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Virginia Euwer Wolff

ヴァージニア・ユウワー・ウォルフ

Virginia Euwer Wolff

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1937-08-25 （Portland, Oregon, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
New York, NY, United States → Philadelphia, PA, United States → Washington, D.C., United States → Oregon, United States

Career

Occupations
Author, Children's writer, Chamber musician
Active Years
1981-

Education

Oregon Episcopal School (formerly St. Helen's Hall)
Country: United States
Attended the girls' school St. Helen's Hall (now Oregon Episcopal School). Later received a Distinguished Alumna Award.
Smith College
Country: United States
Attended Smith College. Specific major and graduation year not specified in available sources.

Awards

National Book Award for Young People's Literature
2001
Work: True Believer
Category: Young People's Literature
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: Winner
NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature
2011
Work: Body of work
Organization: Neustadt Prizes
Result: Winner
Phoenix Award
2011
Work: The Mozart Season
Organization: Children's Literature Association
Result: Winner
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books
2001
Work: True Believer
Organization: Publishers Weekly
Result: Selection
American Library Association Notable Children's Book
1993
Work: Make Lemonade
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Citation
Booklist Top of the List
1993
Work: Make Lemonade
Organization: Booklist
Result: Winner
Junior Library Guild Selection
2001
Work: True Believer
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selection
YALSA Top Ten Book of the Year
2002
Work: True Believer
Organization: Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Result: Selection

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Make Lemonade

1993 Children's / Young adult fiction (realist)

A realist coming-of-age story in which LaVaughn, a young narrator, babysits for the children of a teenage mother; explores poverty, family, and growing up.

Coming-of-agePovertyFamily

True Believer

2001 Young adult fiction

Sequel to Make Lemonade, continuing the protagonist's growth and exploring relationships, trust, and hope. Winner of the 2001 National Book Award.

TrustHopeMaturation

This Full House

2009 Young adult fiction

The concluding volume of the Make Lemonade trilogy. Received starred reviews from Kirkus.

FamilyGrowthResponsibility

Bat 6

1998 Children's literature

Youth-oriented fiction dealing with sports, friendship, and coming-of-age.

FriendshipSportsComing-of-age

The Mozart Season

1991 Children's literature

A novel intertwining music and the lives of young protagonists. Awarded the Phoenix Award in 2011.

MusicComing-of-ageFamily

Probably Still Nick Swansen

1988 Children's / Young adult fiction

A work from the late 1980s; detailed summary not widely available in the consulted sources.

Rated PG

1981 Children's literature

Published in 1981; one of her earlier works.

Bibliography

  • Rated PG (1981)
  • Probably Still Nick Swansen (1988)
  • The Mozart Season (1991)
  • Make Lemonade (1993)
  • Bat 6 (1998)
  • True Believer (2001)
  • This Full House (2009)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Concise, lyrical proseRealist style with sensitive interior characterization
Recurring Motifs
Young protagonists' coming-of-ageMusicPoverty and family issues

Legacy

Virginia Euwer Wolff is acclaimed for handling difficult, realistic themes with a delicate touch. Winner of the National Book Award and the NSK Neustadt Prize, she is regarded as an important author in young adult literature.

Academic Societies

  • Children's Literature Association

Archives

  • Library of Congress authority records

Quotes

  • I like to write characters who are brave, foolish and goofy.
    Source: Author's statement (interview/official site) (2012)

Trivia

  • Grew up in a log house without electricity on an apple and pear orchard.
  • Began violin lessons in 1945, fostering a love of music.
  • Married Arthur Richard Wolff in 1959; divorced in 1976.
  • True Believer won the 2001 National Book Award.
  • Received the 2011 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature for lifetime achievement.