Laura Ruby

{{Short description|American author}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Laura Ruby

| occupation = Author, professor

| nationality = American

| awards = Printz Award (2016)

| website = {{URL|lauraruby.com}}

}}

Laura Ruby is an American author of twelve books, including Bone Gap (2015), winner of the 2016 Michael L. Printz Award{{cite web|title='Bone Gap' wins 2016 Printz Award|url=http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2016/01/bone-gap-wins-2016-printz-award|website=ALA News|publisher=American Library Association|access-date=March 12, 2017}} and finalist for the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2015_ypl_ruby.html#.WMYa-KL-vIU|title= 2015 National Book Award Finalist, Young People's Literature|publisher=National Book Foundation|access-date=March 13, 2017}} She is also a professor at Hamline University.

Bone Gap is a coming-of-age mystery about a kidnapping in a small Midwestern town, and it incorporates elements of mythology and magical realism. The New York Times Book Review called it a "lush and original young adult novel".{{cite web|last1=Meloy|first1=Maile|title='Bone Gap', by Laura Ruby|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/books/review/bone-gap-by-laura-ruby.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=May 8, 2015}} In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Ruby characterized her award-winning novel as an "oddball" book that doesn't fit neatly into one genre.{{cite web|title=An 'Amazing' Honor for an 'Oddball' Book: Laura Ruby on Winning the 2016 Printz|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/69125-an-amazing-honor-for-an-oddball-book-laura-ruby-on-winning-the-2016-printz.html|publisher=Publishers Weekly|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=January 12, 2016}}

Biography

Ruby grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the Chicago metropolitan area.{{cite web|last1=Ruby|first1=Laura|title=Laura: Beefier Bio|url=http://www.lauraruby.com/bio.php#beefier|website=Author Laura Ruby|access-date=March 12, 2017}}

She is a faculty member at Hamline University in the low-residency MFA program in writing for children and young adults.{{cite web |title=Laura Ruby |url=http://www.hamline.edu/faculty/laura-ruby.html |access-date=March 12, 2017 |website=Hamline University |publisher=}}{{Cite web |title=Laura Ruby |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/people/laura-ruby/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=National Book Foundation |language=en-US}}

She teaches fantasy writing workshops for children's authors at Highlights.{{cite web|title=Laura Ruby, Faculty|url=https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/272/laura-ruby|publisher=Highlights Foundation|access-date=March 13, 2017}}

Awards and honors

Ruby's books and audiobooks constitute seven Junior Library Guild selections: Bone Gap (audiobook and book) (2015),{{Cite web |title=Bone Gap by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780062317605J&name=Bone_Gap |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}}{{Cite web |title=Bone Gap (Audiobook) by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781936129461J&name=Bone_Gap_(Audiobook) |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}} The Shadow Cipher (2017),{{Cite web |title=York: Book One, The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780062306937J&name=Shadow_Cipher |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}} The Clockwork Ghost (2019),{{Cite web |title=The Clockwork Ghost: York by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780062306968J&name=Clockwork_Ghost |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}} Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All (audiobook and book) (2020),{{Cite web |title=Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780062317643J&name=Thirteen_Doorways_Wolves_Behind_Them_All |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}}{{Cite web |title=Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All (Audiobook) by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781970040203J&name=Thirteen_Doorways_Wolves_Behind_Them_All_(Audiobook) |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}} and The Map of Stars (2020).{{Cite web |title=The Map of Stars: York by Laura Ruby |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780062306999J&name=Map_of_Stars |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Junior Library Guild}}

In 2015, Bone Gap was named one of the best books of the year by Bank Street College of Education,{{Cite web |title=Best Children’s Books of the Year {{!}} Fourteen and Older {{!}} 2016 Edition |url=https://d2mguk73h8xisw.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/filer_public/2016/03/01/2016fourteen-up_1617.pdf |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Bank Street College of Education}} Chicago Public Library,{{Cite web |title=Best Teen Fiction of 2015 |url=https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/550715137 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Chicago Public Library |language=en-US}} Locus,{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-02-01 |title=2015 Locus Recommended Reading List |url=https://locusmag.com/2016/02/2015-locus-recommended-reading-list/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}} the New York Public Library, Publishers Weekly,{{Cite web |title=Best Books of 2015 |url=https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2015/young-adult |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Publishers Weekly}} and School Library Journal.{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-11-24 |title=Best Books 2015: Bone Gap {{!}} Young Adult |url=https://www.slj.com/story/best-books-2015-bone-gap-young-adult |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=School Library Journal}}

In 2017, The Shadow Cipher was named one of the best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library,{{Cite web |title=Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2017 |url=https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200049033/1081298727 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Chicago Public Library |language=en-US}} New York Public Library,{{Cite web |date=2017-11-20 |title=New York Public Library Announces Its Best Books of 2017 for Kids and Teens |url=https://www.nypl.org/press/new-york-public-library-announces-its-best-books-2017-kids-and-teens |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The New York Public Library |language=en}} and Los Angeles Public Library.

In 2019, Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All was named one of the best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library,Locus,{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-02-01 |title=2019 Locus Recommended Reading List |url=https://locusmag.com/2020/02/2019-locus-recommended-reading-list/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}} NPR,{{Cite web |title=Books We Love |url=https://apps.npr.org/best-books/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=NPR |language=en-US}} School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness,{{Cite web |date=2019-11-26 |title=Our 2019 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=871#m15271 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Shelf Awareness}} and Tor.com.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Alex |date=2019-12-12 |title=Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2019 |url=https://www.tor.com/2019/12/12/best-young-adult-science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror-of-2019/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Tor.com |language=en-US}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

|+Literary awards for Ruby's writing

!Year

!Title

!Award

!Category

!Result

!Ref.

2004

|Lily's Ghosts

|Edgar Award

|Juvenile

|Finalist

|

2007

|{{Sort|Chaos King|The Chaos King}}

|Cybils Award

|Elementary and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |title=2007 Cybils Finalists |url=https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2007-cybils-finalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321211228/https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2007-cybils-finalists |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en-US}}

2012

|Bad Apple

|Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

|—

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2012-05-24 |title=Bad Apple {{!}} Awards & Grants |url=https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/bad-apple |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=American Library Association}}

rowspan="4" |2015

| rowspan="6" |Bone Gap

|Booklist Editors' Choice

|Books for Youth

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2016-01-01 |title=Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2015 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Booklist-Editors-Choice/pid=7944842 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Booklist}}

Cybils Award

|Young Adult Speculative Fiction

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |title=2015 Cybils Finalists |url=https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2015-cybils-finalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325015058/https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2015-cybils-finalists |archive-date=2023-03-25 |access-date=2023-03-25 |language=en-US}}

National Book Award

|Young People's Literature

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Meredith |date=2016-03-01 |title=Laura Ruby Interviewed by Tim Manley |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/laura-ruby-interviewed-by-tim-manley/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=National Book Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-10-15 |title=Awards: National Book Award Finalists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2613 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Shelf Awareness}}

Nebula Award

|Andre Norton Award

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |title=Nebula Awards Nominees and Winners: Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction |url=https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/andre-norton-award/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Nebula Awards® |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-05-15 |title=2015 Nebula Awards Winners |url=https://locusmag.com/2016/05/10777/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-05-14 |title=Announcing the 2015 Nebula Award Winners |url=https://www.tor.com/2016/05/14/announcing-the-2015-nebula-award-winners/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Tor.com |language=en-US}}

rowspan="3" |2016

|ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

|—

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2016-03-01 |title=Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2016 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults/pid=8007093 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Booklist}}

Michael L. Printz Award

|—

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=2016-01-11 |title=Printz Award Winner: 2016 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Printz-Award-Winner/pid=7999990 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Booklist}}{{Cite web |last=Philippe |first=Kefira |title=New Year, Past Winners {{!}} Pondering Printz |url=https://www.slj.com/story/new-year-past-winners-pondering-printz-award-ya-prediction-kefira-philippe |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=School Library Journal}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-01-15 |title=Ruby and Levithan Win ALA Awards |url=https://locusmag.com/2016/01/ruby-and-levithan-win-ala-awards/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}}

{{Sort|Shadow Cipher|The Shadow Cipher}}

|ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

|—

|Selection

|{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-02-13 |title=2018 Best Fiction for Young Adults |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2018-best-fiction-young-adults |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) |language=en}}

rowspan="3" |2019

| rowspan="5" |Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All

|Booklist Editors' Choice

|Books for Youth

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2020-01-01 |title=Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2019 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Booklist-Editors-Choice/pid=9730083 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=[Booklist]]}}

Geffen Award

|Translated Fantasy Book

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-10-17 |title=2019 Geffen Awards Winners |url=https://locusmag.com/2019/10/2019-geffen-awards-winners/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}}

National Book Award

|Young People's Literature

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Meredith |date=2019-10-07 |title=The 2019 National Book Awards Finalists Announced |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/the-2019-national-book-awards-finalists-announced/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=National Book Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Diane |first=Roback |date=2019-11-21 |title=2019 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature in Photos |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/81821-2019-national-book-awards-for-young-people-s-literature-in-photos.html |access-date=2019-11-22 |website=Publishers Weekly}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-10-09 |title=Awards: National Book Award Finalists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3596 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Shelf Awareness}}

rowspan="2" |2020

|ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

|—

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2020-03-15 |title=Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2020 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults/pid=9732774 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Booklist}}

Rise: A Feminist Book Project

|—

|Selection

|{{Cite web |date=2020-03-15 |title=Rise: A Feminist Book Project: 2020 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Rise-A-Feminist-Book-Project/pid=9732979 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Booklist}}

Published works

= Standalone books =

  • Lily’s Ghosts (2003)
  • Everything I Wanted to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume (2006)
  • I'm Not Julia Roberts (2007)
  • Good Girls (2006)
  • Play Me (2008)
  • Bad Apple (2009)
  • Bone Gap (2015)
  • Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All (2019)

= ''York'' series =

  • York: The Shadow Cipher (2017)
  • York: The Clockwork Ghost (2019)
  • York: The Map of Stars (2020)

= ''The Wall and the Wing'' series =

  • The Wall and the Wing (2006)
  • The Chaos King (2007)

References

{{Reflist}}