Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 92 (2013) Nominee
Sheila Turnage
シーラ・ターネージ
Shiira Taaneiji
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Near Farmville, North Carolina (family farm)
Career
- Occupations
- author, children's author, novelist
- Active Years
- 2012-
- Influenced By
- Patsy O'Leary (creative writing instructor)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University | — | Anthropology | — | — | United States |
East Carolina University
Anthropology
Country:
United States
Studied anthropology; has said lessons from anthropology inform her writing.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Newbery Honor | Three Times Lucky | — | Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association) | Newbery Honor（受賞） |
Newbery Honor
2013
Work:
Three Times Lucky
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)
Result:
Newbery Honor（受賞）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Three Times Lucky
2012 Middle-grade novel (mystery)Set in a small town in North Carolina, the book follows 11-year-old Moses LoBeau and friends as they face mystery and adventure. Noted for its humorous, character-driven voice in middle-grade mystery form.
friendshipmysterysmall-town culturefamily
The Ghost of Tupelo Landing
2014 Children's mysteryA sequel in the Mo & Dale series that continues to follow small-town mysteries and the children's adventures.
whodunitfriendshipcommunity
The Odds of Getting Even
2015 Children's mysteryAnother entry in the Mo & Dale series focusing on the young protagonists as they confront problems and mysteries.
coming of agejusticemystery solving
The Law of Finders Keepers
2018 Children's mysteryA later book in the Mo & Dale series that deepens relationships among characters while presenting another mystery.
familylocal culturemystery solving
Island of Spies
2022 Historical middle-grade novelA historical middle-grade novel set on the North Carolina coast during World War II, inspired by the author's childhood visit to Hatteras Island and local history.
historylife during wartimecourage and growth
Bibliography
- Three Times Lucky (2012)
- The Ghost of Tupelo Landing (2014)
- The Odds of Getting Even (2015)
- The Law of Finders Keepers (2018)
- Island of Spies (2022)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- dialogue-driven with humorcharacter-driven voiceaccessible pacing for middle-grade readers
- Recurring Motifs
- small-town Southern settings and culturestrong young protagonistsfamily and community bondsmystery hidden in everyday life
Legacy
Sheila Turnage is known for middle-grade mysteries set in small-town North Carolina and gained wider recognition after receiving a 2013 Newbery Honor. Her work is praised for its regional flavor and humorous, character-driven storytelling.
Quotes
-
"You have a minute? I have a story to tell you."
Source: Author interview (Publishers Weekly, 2014)
Trivia
- Has attended the same creative writing class at Pitt Community College on and off for over thirty years.
- Lives with her husband Rodney Beasley on a farm that belonged to her great-grandparents.
- Prefers to write in the morning but writes all day when facing a deadline.
- The voice of Moses LoBeau from Three Times Lucky was the initial impetus for writing the book.