Myron Levoy

Myron Levoy was born January 30, 1930.Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910–1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. He grew up in the borough of Queens, New York City. His mother, Elsie Schwartz, was Hungarian, and his father, Bernard Levoy was a Jewish immigrant from Hanover. He grew up on 97th Street in Queens with his mother, father, and his older brother, Louis.Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, Queens, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02733; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 41-641United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790–2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, Queens, New York; Roll: 4470; Sheet Number: 83; Enumeration District: 41-787

Levoy's exposure to the world of literature began early in his childhood. Writing about his youth, he talked about frequently being taken to the local library with his family, and strongly recalled the "smell and feel of books".{{cite book |author1=Myron Levoy |editor1-last=Gallo |editor1-first=Donald R. |title=Speaking for Ourselves: Autobiographical Sketches by Notable Authors of Books for Young Adults |date=1990 |publisher=National Council of Teachers of English |location=Urbana, IL |isbn=978-0-8141-4625-5 |pages=120–121 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/speakingforourse0000unse_m6r4/page/120 |chapter-url-access=registration |access-date=January 14, 2023 |language=en |chapter=Myron Levoy}} While at junior high school, Levoy also took part in a choral speaking class, which made him realize that "words alone, without music, can sing" and further kindled his love of writing.{{rp|page=251}}

He would later go on to study engineering first at City College of New York and then at Purdue University.{{cite book |editor1-last=Commire |editor1-first=Anne |title=Something About the Author: Facts and Pictures about Authors and Illustrators of Books for Young People. Volume 49 |date=1987 |publisher=Gale Research Company |location=Detroit, MI |isbn=978-0-8103-2259-2 |pages=157–158 |url=https://archive.org/details/somethingaboutau49anne/page/157 |url-access=registration |access-date=January 14, 2023 |language=en}}

After graduating from Purdue University with an M.Sc., Levoy started working as a chemical engineer and was also involved in the field of space engineering before becoming a full-time author.{{Cite web |last=Maughan |first=Shannon |title=Obituary: Myron Levoy |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/82537-obituary-myron-levoy.html |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221191409/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/82537-obituary-myron-levoy.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Commire |editor1-first=Anne |title=Something About the Author: Facts and Pictures about Authors and Illustrators of Books for Young People. Volume 37 |date=1985 |publisher=Gale Research Company |location=Detroit, MI |isbn=978-0-8103-0069-9 |page=111 |url=https://archive.org/details/somethingaboutau37anne/page/111 |url-access=registration |access-date=January 14, 2023 |language=en}}

During his aeronautical career, Levoy worked on various projects and ended up with Reaction Motor Division's nuclear technology group, where his most notable work involved research on concepts for a crewed space mission to Mars.{{cite book |last1=Winter |first1=Frank H. |editor1-last=Allen |editor1-first=Ned |title=America's First Rocket Company: Reaction Motors, Inc. |date=2017 |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. |location=Reston, VA |isbn=978-1-62410-441-1 |pages=277–278 |edition=1 |language=en}}{{rp|page=251}} A 1958 study on that subject, developed together with John Newgard, proposed utilizing a {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=on}} long and {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} wide, nuclear-powered spaceship for that mission. In conjunction with that subject, he also authored a paper for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics on hybrid electrical-nuclear engines.{{Cite journal |last=Levoy |first=Myron |date=June 1963 |title=Dual Electric-Nuclear Engine |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/3.1783 |journal=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |volume=1 |issue=6 |pages=1298–1302 |doi=10.2514/3.1783 |bibcode=1963AIAAJ...1.1298L |via=Aerospace Research Council |access-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222162058/https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/3.1783 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2009 |title=A Mission to Mars (1 Letter) |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/science/space/03lett-AMISSIONTOMA_LETTERS.html |access-date=December 22, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222162100/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/science/space/03lett-AMISSIONTOMA_LETTERS.html |url-status=live }}

Levoy began writing his first own stories while still at elementary school. He continued writing small stories and poems during high school, and also became the editor of the poetry column of his school's student newspaper.{{rp|page=251}} Even though he initially pursued a technical career in engineering, he also continued his writing, with various poems and short stories being published in a number of literary magazines.{{rp|pages=251–252}} His early work also included a number of plays which were produced on stage in New York at that time.{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1966 |title=Off Broadway adds openings for June |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/05/24/archives/off-broadway-adds-openings-for-june.html |access-date=January 8, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108170609/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/05/24/archives/off-broadway-adds-openings-for-june.html |url-status=live }}{{rp|page=253}} His first full-length novel, as well as his only novel for adults, A Necktie in Greenwich Village, was published in 1968.{{rp|page=255}}

His move into full-time writing came about a few years later after he started writing short stories for his two children, which were then expanded and collected into his first book for children, The Witch of Fourth Street (and Other Stories), which tells the tales of immigrant neighborhoods of New York during the 1920s, paralleling Levoy's own childhood growing up as a first-generation American. Due to the success of that book, he retired from engineering and concentrated on writing mainly books for children and young adults.{{rp|page=252}}Gale Research Company; Detroit, Michigan; Accession Number: 2730060

His young adults novels, in which outsiders and otherwise socially marginalized characters were often at the center of the plot, are not only directed against prejudice and racism, but also describe the challenges of finding one's identity and standing up for oneself.{{rp|pages=252–253}} A multicultural context also often underlies his books, extending to his stories for children, too, which e.g. variously deal with the issues faced by immigrants, or the particularities of Jewish culture.{{rp|pages=252–253}}

Levoy was actively involved in the American peace movement and also participated with his family in the anti-nuclear protests during the Cold War, in New York City in June 1982. He published poetry, plays, a novel, several short stories for children, a picture book, and six books for young adults.{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Suzanne D. |editor1-last=Kutzer |editor1-first=M. Daphne |title=Writers of Multicultural Fiction for Young Adults: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook |date=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, CT |isbn=978-0-313-06422-7 |pages=251–256 |edition=1 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/writersofmulticu0000unse/page/251 |chapter-url-access=registration |access-date=January 14, 2023 |language=en |chapter=Myron Levoy}}{{rp|pages=254–255}} At the respective time of their publication, all of his children's stories and young adult novels received largely favorable reviews, including by The New York Times Book Review and The Horn Book Magazine.{{rp|page=254}}

• Book World's Children's Spring Book Festival honor book 1972 for The Witch of Fourth Street
• Finalist of Jane Addams Children's Book Award 1978 for Alan and Naomi{{Cite web |title=All Books {{!}} Jane Addams Children's Book Award {{!}} JAPA |url=https://www.janeaddamschildrensbookaward.org/all-books/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Jane Addams Peace Association |date=August 26, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203133522/https://www.janeaddamschildrensbookaward.org/all-books/ |url-status=live }}
• Boston Globe–Horn Book Award 1978 honor list for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |title=Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners |url=https://www.hbook.com/story/past-boston-globe-horn-book-award-winners |website=The Horn Book Inc. |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114195845/https://www.hbook.com/story/past-boston-globe-horn-book-award-winners |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |url-status=live}}
• Finalist at the National Book Award 1980 for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |title=Alan and Naomi |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/books/alan-and-naomi/ |website=National Book Foundation |access-date=January 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125111201/https://www.nationalbook.org/books/alan-and-naomi/ |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |url-status=live}}
• Zilveren Griffel 1981 for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |title=Griffels, Penselen en Paletten – Bekroonde boeken sinds 1954 |url=http://web.cpnb.nl/campagne.vm?sp=100&hp=73 |website=Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlands Boek |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526125639/http://web.cpnb.nl/campagne.vm?sp=100&hp=73 |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |language=nl |url-status=dead}}
• Buxtehuder Bulle 1981 for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |title=Der gelbe Vogel |url=https://www.buxtehuder-bulle.de/index.php/de/preistraeger-innen/1981-der-gelbe-vogel |website=Der Buxtehuder Bulle |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117230233/https://www.buxtehuder-bulle.de/index.php/de/preistraeger-innen/1981-der-gelbe-vogel |archive-date=January 17, 2022 |language=de |url-status=live}}
• Österreichischer Staatspreis für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur 1981 for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |author1=((Bundesministerium Kunst, Kultur, öffentlicher Dienst und Sport)) |title=Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis |url=https://www.bmkoes.gv.at/Kunst-und-Kultur/preise/kinder-und-jugendbuchpreis.html |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712181402/https://www.bmkoes.gv.at/Kunst-und-Kultur/preise/kinder-und-jugendbuchpreis.html |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |language=de-AT |url-status=live}}
• Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 1982 for Alan and Naomi{{cite web |title=Buch: Der gelbe Vogel |url=https://www.jugendliteratur.org/buch/der-gelbe-vogel-1314-9783545321991/ |website=Arbeitskreis Jugendliteratur |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108160109/https://www.jugendliteratur.org/buch/der-gelbe-vogel-1314-9783545321991/ |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |language=de |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author1=Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg |title=Deutscher Jugendbuch-/Jugendliteraturpreis – chronologische Liste |url=https://www.nuernberg.de/imperia/md/stadtbibliothek/dokumente/deutscher_jugendliteraturpreis_2018_chronologisch.pdf |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108160841/https://www.nuernberg.de/imperia/md/stadtbibliothek/dokumente/deutscher_jugendliteraturpreis_2018_chronologisch.pdf |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |location=Nürnberg |page=5 |language=de |url-status=live}}
• Preis der Leseratten 1982 for Alan and Naomi

Levoy's most successful book, Alan and Naomi, was adapted into a film of the same name, a play{{cite web |author1=Verband Deutscher Bühnen- und Medienverlage e.V. |title=Geheime Freunde |url=https://www.theatertexte.de/nav/2/werk?verlag_id=verlag_der_autoren&wid=679 |website=Theatertexte |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114180514/https://www.theatertexte.de/nav/2/werk?verlag_id=verlag_der_autoren&wid=679 |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |language=de |url-status=live}} and was translated into ten languages. His children's and young adults literature works were especially popular in Germany, where Alan and Naomi received several prizes and was frequently taught in schools up until at least the 2010s;{{cite web |title=JUNGES THEATER BONN: "Geheime Freunde" nach dem Roman von Myron Levoy |url=https://www.theaterkompass.de/beitraege/junges-theater-bonn-geheime-freunde-nach-dem-roman-von-myron-levoy-34270 |website=Theaterkompass |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305163348/https://www.theaterkompass.de/beitraege/junges-theater-bonn-geheime-freunde-nach-dem-roman-von-myron-levoy-34270 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |language=de |date=May 15, 2010 |url-status=live}} all but one of his books following Alan and Naomi were translated into German, making it the language with the largest count of Levoy's translated works.

In 2013, it was announced that American actor Johnny Depp was considering pursuing the creation of a film based on Levoy's book The Magic Hat of Mortimer Wintergreen, with a script being proposed by English screenwriter Jack Thorne.{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=January 13, 2013 |title=Johnny Depp's Magician Movie 'Mortimer Wintergreen' Hires 'Skins' Writer (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/johnny-depps-magician-movie-mortimer-411717/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230030149/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/johnny-depps-magician-movie-mortimer-411717/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Schmidlin |first=Charlie |date=January 14, 2013 |title=Johnny Depp Adds Magician Movie 'Mortimer Wintergreen' To List Of Possible Projects |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/01/johnny-depp-adds-magician-movie-mortimer-wintergreen-to-list-of-possible-projects-102356/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=IndieWire |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230030149/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/01/johnny-depp-adds-magician-movie-mortimer-wintergreen-to-list-of-possible-projects-102356/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Johnny Depp to Produce & Star in Magical 'Mortimer Wintergreen' {{!}} FirstShowing.net |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2013/johnny-depp-to-produce-star-in-magical-mortimer-wintergreen/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=www.firstshowing.net |date=January 14, 2013 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230030147/https://www.firstshowing.net/2013/johnny-depp-to-produce-star-in-magical-mortimer-wintergreen/ |url-status=live }} As of January 2023, no further details or updates have been revealed. It is not clear if any project is still in consideration.File:Buxtehude-BULLEvard1981-1-Bubo.JPG: Brass plaque commemorating Levoy]]

In 1952, Levoy married Beatrice (née) Fleicher,{{cite web |author1=Office of the City Clerk of New York City |author1-link=New York City Marriage Bureau |title=NYC Marriage Index – Queens 1952 |url=https://archive.org/details/NYC_Marriage_Index_Queens_1952/page/n270/ |publisher=Reclaim The Records |access-date=January 14, 2023 |page=271 |language=en |date=1952}}{{cite web |author1=Office of the City Clerk of New York City |author1-link=New York City Marriage Bureau |title=NYC Marriage Index – Queens 1952 |url=https://archive.org/details/NYC_Marriage_Index_Queens_1952/page/n160/ |publisher=Reclaim The Records |access-date=January 14, 2023 |page=161 |language=en |date=1952}} with whom he would have two children. The family lived in Rockaway, New Jersey.Ancestry.com. ''[https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/23773259:62209 U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994–2019] [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2020.

• 1968: A Necktie in Greenwich Village
• 1971: The Witch of Fourth Street and Other Stories
• 1972: Penny Tunes and Princesses (with illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats)
• 1977: Alan and Naomi
• 1981: A Shadow Like a Leopard
• 1984: Three Friends
• 1984: The Hanukkah of Great-Uncle Otto
• 1986: Pictures of Adam
• 1988: The Magic Hat of Mortimer Wintergreen
• 1992: Kelly 'n' me
• 2000: The Year of Nelly Bates{{cite web |title=Eine Liebe in Schwarz-Weiß |url=https://stadtbuechereionline.viernheim.de/Permalink.aspx?id=0033193 |website=Stadtbibliothek Viernheim |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109185336/https://stadtbuechereionline.viernheim.de/Permalink.aspx?id=0033193 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |language=de |url-status=live}} (only published in a German translation as Eine Liebe in Schwarz-Weiß{{cite book |title=Eine Liebe in Schwarz-Weiß |url=https://d-nb.info/960349987 |isbn=9783401019284 |access-date=January 8, 2023 |language=de |last1=Levoy |first1=Myron |year=1999 |publisher=Arena |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310210853/https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?method=simpleSearch&cqlMode=true&query=idn%3D960349987 |url-status=live }})

• [https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/myron-levoy-880000022194 Myron Levoy – HarperCollins]
• [https://www.nationalbook.org/people/myron-levoy/ Myron Levoy – National Book Foundation]
• {{German National Library portal|120618869}}

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Category:1930 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American novelists

Category:American male novelists

Category:American children's writers

Category:American writers of young adult literature

Category:Writers from Queens, New York

Category:American people of Hungarian descent

Category:American people of German-Jewish descent

Category:City College of New York alumni

Category:Purdue University College of Engineering alumni

Category:American aerospace engineers