World Literary Awards

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Jen Ferguson

ジェン・ファーガソン

Jen Ferguson

Profile

Gender
Female
Nationality
Canadian
Languages
English
Residence History
Calgary, Canada → Lloydminster, Canada → Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Career

Occupations
novelist, professor
Active Years
2021-2024
Affiliations
Coe College
Influenced By
Caroline B. Cooney
Nominations
William C. Morris Award finalist

Education

University of South Dakota
English and Creative Writing
Degree: PhD
Country: United States

Awards

Governor General's Literary Award
2022
Work: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
Category: Young People's Literature - Text
Organization: Government of Canada
Result: winner
Stonewall Honor Book
2023
Work: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
Category: Children’s and Young Adult Literature
Organization: American Library Association
Result: honor
Cybils Award
2022
Work: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
Category: Young Adult Literature
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Governor General's Awards 1 appearances
  1. Edition 87 (2022) Winner
    Work: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

    In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. A William C.

    In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—an…

    369 pages
    Young Adult Fictionfamilyfatherhoodpowerart

Works

Major Works

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

2022 Young adult fiction

A Métis teen navigates identity, relationships, and personal growth.

Indigenous cultureIdentityQueerFamily

Those Pink Mountain Nights

2023 Young adult fiction

An Indigenous teen's coming-of-age story working at a pizza shop in Alberta, exploring missing and murdered Indigenous women, mental health, and sexuality.

Missing and murdered Indigenous womenMental healthSexualityComing of age

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realistic young adult fictionIndigenous perspectives
Recurring Motifs
Indigenous identityQueer experiencesFamily and community

Legacy

Michif/Métis Canadian writer acclaimed for bringing Indigenous and queer voices to young adult literature.

Trivia

  • Grew up as an 'army brat' moving around Canada.
  • Of Michif/Métis and Canadian settler heritage, and queer.
  • Inspired by her experience working at a pizza shop in the Canadian prairies at age 16.