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Laura Ruby Faculty Profile

Laura Ruby

Graduate Adjunct - CLA
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Laura Ruby writes fantasy, mystery, contemporary realistic fiction, and poetry for adults, teens, and children. Her latest YA novel Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All was a 2019 National Book Award Finalist, while her YA novel Bone Gap was also an NBA Finalist and the winner of 2016 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Other novels for teens and tweens include York: The Map of Stars (Book Three, 2020); York: The Clockwork Ghost (Book Two, 2019; York: The Shadow Cipher (Book One, 2017; and Bad Apple (2009).  She has also written the picture book Me & Ms. Too (2022). Her books have been cited on numerous "Best" lists, including Amazon's Best YA Novel, NPR's Best YA Novel, Booklist's Best YA Novel, SLJ’s Best YA Novel, Shelf Awareness Best YA Novel, Book Page’s #1 YA Novel of 2019, Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best, Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, New York Public Library's Best of the Best, the Center for Children's Books Best Books of the Year List, Book Sense Picks, and Popular Paperbacks; have won awards such as Parent's Choice Silver Honor Award, the Sunshine State Book Award, and The Friends of American Writers Award; and have been nominated for both the Edgar Award and the Carnegie Medal. Her short fiction, essays, and poetry for adults have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. 

Laura is a frequent presenter and regularly teaches workshops at the Highlights Foundation and elsewhere. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in the Chicago area with her husband.
 

Publications

Young adult

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All 
Balzer + Bray, 2019

Bone Gap
Balzer + Bray, 2016

Bad Apple
HarperTeen, 2009

Middle grade

York: The Map of Stars
HarperCollins, 2020

York: The Clockwork Ghost
HarperCollins, 2019

York: The Shadow Cipher
HarperCollins, 2017

Picture book

Me and Ms. Too (illustrated by Dung Ho)
Balzer + Bray 2022