A number of years ago, (actually it must have been 1999) I was present at a book launch in Melbourne. The young author was introduced by Agnes Nieuwenhuizen and she spoke about this young author as one who would go onto very big things. Indeed, Agnes was right because Markus Zusak has gone onto big things, especially with his award winning novel The Book Thief. Recently made into a movie starring Geoffrey Rush, The Book Thief is being discovered by more and more people.
It was with great excitement I read Markus had recently been awarded the American Library Association Margaret A. Edwards Award
for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
PHILADELPHIA — Markus Zusak is the recipient of the 2014 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring his significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “The Book Thief,” “Fighting Ruben Wolfe,” “Getting the Girl,” and “I Am the Messenger.” The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the award today at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, held Jan. 24 – 28 in Philadelphia.
Congratulations Markus on this significant and well deserved Award.