Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson is a highly acclaimed young adult fantasy author, best known for her novel "Bridge to Terabithia." She was born in Qing Jiang, China, to American parents who left for the United States at the height of World War II. Paterson's childhood was marked by frequent moves due to her father's work, and she spent her formative years in various towns in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Paterson's dream of becoming a missionary led her to study Christian education in graduate school, and she later spent four years teaching in rural Japan. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she met her future husband, a young Presbyterian pastor, and returned to the United States. It was not until 1964 that Paterson's writing career truly began when she was asked to write curriculum materials for fifth and sixth graders by the Presbyterian church.

Paterson has since become an internationally acclaimed author, with over 35 books for children and young adults to her name. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, which she has won twice. Paterson has also received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the body of her work. She has been a strong advocate for reading, education, and literacy throughout her career and has served as the National Ambassador for Children's Literature for the Library of Congress.

Paterson's beloved books, "The Bridge to Terabithia" and "The Great Gilly Hopkins," have been adapted into feature films. She currently resides in Barre, Vermont, with her husband, four children, seven grandchildren, and her dog, Pixie. Fans can learn more about Paterson and her work on her website.