World Literary Awards

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Roland Smith

ローランド・スミス

Rorando Sumisu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1951-11-30 (Portland, Oregon, U.S.)
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Portland, Oregon (residence)

Career

Occupations
Author, Children's and Young Adult author
Active Years
1990-

Education

Portland State University
Country: United States

Awards

Oregon Book Award (Young Readers Literature)
1996
Work: Journey of the Red Wolf
Organization: Oregon Book Awards
Result: 受賞
National Outdoor Book Award (Children's Category)
2007
Work: Peak
Category: 児童部門
Organization: National Outdoor Book Award
Result: 受賞
Book of the Year (various U.S. states)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sea Otter Rescue

1991 Non-fiction (children's)

A nonfiction account of sea otter rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

wildlife conservationrescue efforts

Journey of the Red Wolf

1996 Non-fiction (children's)

Documents the conservation and study of the red wolf. Winner of an Oregon Book Award.

conservationecology

Thunder Cave

1997 Young adult fiction (adventure)

Jacob Lansa follows his biologist father to Africa and becomes involved in an adventure surrounding elephants and conservation.

adventurewildlifefamily

Cryptid Hunters

2005 Young adult fiction (SF/adventure)

First book in a series about young people hunting cryptids and uncovering mysteries.

mysteryadventurescience

Peak

2007 Young adult fiction (adventure)

A YA novel centered on mountain climbing. Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award (Children's Category).

adventurecoming of agenature

Storm Runners

2010 Young adult fiction (action)

First book in a trilogy about storms and the power of nature.

natural disastersadventure

Beneath

2009 Young adult fiction (adventure/thriller)

An adventure-thriller that explores underground worlds and ancient mysteries.

mystery solvingadventure

Elephant Run

2007 Young adult fiction (historical adventure)

A historical adventure set around World War II aimed at children and YA readers.

historyadventurecoming of age

The Switch

2022 Young adult fiction

One of his more recent YA works; details are limited.

mysteryyouth

Bibliography

  • Sea Otter Rescue
  • Primates in the Zoo
  • Snakes in the Zoo
  • Inside the Zoo Nursery
  • Cats in the Zoo
  • Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Zoo
  • African Elephants
  • Journey of the Red Wolf
  • Vultures
  • In the Forest with the Elephants
  • Thunder Cave
  • Sasquatch
  • Jaguar
  • The Last Lobo
  • Cryptid Hunters
  • Tentacles
  • Chupacabra
  • Mutation
  • Zach's Lie
  • Jack's Run
  • Peak
  • The Edge
  • Ascent
  • Descent
  • I, Q book series
  • Storm Runners trilogy
  • Beneath
  • Above
  • Elephant Run
  • The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe
  • Legwork (e-book)
  • Hijack Over Weaver's Needle
  • The Switch
  • Picture books (e.g. B is for Beaver)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Blend of factual description and fast-paced plottingAccessible prose aimed at children and young adults
Recurring Motifs
wildlifeadventureenvironmental conservationgrowth and courage

Legacy

Known for children's non-fiction and gripping young adult fiction drawing on his experience as a zookeeper. He has won multiple state-level 'Book of the Year' awards and specialty prizes, earning recognition in children's literature.

Trivia

  • Worked for about 20 years as a zookeeper at the Oregon Zoo and Point Defiance Zoo.
  • Participated in wildlife rescue after the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
  • Lives in Portland with his wife Marie Smith.
  • 'Journey of the Red Wolf' won an Oregon Book Award in 1996.