Barbara Brooks Wallace
Encyclopedia
Barbara Brooks Wallace is an award-winning American children's writer, including NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for Claudia (2001) and William Allen White Children's Book Award
for Peppermints in the Parlor (1983).
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China
,where she attended Shanghai American School, but came to live in the United States
during high school. San Francisco was a port of entry for the family many times. The huge white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill that she lived in became the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She graduated from UCLA where she was a member of the Alpha Phi
sorority.
Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Award
s from the Mystery Writers of America
for The Twin in the Tavern (1994) and Sparrows in the Scullery (1998). Cousins in The Castle (1997) and Ghosts in the Gallery (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award
.
Wallace's books are often compared to Lemony Snicket
as well as books by Joan Lowery Nixon
, a four-time recipient of the Edgar Award
, and Beverly Cleary
. She is given high praise by the American Library Association
.
In 2009, Wallace tapped the creative development group, Pangea Corporation
, to represent and develop her series of books into animated and live action entertainment. The trilogy series, Miss Switch, had previously enjoyed a popular run on the successful TV program, the ABC Weekend Specials, garnering the highest Nielsen ratings of all the episodes. Wallace's Hawkins books (which were notable offerings from the elite Scholastic Book Club) were also featured as live action films on the ABC Weekend Specials.
It was announced in September 2011 that Wallace's new novel, Diary of a Little Devil, would be published as a digital eBook on the Kindle and Nook platforms. The deal was the result of Pangea's efforts and culminates with additional books to be released in the same manner, including a new edition to the Miss Switch series, tentatively entitled Miss Switch and the Vile Villains.
See Book Synopses Here:
William Allen White Children's Book Award
The William Allen White Children's Book Award is an annual book award chosen by Kansas students. It was established by Ruth Garver Gagliardo in 1952, in memory of William Allen White and is administered by Emporia State University. It was the first statewide readers' choice book award in the United...
for Peppermints in the Parlor (1983).
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
,where she attended Shanghai American School, but came to live in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during high school. San Francisco was a port of entry for the family many times. The huge white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill that she lived in became the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She graduated from UCLA where she was a member of the Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity was founded at Syracuse University on September 18, 1872. Alpha Phi currently has 152 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Its celebrated Founders' Day is October 10. It was the third Greek-letter organization founded for women. In Alpha...
sorority.
Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
s from the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
for The Twin in the Tavern (1994) and Sparrows in the Scullery (1998). Cousins in The Castle (1997) and Ghosts in the Gallery (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
.
Wallace's books are often compared to Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler . Snicket is the author of several children's books, serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events and appearing as a character within the series. Because of this, the name Lemony Snicket may refer to both a fictional...
as well as books by Joan Lowery Nixon
Joan Lowery Nixon
Joan Lowery Nixon was an American journalist and author, specializing in historical fiction and mysteries for children and young adults.-Biography:...
, a four-time recipient of the Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, and Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary is an American author. Educated at colleges in California and Washington, she worked as a librarian before writing children's books. Cleary has written more than 30 books for young adults and children. Some of her best-known characters are Henry Huggins, Ribsy, Beatrice Quimby, her...
. She is given high praise by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
.
In 2009, Wallace tapped the creative development group, Pangea Corporation
Pangea Corporation
Pangea Corporation is an entertainment development and creative services company that specializes in the animation and toy industries. The company was part of the original creative team that launched the wildly popular "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" for Playmates Toys and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, the...
, to represent and develop her series of books into animated and live action entertainment. The trilogy series, Miss Switch, had previously enjoyed a popular run on the successful TV program, the ABC Weekend Specials, garnering the highest Nielsen ratings of all the episodes. Wallace's Hawkins books (which were notable offerings from the elite Scholastic Book Club) were also featured as live action films on the ABC Weekend Specials.
It was announced in September 2011 that Wallace's new novel, Diary of a Little Devil, would be published as a digital eBook on the Kindle and Nook platforms. The deal was the result of Pangea's efforts and culminates with additional books to be released in the same manner, including a new edition to the Miss Switch series, tentatively entitled Miss Switch and the Vile Villains.
Books
- Secret in St. Something
- The Perils of Peppermints
- The Barrel in the Basement
- The Interesting Thing That Happened At Perfect Acres, Inc.
- Hello Claudia!
- Claudia and Duffy
- Victoria
- Can Do, Missy Charlie
- The Secret Summer of L.E.B.
- Andrew the Big Deal
- Julia and the Third Bad Thing
- Palmer Patch
- The Hawkins Series
- Miss Switch Online
- Miss Switch to the Rescue
- The Trouble with Miss SwitchThe Trouble with Miss SwitchThe Trouble with Miss Switch is an animated television special based on a children's book by Barbara Brooks Wallace.The story centers on two students, Rupert and Amelia, who find out that their substitute teacher is a witch. When she is around animals they possess the ability to talk. This also...
- Argyle
- Ghosts in the Gallery
See Book Synopses Here: