Markus Zusak (born 23 June 1975) is an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

writer with Austrian and German roots. He is best known for ''

The Book Thief ''The Book Thief'' is a historical fiction novel by the Australian author Markus Zusak, and is his most popular book. Published in 2005, ''The Book Thief'' became an international bestseller and was translated into 63 languages and sold 16 mil ...

'' and '' The Messenger'' (US title: ''I Am the Messenger''), two novels which became international bestsellers. He won the

Margaret A. Edwards Award The Margaret A. Edwards Award is an American Library Association (ALA) literary award that annually recognizes an author and "a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". It is named afte ...

in 2014.

Early life and career

Zusak was born in Sydney, Australia. His mother Lisa is originally from Germany and his father Helmut is from Austria. They emigrated to Australia in the late 1950s. Markus is the youngest of four children and has two sisters and one brother. He attended Engadine High School and briefly returned there to teach English while writing. He studied English and history at the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW), also known as UNSW Sydney, is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the founding members of Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive ...

, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a

Diploma of Education The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Overview The diploma can build on the ...

. Zusak is the author of six books. His first three books, ''The Underdog'', ''Fighting Ruben Wolfe'', and ''When Dogs Cry'', released between 1999 and 2001, were all published internationally. ''The Messenger'', published in 2002, won the 2003 CBC Book of the Year Award (Older Readers) and the 2003 NSW Premier's Literary Award (Ethel Turner Prize) in Australia and was a runner-up for the

Printz Award Printz is a surname and may refer to: People * Armegot Printz (1625–1695), Swedish noblewoman, daughter of Johan Björnsson Printz * David Printz (born 1980), Swedish ice hockey player * Gisèle Printz (born 1933), French politician * Göran P ...

in America. ''

'' was published in 2005 and has since been translated into more than 40 languages. ''The Book Thief'' was

adapted In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

as a film of the same name in 2013. In 2014, Zusak delivere
a Ted Talk
called 'The Failurist' at the Sydney Opera House. It focused on his drafting process and journey to success through writing ''

''. '' The Messenger'' (''I Am the Messenger'' in the United States) was published in 2002 and was one of Zusak's first novels. This novel has won awards such as the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards: Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature. In March 2016 Zusak talked about his then unfinished novel '' Bridge of Clay.'' He stated that the book was 90% finished but that, "... I’m a completely different person than the person who wrote ''The Book Thief''. And this is also the scary thing—I’m a different person to the one who started '' Bridge of Clay'' eight, nine years ago ... I’ve got to get it done this year, or else I’ll probably finally have to set it aside."

Works

* '' The Underdog'' (1999) * '' Fighting Ruben Wolfe'' (2000), sequel to ''The Underdog'' * '' When Dogs Cry'' (2001), a.k.a. ''Getting the Girl''; sequel to ''Fighting Ruben Wolfe'' * '' The Messenger'' (2002); US title: ''I Am the Messenger'' * ''

'' (2005) * '' Bridge of Clay'' (2018), Pan Macmillan Australia

Awards

In 2014, Zusak won the

from the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members a ...

(ALA), which annually recognises an author and "a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". In 2006, Zusak was also the recipient of the Sydney Morning Herald's Young Australian Novelist of the Year Award. * ''

'' **2006: Kathleen Mitchell Award 2006 (literature) **2006:

National Jewish Book Award The Jewish Book Council (Hebrew: ), founded in 1944, is an organization encouraging and contributing to Jewish literature.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 ...

runner-up (Honor Book) from the US Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) **2008: Ena Noel Award – the

IBBY Australia The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organisation to bring books and children together. In 1966, IBBY Australia was established and Ena Noël OAM became its first president and remained in this role for over 20 ...

Ena Noël Phillipena Noël, (30 July 1910 to 7 December 2003) best known by the name Ena Noël, was an inspirational school teacher and advocate for children's literature and library services to children and young adults. Ena Noël's name is synonymous in ...

Encouragement Award for Children's LiteratureIBBY Australia
at Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) **2009:

Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis The (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only ...

* '' The Messenger'' (US title: ''I Am The Messenger'') **2003: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature **2003:

Children's Book Council of Australia The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not for profit organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents the annual Children's Book of the Year Awards to books of literary merit ...

Book of the Year Award **2005: Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year-Children **2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book **2006: Printz Award Honor Book **2007:

* '' When Dogs Cry / Getting the Girl'' **2002: Honour Book, CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers * '' Fighting Ruben Wolfe'' **2001: Honour Book, CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers **shortlisted for the

New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, th ...

Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zusak, Markus 1975 births 20th-century Australian novelists 21st-century Australian novelists Australian children's writers Australian male novelists Margaret A. Edwards Award winners Writers from Sydney Australian people of Austrian descent Australian people of German descent Living people 20th-century Australian male writers 21st-century Australian male writers University of New South Wales alumni