken
2018 Realistic YAYA novel about a Native American girl facing racism and romance in high school theater.
RacismCultureRomance
Sisters of the Neversea
2021 Middle gradeModern reimagining of Peter Pan with a diverse Native American family.
FamilyAdventureDiversity
Bibliography
- Jingle Dancer (2000)
- Rain Is Not My Indian Name (2001)
- Indian Shoes (2002)
- Santa Knows (2006)
- Tantalize (2007)
- Eternal (2009)
- Holler Loudly (2010)
- Blessed (2011)
- Tantalize: Kieren's Story (2011)
- Diabolical (2012)
- Feral Nights (2013)
- Eternal: Zachary's Story (2013)
- Feral Curse (2014)
- Feral Pride (2015)
- Hearts Unbroken (2018)
- Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (2021)
- Sisters of the Neversea (2021)
- Harvest House (2023)
- Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem (2024)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Genre bender (mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, gothic fantasy)HumorousRealistic fiction
- Recurring Motifs
- Modern Native American livesCultural identitySupernatural elements
Legacy
New York Times best-selling author of fiction centered on modern Native Americans, widely taught in schools; expert in children's-YA literature.
Trivia
- Citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
- Former faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program.
- Author-curator of Heartdrum imprint.