Middle School
Worksheets
Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson is an accomplished writer in the field of children's literature. She has a diverse writing style and has written in a variety of literary genres. She has published everything from preschool picture books to fictional novels for young adults. Anderson's award-winning books have been enjoyed by readers worldwide.
Laurie Halse Anderson was born in Potsdam, New York, on October 23, 1961. Because her family lived so far north, she frequently had to endure cold winters. As a young girl, Laurie often pretended that she was a polar bear when she walked to school in the snow. During second grade, her imagination carried over into her writing. Laurie became passionate about words when her second grade teacher taught her how to write a haiku. She later found new ways to enjoy words. Laurie used her father's old typewriter, often spending hours writing newspaper columns, stories, and letters. Additionally, she also loved reading, especially historical fiction. Her goal was to read every book in the library. Laurie considered the library a heavenly place.
During her childhood, one of Laurie's favorite books was Heidi. The book got her curious about foreign countries. When Laurie got older, she attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School. It was her senior year that not only impacted her childhood, but also her adult life. Laurie had the wonderful opportunity to be an exchange student. She lived on a pig farm in Denmark and attended school there during her final year of high school. Even though Laurie lived in another country for a year, far away from family and friends, she considers her decision to live abroad as one of the smartest things she has ever done.
