Margaret Peterson Haddix

Haddix grew up on a farm in rural Ohio with three siblings. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a nurse; both parents were book-lovers. Haddix read prolifically as a child and dreamed of being a writer herself, so she studied creative writing and journalism in college. She worked as a journalist for several years and finally decided to leave the profession when her husband, also a journalist, was promoted—he would’ve become her boss had she kept her job. Haddix began writing novels and short stories while also teaching writing at a community college. She sold her first two books while pregnant with her second child, and her career as a children’s and young adult author took off from there. She’s since written more than 40 books for young readers, several of which have been recognized with ALA awards or other honors. Haddix and her husband live in Columbus, Ohio.