Margaret Peterson Haddix is a successful American author, born in 1964, who has made a significant impact in the world of young adult fiction. She grew up on a farm in Ohio, where she developed a love for reading and writing. Despite her early aspirations to become a novelist, Haddix saw it as an unrealistic career, more akin to being a superhero. Her parents, who were a farmer and a nurse, along with her two brothers and one sister, instilled in her the value of hard work and determination.
Haddix pursued her passion for writing and history at Miami University in Ohio. Before becoming a full-time novelist, she worked in various writing jobs, including being a copy editor and reporter for newspapers in Indiana, a teacher at a community college in Illinois, and a freelance writer. She has lived in several places throughout her life, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Luxembourg, where she studied abroad during college. She currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two children.
Haddix is known for her exceptional work in science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and suspense genres. She has written more than 25 books for children and young adults, including "Running Out of Time," "Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey," "Leaving Fishers," "Just Ella," "Turnabout," "Takeoffs and Landings," "The Girl with 500 Middle Names," "Because of Anya," "Escape from Memory," "Say What?" "The House on the Gulf," "Double Identity," "Dexter the Tough," "Uprising," "Palace of Mirrors," "Claim to Fame," the "Shadow Children" series, and the "Missing" series. She also wrote "Into the Gauntlet," the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award, American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations, and more than a dozen state reader's choice awards.