Wendelin Van Draanen is an American author who has written more than thirty novels for young readers and teens. She has always had a love for reading, which was instilled in her at a young age by her mother. Van Draanen has fond memories of reading with her father and brothers, where her father would read them stories as they cuddled up around him.
Van Draanen is best known for her 18-book Edgar-winning Sammy Keyes series, as well as for writing Flipped, which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ and became a Warner Brothers feature film. Her novel The Running Dream was awarded ALA’s Schneider Family Award for its portrayal of the disability experience. Her latest book, Hope in the Mail, is part memoir, part writing guide, designed to encourage aspiring writers to pursue their dream. Van Draanen has also created two four-book series for younger readers, including The Shredderman books and The Gecko & Sticky books, which are fun read-alouds, perfect for reluctant readers.
In addition to her work as an author, Van Draanen was also a classroom teacher for fifteen years. She and her husband, who is also an author, reside in California and have two sons. Van Draanen has several upcoming projects, including two STEM-based picture books, a MG novel, and a graphic novel for Flipped, all of which are set to be released in 2023 and 2024.