Greg Neri

Greg Neri was raised in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Santa Cruz, California, to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2001, he illustrated his first book for Scholastic, but turned to writing in 2005.{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Maureen|date=|title=Author Greg Neri Discovered Writing Quite By Accident|url=https://arts.ucsc.edu/features/featured-story/author-greg-neri-discovered-writing-quite-accident|access-date=2021-05-13|website=University of California Santa Cruz|language=en}} In 2017, he went to Antarctica on a grant from the National Science Foundation.[https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/75791-g-neri-s-antarctic-adventures-in-photos.html Publishers Weekly] In 2023, he was given an honorary doctorate for his literary output and polar science outreach from the State University of New York (SUNY).{{Cite web |title=Greg Neri, the Coretta Scott King Honor-Winning Author of Young Adult Fiction, to Receive Honorary Doctorate at SUNY Cobleskill's 105th Commencement – SUNY Cobleskill |url=https://web.cobleskill.edu/media/2023/04/25/greg-neri-the-coretta-scott-king-honor-winning-author-of-young-adult-fiction-to-receive-honorary-doctorate-at-suny-cobleskills-105th-commencement/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en-US}} He currently resides in Tampa, Florida with his wife Maggie.Steele, Charlotte - Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, January 10, 2008

Neri's 2007 first novel, Chess Rumble, is about an 11-year-old inner-city teen named Marcus who fights back against his bully, but is challenged by a chess master to fight his battles on the chessboard instead.{{cite web|url=http://www.leeandlow.com/books/32/hc/chess_rumble|title=Chess Rumble|publisher=Leeandlow.com|accessdate=13 October 2014}} Chess Rumble received praise from critics and bloggers. School Library Journal said "This book will become a standby pick for reluctant readers, who will be pulled in before they know it by the story’s quick pace and the authenticity of Marcus’s voice and experience.”{{Cite web|title=Reviews - Chess Rumble {{!}} Lee & Low Books|url=https://www.leeandlow.com/books/chess-rumble/reviews/645|access-date=2020-12-01|website=www.leeandlow.com}} The book was named a Notable Book by the American Library Association, the International Reading Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. In 2010, Neri received the Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award from the International Reading Association for his free-verse on Chess Rumble.{{Cite web|title=November 15 is the Deadline for IRA Promising Poet Award|url=https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-now/2012/10/08/november-15-is-the-deadline-for-ira-promising-poet-award|access-date=2020-12-01|website=www.literacyworldwide.org|language=en}}

Neri's first novel, Surf Mules, revolves around two California surfers who find themselves embroiled in a world of disorganized crime. Publishers Weekly called it "Poignant and heartbreaking."{{Cite web|title=Children's Book Review: Surf Mules by G. Neri, Author . Putnam $16.99 (273p) ISBN 978-0-399-25086-6|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-25086-6|access-date=2020-12-01|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}

Neri's graphic novel Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=BtB Social Justice Initiative: An Interview with Author Greg Ner|url=https://www.behindthebook.org/btb-social-justice-initiative-an-interview-with-author-greg-neri/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Behind the Book|language=en}} is about Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, who was eleven years old in 1994 when he became a fugitive from justice after accidentally killing a neighbor girl, before being killed by the gang he was in. The book won a Coretta Scott King honor,{{Cite web|title=Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty {{!}} Awards & Grants|url=http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/content/yummy-last-days-southside-shorty|access-date=2020-12-01|website=www.ala.org}} and was honored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance.{{Cite web|title=Previous Winners|url=https://www.museumoftolerance.com/education/archives-and-reference-library/once-upon-a-world-childrens-book-award/previous-winners.html|access-date=2020-12-01|website=www.museumoftolerance.com}} It was named one of the best graphic novels for all ages by CNN and Flavorwire.{{Cite web|last=Toy|first=Daniel|date=2020-09-11|title=The best graphic novels for readers of all ages, from kids to adults|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/cnn-underscored/best-graphic-novels/index.html|access-date=2020-12-01|website=CNN Underscored|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Hiramine|first=Brie|title=25 Essential Graphic Novels|url=https://www.flavorwire.com/451552/25-essential-graphic-novels|access-date=2020-12-01|website=Flavorwire|date=18 April 2014 |language=en}}

His novel Ghetto Cowboy is inspired by the real-life black urban cowboys in North Philadelphia. The story is about an 11-year-old named Cole, who is abandoned on the doorstep of the father he's never met, but befriends a horse and eventually becomes a cowboy. Neri has said he was inspired by an article in Life magazine.Life magazine article, April 22, 2005 The Christian Science Monitor praised the book.Christian Science Monitor article by Augusta Scattergood (September 1, 2011) In 2021 the novel was adapted into a motion picture for Netflix called Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba and Caleb Mclaughlin.{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Angelique|date=2020-10-26|title='Concrete Cowboy' Starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin Lands at Netflix|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/idris-elba-concrete-cowboy-netflix-1234815612/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

Knockout Games is based on the real-life origins of the infamous knockout games in St. Louis of recent years. The story concerns a white girl who falls in with a group of middle graders and high schoolers who play the dreaded game. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review, saying: "The results are thrilling... Harsh and relentless, a tough but worthy read."Kirkus Reviews (May 12, 2014)

Neri's first picture book and biography charted the rags to riches rise of Johnny Cash. Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal and Booklist gave it starred reviews.Kirkus Reviews(July 16, 2014)

A second musical biography, about the childhood friendship of Simon and Garfunkel followed, called When Paulie Met Artie. Kirkus said, "Music lovers and fans will delight in sharing this book with young family and friends... Part nostalgia, part history, and all tuneful."{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/when-paul-met-artie/|title=WHEN PAUL MET ARTIE {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}

Neri's middle grade novel, Tru & Nelle is a detective story starring Harper Lee and Truman Capote as children growing up in the Deep South during the Depression. In a starred review, Kirkus said, "An engaging portrait of two children’s authors before they became famous."{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/tru-and-nelle/|title=TRU & NELLE {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}} A sequel, A Christmas Tale, came out the following year, exploring their teenage years. In a starred review, Kirkus said, "An absorbing story of true friends in troubled times."{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/tru-nelle/|title=TRU & NELLE {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}

In 2018, Neri wrote Grand Theft Horse, a graphic novel biography of his cousin, the horse trainer Gail Ruffu, who stole a racehorse to save its life. School Library Journal said, “VERDICT: Superb. Ruffu’s tenacity and the book’s satisfying conclusion will appeal to fans of the “March” trilogy.”{{Cite web|last=G|first=Neri|title=Grand Theft Horse|url=https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=grand-theft-horse|access-date=2020-12-01|website=School Library Journal}}

In 2020, his book Ghetto Cowboy was adapted into the Netflix film, Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin. He served as Executive Producer. The film debuted at #1 over Easter weekend, 2021. Variety called it a "Masterful Father-Son Drama."{{Cite web |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=2020-09-14 |title='Concrete Cowboy' Review: Idris Elba Plays a Tough Inner-City Horseman in Masterful Father-Son Drama |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/concrete-cowboy-review-idris-elba-1234768499/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} A novel sequel, [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/polo-cowboy/ Polo Cowboy], came out the following year.

2023 saw the release of his multiple starred-reviewed books, [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/my-antarctica/ My Antarctica], and [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/safe-passage-neri/ Safe Passage], as well as a Michael L. Printz award for his contribution to the anthology, The Collectors: Stories.{{Cite web |last=Yorio |first=Kara |title='The Collectors: Stories' is First Anthology To Win the Printz |url=https://www.slj.com/story/The-Collectors-Stories-First-Anthology-To-Win-the-Printz |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=School Library Journal}}

Neri has been asked about what themes he writes about and for whom. He has said that "I'm trying to re-think the notion of what a book means to urban teens. Many teens can make it through high school without ever having read a book of fiction. But that's because to them, books are big, full of words, and told in a voice that is alien to them.

Most of these kids are now born into a more visual society, so I think playing with graphic novels and illustrations and using voices and characters that you don't see often in literature is a big plus for reluctant readers in the city. I see my books as gateway books to Jane Austen."{{cite web|url=http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2008/02/05/g-neri|title=G. Neri|date=5 February 2008 |publisher=Thebrownbookshelf.com|accessdate=13 October 2014}}

• Surf Mules (Carolrhoda Lab, 2009) {{ISBN|0-399-25086-7}}
• Ghetto Cowboy (Candlewick, 2011) {{ISBN|978-0-7636-4922-7}}
• Knockout Games (Carolrhoda Lab, 2014) {{ISBN|978-1467732697}}
• Polo Cowboy (Candlewick, 2021) {{ISBN|978-1536233070}}
• Tru & Nelle (HMH, 2016) {{ISBN|978-1328740953}}
• Tru & Nelle: A Christmas Tale (HMH 2017) {{ISBN|978-1328685988}}

• Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty (Lee and Low, 2010) {{ISBN|978-1-58430-267-4}}
• Grand Theft Horse (Tu, 2018) {{ISBN|978-1-62014-855-6}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/grand-theft-horse/|title = GRAND THEFT HORSE | Kirkus Reviews}}
• The Time Traveling Dino Detectives of Antarctica (Ice Boy Comics, 2020) {{ISBN|9780578624730}}
• Safe Passage (Lee and Low, 2023) {{ISBN|978-1643790343}}

• Chess Rumble (Lee and Low, 2007) {{ISBN|978-1-58430-279-7}}
• Hello, I'm Johnny Cash (Candlewick, 2014) {{ISBN|978-0763662455}}
• When Paulie Met Artie (Candlewick, 2018) {{ISBN|978-0763681746}}
• Christo and Jeanne_Claude Wrap the World (Candlewick, 2023) {{ISBN|978-1536216615}}
• My Antarctica (Candlewick, 2024) {{ISBN|978-1536223323}}

• Who Done It (Soho Teen, 2013) {{ISBN|978-1616951528}}
• Open Mic (Candlewick, 2016) {{ISBN|978-0763690953}}
• Traveling the Blue Road, Poems of the Sea (Seagrass Press, 2017) {{ISBN|978-1633222762}}
• I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage (Lee and Low, 2019) {{ISBN|978-1620143117}}
• No Voice too Small (Charles Bridge, 2020) {{ISBN|978-1623541316}}
• The Collectors: Stories (Dutton, 2023) {{ISBN|978-0593620281}}

• Hooray for Teeth by Gina Shaw (Scholastic, 2001) {{ISBN|978-0-439-20642-6}})

{{Reflist}}

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• {{LCAuth|n00003810|Greg Neri|7|}}

{{Michael L. Printz Award Winners}}

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Category:American graphic novelists

Category:American writers of young adult literature

Category:Writers from Los Angeles

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:American male novelists

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:University of California, Santa Cruz alumni

Category:Michael L. Printz Award winners

Category:Writers from Santa Cruz, California