Alan Gratz is a bestselling author of young adult novels, known for the emotional depth and historical accuracy of his stories. He was born on January 27, 1972, in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he spent his childhood and was raised. After completing his high school education, Gratz attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing. He later went on to obtain a Master’s degree in English education from the same institution.
Gratz’s writing career has seen him create numerous novels, plays, and commercials for magazines. He has also authored over 6,000 radio commercials and sold other people’s books. Apart from writing, Gratz is passionate about teaching and has taught the art of catapult building to middle school students. He has been invited to give lectures at various universities, including the Czech University. Gratz’s writing career took off with his first novel, which was a massive hit and featured in the top 10 best books for young adults by ALA in 2007. His second novel was also a quick pick by ALA in the young adult genre, and its sequel was published in the same year.
Gratz’s novels have received critical acclaim and numerous awards. His 2017 novel, Refugee, spent over two years on the New York Times bestseller list and won 14 state awards, including the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018. Grenade, Gratz’s most recent book, debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and Allies, his latest release, debuted at number two, receiving four starred reviews. Other notable works by Gratz include Prisoner B-3087, Projekt 1065, Code of Honor, and Ban This Book.
Gratz has traveled extensively to promote his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and several countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland. He has been a Writer in Residence at the American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia. Gratz currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina, with his family, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and reading books.