Matthew Tobin Anderson (born November 4, 1968), is an American writer of

children's books A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younge ...

that range from

picture books A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...

young adult novels Young adult fiction (YA) is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age. While the genre is primarily targeted at adolescents, approximately half of YA readers are adults. The subject matter and genres of YA correlate ...

. He won the

National Book Award for Young People's Literature The National Book Award for Young People's Literature is one of five annual National Book Awards, which are given by the National Book Foundation (NBF) to recognize outstanding literary work by US citizens. They are awards "by writers to writers".< ...

in 2006 for '' The Pox Party'', the first of two "Octavian Nothing" books, which are historical novels set in Revolution-era Boston. Anderson is known for using wit and sarcasm in his stories, as well as advocating that young adults are capable of mature comprehension.

Biography

Anderson was born in

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston ...

. His father Will Anderson was an engineer, and his mother Juliana Anderson was an

Episcopal priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

. He attended St. Mark's School,

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

, the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...

(England), and Syracuse University. Anderson worked at

Candlewick Press Candlewick Press, established in 1992 and located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is part of the Walker Books group. The logo depicting a bear carrying a candle is based on Walker Books's original logo. Sebastian Walker launched Walker Books fro ...

before his first novel ''Thirsty'' (1997) was accepted for publication there."Profile: Author M.T. Anderson Challenges Young Adults With Complex Narratives"
''The Washington Post'', November 29, 2008. He has also worked as a

disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...

for WCUW radio; as an instructor at

Vermont College of Fine Arts Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) is a private graduate-level art school in Montpelier, Vermont. It offers Master's degrees in low-residency and residential programs. Its faculty includes Pulitzer Prize finalists, National Book Award winners, ...

, where he now serves on the Board; and as a music critic for ''The Improper Bostonian''. He currently lives in Cambridge (Mass.) and is on the Board of the

National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance (NCBLA) is an American non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of literacy, literature, and libraries for young people. It was founded in 1997 by Mary Brigid Barrett and other children's book a ...

, a national non-profit organization that advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.The NCBLA Board: M. T. Anderson

Writing style

Anderson is known for challenging his readers, of varying ages, to look at the world in new ways. Anderson has also remarked "We write because we can't decipher things the first time around." His novels directed at young adults, such as Thirsty and Feed, tend to direct their satire at society. He's also written children's picture books such as ''Handel'', ''Who Knew What He Liked'', and novels directed toward

pre-teen Preadolescence is a stage of human development following middle childhood and preceding adolescence.New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd Edition. 2005. Oxford University Press. It commonly ends with the beginning of puberty. Preadolescence is c ...

readers such as ''

The Game of Sunken Places ''The Game of Sunken Places,'' first published by Scholastic Corporation, Scholastic Paperbacks in 2004, is a children's fantasy novel by M. T. Anderson. It is the first of the Norumbegan Quartet which continues in ''The Suburb beyond the Stars' ...

''. Anderson tends to write with sophisticated wit and storylines, making the point that young people are more intelligent than some might think. In response to the question of why he gives so much credit to his young audience, Anderson stated in an interview with Julie Prince: "Our survival as a nation rests upon the willingness of the young to become excited and engaged by new ideas we never considered as adults." While he was writing ''Feed'', Anderson took in younger, pop-culture oriented media, such as '' Seventeen'', ''

Maxim Maxim or Maksim may refer to: Entertainment * ''Maxim'' (magazine), an international men's magazine ** ''Maxim'' (Australia), the Australian edition ** ''Maxim'' (India), the Indian edition *Maxim Radio, ''Maxim'' magazine's radio channel on Sir ...

'', and '' Teen Vogue''. He used these media sources to convey an accurate teenage voice, but even more depleted and abbreviated. He's used this method many times, including reading 18th century novels during his writing of '' The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing''. A shy person, Anderson has stated that he greatly prefers writing to public speaking. As a writer he does not shy from taking on difficult questions and deeper, more mature concepts and themes. Unlike many other young-adult writers, Anderson views the characters he creates simply as figures moving and acting on his terms. The only exception to this view of his characters has been his main character in ''The Astonishing Life'', Octavian Nothing. Anderson faces unique challenges in writing for the young adult market, especially concerning the topics he chooses. He has heavily researched the time periods of his novels in order to accurately portray his characters. Similarly to ''Feed'', Anderson had to put himself in the shoes of a young person from a different time period when he wrote ''The Astonishing Life''. However, this novel challenged him to explore the dialect of a time period that had already happened, rather than a time period that has yet to come. Anderson pointed out that he actually tends to dislike his books after he's finished with them, a declaration that has been seen as modest; he feels distanced from the work and is usually eager to move on to another project. This is his reasoning behind writing in so many different genres. Anderson has also indicated that he hopes to not only continue writing for young adults and children, but also to write for an adult audience in the future.

''Feed''

'' Feed'' is a young-adult novel focusing on the lives of teenagers in a future America. Within this dystopian society, young people are implanted with "the feed", a computer chip that connects them to a global network of advertisements, images, audio messages, and text-based communication. The government uses the feed to profile everyone to show what their interests and dislikes are. Anyone who tries to 'beat' the feed can be denied later when they try to get information or help from the sources. The novel's themes are corporate power and consumerism. Feed has also been regarded as a literary source for young adults to not only expand their knowledge of citizenship outside of the everyday youth status, but also increase their capacity for social change. The novel also focuses on the dependent nature of the characters; everyone is so dependent on the feed's transmissions that everything else in society decays. ''Feed'' received praise for Anderson's imaginative wit. The unique use of "futuristic" language is noted as one of the novel's strong points. ''Feed'' won the

Los Angeles Times Book Award Since 1980, the ''Los Angeles Times'' has awarded a set of annual book prizes. The Prizes currently have nine categories: biography, current interest, fiction, first fiction (the Art Seidenbaum Award added in 1991), history, mystery/thriller ...

and has been a finalist for both the

National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The Nat ...

and the

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are a set of American literary awards conferred by ''The Boston Globe'' and ''The Horn Book Magazine'' annually from 1967. One book is recognized in each of four categories: Fiction and Poetry, Nonfiction, and P ...

. ''Feed'' was also named one of the

ALA Best Books for Young Adults The American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommendation list of books presented yearly by the YALSA division (Young Adult Library Services Association Th ...

. The audio book version of Feed, narrated by

David Aaron Baker David Aaron Baker (born August 14, 1963) is an American actor whose credits stretch across theater, film, television and audiobooks. Biography On Broadway, he is most prominently known for his starring role as "Prince Dauntless" opposite Sarah ...

, was a
AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award Winner
and was also a finalist in Achievement in Production for th
Audio Publishers Association 2004 Audie Awards®

''Feed'' in schools

''Feed'' has been taught as a dystopian novel for young adults, exaggerating our modern society in an attempt to challenge it. The novel has been used as tool to show teenagers, who are generally familiar and even accepting of advertising, what the dangers of consumerism are without alarming them. Even the educational system in the novel has been compromised by corporations, which directly causes students to question the relation between consumerism and education. The novel not only addresses mindless consumerism, but powerful industry and marketing. ''Feed'' also tackles the importance of language, and the negative effect that occurs to the depletion of the English language. The general goal in teaching ''Feed'' is to show students what it means to be moral consumers.

''Thirsty''

'' Thirsty'' is the story of Chris, a teenage boy who is growing up to become a vampire while the people of his town (

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

) dedicate their time to fighting such dreaded creatures. His transformation is told through the similarities of growing up and going through adolescence. The plot is said to be startling, suspenseful and creepy, but also contains a captivating plot filled with humor. ''Thirsty'' was Anderson's first published novel and his debut in young adult literature. The novel has been held in high regard for being a particularly impressive first novel, having caused Anderson to be quickly noted as an author worth watching.

''The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing''

Taking readers back to the birth of the United States, ''The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation'' features the son of an African princess, raised in unique circumstances, having been brought to the American colonies. Octavian becomes part of a college study, attempting to gauge the intelligence and overall potential of African Americans. Octavian's mother dies from a college-mandated smallpox inoculation, and Octavian is forced to see the world for what it is. '' The Pox Party'', part one, is told in Octavian's voice while '' The Kingdom on the Waves'' is told in a sequence of letters. The novel is praised for its creativity and chaotic storyline. Teenagers are able to understand and relate to the story without having to know all the historical details in the novel. This novel has also attained its prestigious reputation based on the effort Anderson dedicated to researching the historical aspects of the book. Anderson tried to make the language as accurate to the time period, the 18th century, as possible.

''Burger Wuss''

''Burger Wuss'' is another young adult novel. The story focuses on the teenage narrator, Anthony, who gets a job at a local burger joint in order to exact revenge upon another employee at the restaurant: Turner, the boy who stole Anthony's girlfriend. This novel is praised for its use of black humor, satirical tone, and overall witty sarcasm, similar to many of Anderson's other works. ''Burger Wuss'' stood out in the eyes of critics for its ability to show the darker aspects of day-to-day life.

Children's books

Anderson has also written

and books for pre-teens. His picture books include ''Handel, Who Knew What He Liked'', and ''Strange Mr. Satie''. Anderson utilized his knowledge and taste for music in ''Handel, Who Knew What He Liked'', a story of the German-English composer,

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

. Anderson's story has been praised for its simplicity and easy-to-read sentences. ''Strange Mr. Satie'' is the story of the less known

Erik Satie Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (, ; ; 17 May 18661 July 1925), who signed his name Erik Satie after 1884, was a French composer and pianist. He was the son of a French father and a British mother. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, but was an und ...

, who influenced modern music. His choice to focus on Satie is noted as an "offbeat" choice, but the book also held in high regard for its unique style, and text that reflects Satie's own musical style. For pre-teens Anderson has written a whimsical chapter book, ''

''. The story involves two young boys, Gregory and Brian, who discover a game board in the woods and are pulled into an alternate reality in order to play the game. The boys have to overcome various fantasy-based obstacles including trolls, and monsters, while making their way through the rules and dimensions of the game. The book is said to contain climactic surprises, and is praised for its humor, creativity, and adventurous nature.

Awards and honors

''Handel, Who Knew What He Liked'' (2001) :honor book, 2002

''Feed'' (2002) :finalist, 2002 National Book Award"National Book Awards – 2002"
National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2012-01-26. :honor book, 2003 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award ''The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Volume 1: The Pox Party'' (2006) :winner, 2006

"National Book Awards – 2006"
National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
(With acceptance speech by Anderson, introduction by jury chair Margaret Bechard, and some information on all five Young People's Literature authors and books.) :honor book, 2007

Michael L. Printz Award The Michael L. Printz Award is an American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". It is sponsored by ''Booklist'' magazine; administered by the ALA's y ...

for literary excellence in young adult literature (

Young Adult Library Services Association The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of l ...

) ''The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves'' (2008) :honor book, 2009 Michael L. Printz AwardALA , 2009 Printz Award Winners

Works

Novels

*'' Thirsty'' (1997) *''Burger Wuss'' (1999) *'' Feed'' (2002) *''Landscape with Invisible Hand'' (2017). *''The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge'', illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (2018). The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation #'' Volume I: The Pox Party'' (2006) #'' Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves'' (2008) Pals in Peril series #'' Whales on Stilts'' (2005) #''The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen'' (2006) #''Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware'' (2009) #''Agent Q, or, The Smell of Danger'' (2010) #''Zombie Mommy'' (2011) #''He Laughed with His Other Mouths'', illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (2014) Norumbegan Quartet # ''

'' (2004) # ''The Suburb Beyond the Stars'' (2010) # ''The Empire of Gut and Bone'' (2011) # ''The Chamber in the Sky'' (2012)

Nonfiction

*''Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad'' (2015)"The Music That Brought Hope To A Besieged City". ''Here & Now with Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson''. 21 September 2015.
/ref>

Graphic novels

*''Yvain: The Knight of the Lion'', with Andrea Offermann (2017) *''The Daughters of Ys'', with Jo Rioux (2020).

Short fiction

*"Barcarole for Paper and Bones", ''Shelf Life: Stories by the Book'', edited by

Gary Paulsen Gary James Paulsen (May 17, 1939 – October 13, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming of age, coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote mor ...

. (Simon & Schuster, 2003). *"A Brief Guide to the Ghosts of Great Britain" (memoir), ''Open Your Eyes: Extraordinary Experiences in Faraway Places'', edited by Jill Davis. (Viking, 2003). Reprinted in the September/October 2005 issue of the young adult literature magazine Cicada. *"The Mud and Fever Dialogues", ''Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday'', edited by Megan McCafferty. (Three Rivers Press, 2004). *"Watch and Wake", ''Gothic: Ten Original Dark Tales'', edited by Deborah Noyes. (Candlewick, 2004). *"My Maturity, In Flames", ''Guys Write for Guys Read'', edited by

Jon Scieszka Jon Scieszka ( :) (born September 8, 1954) is an American children's writer, best known for picture books created with the illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and the founder of Guys Read – a web-based li ...

. (Viking, 2005). *"The Old, Dead Nuisance" (2011) *"The Bug Out Bag: What You Need to Stay Alive" (2012) *"Bug Out: What to Do When It's Time to Get Out of Dodge" (2012)

Picture books

*''Handel, Who Knew What He Liked'' (2001), illustrated by Kevin Hawkes — biography of

*''Strange Mr. Satie'' (2003) *''Me, All Alone, at the End of the World'' (2004) *''The Serpent Came to Gloucester'' (2005)

References

Candlewick Press: Biography: M.T. Anderson.
Interviews:
Shoemaker, Joel. Hungry for M.T. Anderson. VOYA, June 2004.

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20051110024516/http://mmrls.org/materials/andersonchat.htm Gallaway, Beth. "A Virtual Visit with M.T. Anderson." July 28, 2005
Leitich Smith, Cynthia. "Author Interview: MT Anderson on Whales on Stilts. Cynsations. September 12, 2005

* ttp://community.livejournal.com/notyourmothers/34738.html Litericat. "Our Interview with M.T. Anderson. ''Not Your Mother's Book Club.'' October 6, 2006br>Horning, Kathleen. "Patriot Games." School Library Journal. November 1, 2006

Kirkus Reviews. "Exclusive Interview with NBA Winner M.T. Anderson." ''The Book Standard.'' November 16, 2006

NPR. ''Novel Ideas'' feature. "M. T. Anderson: Eats Broccoli, Paces, and Hums." November 25, 2006

Mehegan, David. "Like his protagonists, he's a character study." Boston Globe, 12/19/06

* ttp://www.rumblestripvermont.com/2015/12/a-conversation-with-m-t-anderson/ Heilman, Erica. "A Conversation with M.T. Anderson." ''Rumble Strip Vermont.'' 9 Dec. 2015.

External links

*
Tongue-in-cheek letter to M.T. Anderson
from Delaware Governor

Jack Markell Jack Alan Markell (born November 26, 1960) is an American politician who currently serves as the United States ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He previously served as the 73rd governor of Delaware from 2 ...

, September 14, 2009
M.T. Anderson: Book Fest 07
(webcast), Library of Congress, September 29, 2007

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, M. T. 1968 births American children's writers American young adult novelists American historical novelists Harvard College alumni National Book Award for Young People's Literature winners Writers from Cambridge, Massachusetts St. Mark's School (Massachusetts) alumni Syracuse University alumni Living people 21st-century American novelists American male novelists 21st-century American male writers Novelists from Massachusetts