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John Richard Coy

ジョン・リチャード・コイ

John Richard Coy

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1958-08-09 （Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Career

Occupations
children's author, young adult author
Active Years
1996-

Education

Saint John's University (Collegeville, Minnesota)
Country: United States
Completed undergraduate studies
St. Mary's University (Minneapolis)
Children and creativity
Degree: Master of Arts
Country: United States
MA in children and creativity

Awards

Marion Vannett Ridgway Memorial Award
1997
Work: Night Driving
Organization: Marion Vannett Ridgway Memorial Award
Result: Winner
Choice Books (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
1996
Work: Night Driving
Organization: Cooperative Children's Book Center
Result: Selected
Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
1998
Work: Night Driving
Organization: Bank Street College of Education
Result: Selected
Notable Book (American Library Association)
2000
Work: Strong to the Hoop
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Selected
Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
2000
Work: Strong to the Hoop
Organization: Bank Street College of Education
Result: Selected
Notable Books for a Global Society
2000
Work: Strong to the Hoop
Organization: International Reading Association
Result: Selected
Children's Literature Choices list
2001
Work: Vroomaloom Zoom
Organization: International Literacy Association
Result: Selected
Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
2001
Work: Vroomaloom Zoom
Organization: Bank Street College of Education
Result: Selected
Best Family Books for the Year (Nickelodeon)
2003
Work: Two Old Potatoes and Me
Organization: Nickelodeon
Result: Selected
Reading Rainbow
2003
Work: Two Old Potatoes and Me
Organization: Reading Rainbow
Result: Featured
Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
2004
Work: Two Old Potatoes and Me
Category: Honor
Organization: Charlotte Zolotow Committee
Result: Honor
Junior Library Guild
2005
Work: Around the World
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selected
Best Books for Kids and Teens (Canadian Children's Book Centre)
2013
Work: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Organization: Canadian Children's Book Centre
Result: Selected
Top Ten Sports Books for Youth (Booklist)
2013
Work: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Organization: Booklist
Result: Selected
Choice Books (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
2014
Work: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Organization: Cooperative Children's Book Center
Result: Selected
Multicultural Book Collection (Reading Is Fundamental)
2015
Work: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Organization: Reading Is Fundamental
Result: Selected
National Endowment for the Humanities Nonfiction Favorites List for Young Readers
2015
Work: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
Organization: National Endowment for the Humanities
Result: Selected
Orbis Pictus Recommended Book (NCTE)
2016
Work: Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
Organization: National Council of Teachers of English
Result: Recommended
Best Children's Books of the Year (Outstanding Merit, Bank Street)
2016
Work: Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
Category: Outstanding Merit
Organization: Bank Street College of Education
Result: Selected
Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children's Literature
2016
Work: Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
Organization: Wisconsin Library Association Youth Services Section
Result: Winner
Junior Library Guild
2010
Work: Top of the Order
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selected
Choice Books (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
2010
Work: Top of the Order
Organization: Cooperative Children's Book Center
Result: Selected
Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
2010
Work: Top of the Order
Organization: Bank Street College of Education
Result: Selected
Choice Books (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
2011
Work: Eyes on the Goal
Organization: Cooperative Children's Book Center
Result: Selected
Choice Books (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
2013
Work: Take Your Best Shot
Organization: Cooperative Children's Book Center
Result: Selected
Junior Library Guild
2005
Work: Crackback
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selected
500 Great Books for Teens (Anita Silvey) - Additional Title of Interest
2005
Work: Crackback
Organization: Anita Silvey
Result: Listed
Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (YALSA)
2006
Work: Crackback
Organization: Young Adult Library Services Association
Result: Selected
Young Adults' Choices
2007
Work: Crackback
Organization: International Reading Association
Result: Selected
Junior Library Guild
2009
Work: Box Out
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selected
Top Ten Sports Books for Youth (Booklist)
2009
Work: Box Out
Organization: Booklist
Result: Selected
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
2023
Work: Where We Come From
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Night Driving

1996 picture book

A picture book inspired by cross-country night drives; explores family, memory, and father-son conversations.

familymemoryjourney
Adaptations
  • [children's theater] Night Driving (children's theater)

Strong to the Hoop

1999 picture book / nonfiction elements

A children's book about basketball; was involved with the NBA's Read to Achieve program.

sportsteamworkchallenge
Adaptations
  • [children's theater] Strong to the Hoop (children's theater)
Translations
  • Directo al Aro (Spanish translation)

Vroomaloom Zoom

2000 picture book

A rhythmic picture book celebrating cars and motion.

playmovementrhythm
Adaptations
  • [children's theater] Vroomaloom Zoom (children's theater)

Two Old Potatoes and Me

2003 picture book

A picture book about family love and humor.

familyhumor

Around the World

2005 children's book (sports)

A book that explores how basketball is played in countries around the world.

sports cultureinternationalism

Crackback

2005 young adult novel

A coming-of-age novel set around high school football, exploring growth and conflict.

coming-of-agesportsidentity

Box Out

2009 young adult novel

Follows a sophomore called up to play varsity basketball, portraying challenges and growth.

growthcompetitionfriendship

Top of the Order

2009 middle-grade (4 for 4 series)

A middle-grade baseball story about four friends; Book 1 of the 4 for 4 series.

friendshipsportsgrowing up

Eyes on the Goal

2010 middle-grade (4 for 4 series)

Book 2 of the 4 for 4 series, an exciting soccer story.

soccerteamworkfriendship

Love of the Game

2011 middle-grade (4 for 4 series)

Book 3 of the 4 for 4 series about football and the friends' efforts to make the team.

footballeffortfriendship

Take Your Best Shot

2012 middle-grade (4 for 4 series)

The fourth and concluding book in the 4 for 4 series; a hoops story.

basketballfriendshipchallenge

Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game

2016 nonfiction / picture book elements

Tells the story of John McLendon and the historic 'Secret Game', highlighting race, courage, and change.

historycivil rightssports

Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land

2016 photographic nonfiction

A photographic nonfiction work depicting immigration, sacrifice, and hope in a new land.

immigrationhistoryhope

Gap Life

2016 young adult novel

A YA novel about a boy whose parents will pay for college only if he studies what they want, confronting choices about his future.

familychoicesself-determination

Where We Come From

2023 children's nonfiction

A children's nonfiction book addressing origins and history; winner of the Carter G. Woodson Book Award.

historycultureidentity

Bibliography

  • Night Driving (1996)
  • Strong to the Hoop (1999)
  • Vroomaloom Zoom (2000)
  • Directo al Aro (Spanish translation, 2002)
  • Two Old Potatoes and Me (2003)
  • Around the World (2005)
  • Crackback (2005)
  • Box Out (2009)
  • Top of the Order (2009)
  • Eyes on the Goal (2010)
  • Love of the Game (2011)
  • Take Your Best Shot (2012)
  • For Extreme Sports-Crazy Boys Only (2015)
  • Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game (2016)
  • Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land (2016)
  • Gap Life (2016)
  • Where We Come From (2023)

Adaptations

  • Night Driving, Strong to the Hoop, and Vroomaloom Zoom have been produced as children's theater

Translations of Works

  • Directo al Aro (Spanish translation of Strong to the Hoop, 2002)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realistic narrative styleclear, rhythmic prose suited for childrennonfiction focuses on historical figures and events
Recurring Motifs
sports (especially basketball)coming-of-age and friendshipfamily and memory

Legacy

John Coy has produced a body of children's and YA literature focused on sports, family, and history. He contributes to literacy through school visits and workshops; many of his books have been recognized by awards and adopted in educational and theatrical contexts.

Trivia

  • Before becoming a writer he worked jobs such as dishwasher, tour guide, and mattress maker.
  • Has worked as a librettist with the Minnesota Orchestra.
  • Frequently visits schools worldwide for readings and workshops.
  • Official website: www.johncoy.com