Oregon Book Awards
2 appearances
-
Edition 16 (2002) Winner
-
Edition 22 (2008) Winner
Sara Ryan
サラ・ライアン
Sara Ryan
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1971-11-13 （Ohio, United States）
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Ann Arbor, Michigan (raised) → Portland, Oregon (resides)
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Librarian, Lecturer
- Active Years
- 2001-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer High School (Ann Arbor) | — | — | — | 1985-1989 | United States |
Pioneer High School (Ann Arbor)
Period:
1985-1989
Year of Graduation:
1989
Country:
United States
High school. No verifiable information available about subsequent higher education.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Adult Literature | The Rules for Hearts | Young Adult Literature | Oregon Book Awards | Winner |
| 2001 | ALA Best Book for Young Adults | Empress of the World | Young Adult | American Library Association | Honoree |
Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Adult Literature
2008
Work:
The Rules for Hearts
Category:
Young Adult Literature
Organization:
Oregon Book Awards
Result:
Winner
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2001
Work:
Empress of the World
Category:
Young Adult
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Honoree
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Empress of the World
2001 Young AdultA young adult novel about adolescent friendship and romance; the protagonist navigates identity through relationships with classmates.
adolescenceself-discoveryfriendshipLGBTQ themes
The Rules for Hearts
2007 Young AdultA sequel that continues themes of friendship, love, and growth; it explores the complex emotions of young people.
coming-of-agefriendshipromanceidentity
Mountain Upside Down
2025 Young Adult(Limited information) A recent YA novel aimed at young readers.
Bad Houses
2013 Graphic novelA graphic novel produced in collaboration with a cartoonist; deals with family and change.
familychangerelationships
Me and Edith Head
2002 Short (graphic)A short graphic work that was nominated for the 2002 Eisner Award for Best Short Story.
short storycharacter-driven drama
Bibliography
- Empress of the World
- The Rules for Hearts
- Mountain Upside Down
- Bad Houses
- Me and Edith Head
- Flytrap series (multiple episodes)
- Click
- Einbahnstrasse Waltz
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- character-driven proserestrained, approachable narrationclear YA-oriented voice
- Recurring Motifs
- self-awarenessnuances of friendship and romancefamily dynamics and growthexploration of queer/sexual identity
Legacy
Sara Ryan is an author working in both young adult fiction and graphic novels, praised for careful portrayals of adolescent psychology and identity. She has been recognized by the Oregon Book Awards and the ALA, and has experience teaching at academic institutions.
Academic Societies
- Vermont College of Fine Arts (faculty affiliation)
Trivia
- Married to cartoonist Steve Lieber.
- Has publicly identified as bisexual.
- Empress of the World was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
- Short piece 'Me and Edith Head' was nominated for the 2002 Eisner Award for Best Short Story.
- Serves on the faculty at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.