Biography
Early life
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Richard Coy was the oldest of four children. His parents were both educators: Coy's father taught college history and his mother taught high school English. Graduating from Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, he later received his master of arts degree in children and creativity from St. Mary's University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Coy worked at a variety of jobs—dishwasher, tour guide, mattress maker—before deciding on a career as a writer.Career
His first picture book, ''Night Driving,'' was inspired by cross-country driving trips on which his father took his family of six when the author was young. John, the oldest, usually sat in front with his father, talking during the wee hours of the night, learning more about his dad than he did when the family was at home. John's book ''Strong to the Hoop'' involved him in the National Basketball Association's Read to Achieve program. ''Strong to the Hoop'' was translated into Spanish as ''Directo al Aro'' four years later. The publisher asked that John write a book about basketball as it is played in countries all over the world. That book became ''Around the World''. Working with boys during school visits, talking to them, hearing the reasons they do and do not read, John has written books he would have liked reading as a teen. ''Crackback'' is set within the realities of high school football and ''Box Out'' perceptively follows a sophomore as he is called up to play varsity basketball. His third young adult novel ''Gap Life'' is about Cray Franklin, a boy whose parents will pay for college, but only if he studies what they want, which is not what he wants. John's popular 4 for 4 series offers readers four novels about four friends engaged in sports, making the transition from elementary school to middle school. Middle grade readers will enjoy: ''Top of the Order'', which is all about baseball; ''Eyes on the Goal,'' which tells an exciting soccer story; ''Love of the Game,', in which the four friends hope to make the football team; ''Take Your Best Shot,'' a hoops story that concludes the series. ''Strong to the Hoop'', ''Night Driving'', and ''Vroomaloom Zoom'' have been produced as children's theater throughout the United States. John has worked as a librettist with theWorks
Published works
* ''Night Driving'' (1996), illustrated by Peter McCarty, picture book * ''Strong to the Hoop'' (1999), illustrated by Leslie Jean-Bart, picture book * ''Vroomaloom Zoom'' (2000), illustrated by Joe Cepeda, picture book * ''Directo al Aro'' (2002), ilustrado por Leslie Jean-Bart, traducido por Enrique del Risco, picture book * ''Two Old Potatoes and Me'' (2003), illustrated by Carolyn Fisher, picture book * ''Around the World'' (2005), illustrated by Antonio Reonegro and Tom Lynch, book * ''Crackback'' (2005), novel * ''Box Out'' (2009), novel * ''Top of the Order'' (2009), novel, Book 1 of the 4 for 4 series * ''Eyes on the Goal'' (2010), novel, Book 2 of the 4 for 4 series * ''Love of the Game'' (2011), novel, Book 3 of the 4 for 4 series * ''Take Your Best Shot'' (2012), novel, Book 4 of the 4 for 4 series * ''For Extreme Sports-Crazy Boys Only'' (2015) * ''Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game'' (2016), picture book, illustrated by Randy DuBurke * ''Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land'' (2016), photographs by Wing Young Huie * ''Gap Life'' (2016), novelAwards and honors
Night Driving
* 1997 Marion Vannett Ridgway Memorial AwarStrong to the Hoop
* 2000 American Library Association Notable BooVroomaloom Zoom
* 2001 Children's Literature Choices lisTwo Old Potatoes and Me
* 2003 Best Family Books for the Year, Nickelodeon * 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of EducatioAround the World
* 2005 Junior Library GuilHoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
* 2013 Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book CentrGame Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
* 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, National Council of Teachers of EnglisTop of the Order
* 2010 Junior Library GuilEyes on the Goal
* 2011 Choice Books, Cooperative Children's Book CenterTake Your Best Shot
* 2013 Choice Books, Cooperative Children's Book CenterCrackback
* 2005 Junior Library GuilBox Out
* 2009 Junior Library GuilExternal links
Interviews