Paula Danziger
Encyclopedia
Paula Danziger was a U.S. and e.u.
children's author
. She grew up in Metuchen, NJ. She lived in New York City and in Bearsville, NY (just outside of Woodstock). For several years, she had a flat in London.
Danziger, who said she knew in the second grade that she wanted to be a writer, wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
, Remember Me to Harold Square, The Divorce Expresss and Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? She was also the author of the Amber Brown
and Matthew Martin series.
She was a graduate of Montclair State University
, earning a bachelor's and master's there before becoming a teacher at John Adams Middle School in Edison, New Jersey. After being injured in an automobile accident, had trouble writing, as she was only able to write backwards. She was able to regain the ability to write normally, but she was able to write backwards for the rest of her life. This sequence of events prompted her to do what she really want to do in life; she began writing. Most of her books are considered Young Adult (YA) books, although some of the Amber Brown books were aimed at younger readers.
Her first publication was The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
, whose characters were largely based on her experiences from childhood.
She has collaborated with Ann M. Martin twice, with P.S. Longer Letter Later
and Snail Mail No More
. Paula and Bruce Coville
would read to each other over the phone, as a way to edit their individual work.
She frequently gave lectures and speeches, wearing elaborate costumes and calling herself a children's Dame Edna Everage
. She is quoted as saying that her alternative career choice would have been as a stand-up comedian. However, Paula expressed that she was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing in life - and loved her life.
In the United Kingdom
, she was best known for presenting a regular item about children's literature
on the BBC's Saturday morning show Going Live.
One morning while her niece, Carrie Danziger, was visiting her, she was having chest pains. Paula tried to hide this so it wouldn't disrupt Carrie's visit. This included calling a friend in her apartment building and mentioned she thought it was a heart attack. Carrie had to tell Paula to go to the hospital, where Paula received open heart surgery and was kept alive for nearly a month. Paula Danziger died on July 8, 2004, following complications of a heart attack
at the age of 59.
At the time of her death, many of her books had been published in 53 countries and in 14 languages. Paula had a very passionate and emotional funeral in New York City
, which was led by best friends and fellow authors Elizabeth Levy
and Bruce Coville
. Paula is buried in the Woodstock Artist's Cemetery in Woodstock, NY.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
children's author
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. She grew up in Metuchen, NJ. She lived in New York City and in Bearsville, NY (just outside of Woodstock). For several years, she had a flat in London.
Danziger, who said she knew in the second grade that she wanted to be a writer, wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit is a young adult novel written by Paula Danziger.-Plot:The story follows Marcy Lewis, an amply-contoured thirteen-year-old freshman girl who hates her looks. She has a verbally abusive father and it seems her parents, Martin and Lily, are always fighting...
, Remember Me to Harold Square, The Divorce Expresss and Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? She was also the author of the Amber Brown
Amber Brown (series)
Amber Brown is a series of realistic fiction novellas for children by Paula Danziger, narrated in the first person by third- and fourth-grader and New Jerseyan Amber Brown, whose mother and father have divorced. While Amber's mother now dates Max, Amber's father pursues a new job in Paris, France...
and Matthew Martin series.
She was a graduate of Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
, earning a bachelor's and master's there before becoming a teacher at John Adams Middle School in Edison, New Jersey. After being injured in an automobile accident, had trouble writing, as she was only able to write backwards. She was able to regain the ability to write normally, but she was able to write backwards for the rest of her life. This sequence of events prompted her to do what she really want to do in life; she began writing. Most of her books are considered Young Adult (YA) books, although some of the Amber Brown books were aimed at younger readers.
Her first publication was The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit is a young adult novel written by Paula Danziger.-Plot:The story follows Marcy Lewis, an amply-contoured thirteen-year-old freshman girl who hates her looks. She has a verbally abusive father and it seems her parents, Martin and Lily, are always fighting...
, whose characters were largely based on her experiences from childhood.
She has collaborated with Ann M. Martin twice, with P.S. Longer Letter Later
P.S. Longer Letter Later
P.S. Longer Letter Later is an epistolary novel written by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin in 1998.It is a novel in letters and is written as a year-long correspondence between two twelve-year-old girls, Tara*Starr and Elizabeth.-Plot:...
and Snail Mail No More
Snail Mail No More
Snail Mail No More is a book published in 2000 by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin. It is the sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later.-Plot:Snail Mail address...
. Paula and Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville is an American author of children's and young adult novels. He was born in Syracuse, New York and lives there currently; he has spent most of his life there, leaving to attend Duke University and then to live in New York City....
would read to each other over the phone, as a way to edit their individual work.
She frequently gave lectures and speeches, wearing elaborate costumes and calling herself a children's Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna is a character created and played by Australian dadaist performer and comedian, Barry Humphries, famous for her lilac-coloured or "wisteria hue" hair and cat eye glasses or "face furniture," her favorite flower, the gladiola and her boisterous greeting: "Hello Possums!" As Dame Edna,...
. She is quoted as saying that her alternative career choice would have been as a stand-up comedian. However, Paula expressed that she was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing in life - and loved her life.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, she was best known for presenting a regular item about children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
on the BBC's Saturday morning show Going Live.
One morning while her niece, Carrie Danziger, was visiting her, she was having chest pains. Paula tried to hide this so it wouldn't disrupt Carrie's visit. This included calling a friend in her apartment building and mentioned she thought it was a heart attack. Carrie had to tell Paula to go to the hospital, where Paula received open heart surgery and was kept alive for nearly a month. Paula Danziger died on July 8, 2004, following complications of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 59.
At the time of her death, many of her books had been published in 53 countries and in 14 languages. Paula had a very passionate and emotional funeral in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which was led by best friends and fellow authors Elizabeth Levy
Elizabeth Levy
Elizabeth Levy is an author who has written over eighty children's books in a variety of genres.- Writing :She has written a long-running series of mystery novels for kids under the Something Queer is Going On banner...
and Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville is an American author of children's and young adult novels. He was born in Syracuse, New York and lives there currently; he has spent most of his life there, leaving to attend Duke University and then to live in New York City....
. Paula is buried in the Woodstock Artist's Cemetery in Woodstock, NY.
Amber Brown books
- Amber Brown is Not a Crayon (1994)
- You Can't Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown (1995)
- Amber Brown Goes Fourth (1995)
- Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit (1996)
- Forever Amber Brown (1996)
- Amber Brown Sees Red (1997)
- Amber Brown is Feeling Blue (1998)
- I, Amber Brown (1999)
- Amber Brown is Green with Envy (2003)
A is for Amber Brown series
- What a Trip, Amber Brown (2001)
- It's Justin Time, Amber Brown (2001)
- Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown (2002)
- Orange You Glad It's Halloween, Amber Brown? (2002)
- It's a Fair Day, Amber Brown (2002)
- Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown (July 22, 2004)
Matthew Martin books
- Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes (1989)
- Make Like a Tree and Leave (1990)
- Earth to Matthew (1991)
- Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars (1992)
Tara*Starr and Elizabeth books
- P.S. Longer Letter LaterP.S. Longer Letter LaterP.S. Longer Letter Later is an epistolary novel written by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin in 1998.It is a novel in letters and is written as a year-long correspondence between two twelve-year-old girls, Tara*Starr and Elizabeth.-Plot:...
(with Ann M. Martin) (1998) - Snail Mail No MoreSnail Mail No MoreSnail Mail No More is a book published in 2000 by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin. It is the sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later.-Plot:Snail Mail address...
(with Ann M. Martin) (2000)
Rosie and Phoebe books
- The Divorce Express (1982)
- It's an Aardvark-Eat-Turtle World (1985)
Marcy Lewis books
- The Cat Ate My GymsuitThe Cat Ate My GymsuitThe Cat Ate My Gymsuit is a young adult novel written by Paula Danziger.-Plot:The story follows Marcy Lewis, an amply-contoured thirteen-year-old freshman girl who hates her looks. She has a verbally abusive father and it seems her parents, Martin and Lily, are always fighting...
(1974) - There's a Bat in Bunk FiveThere's a Bat in Bunk FiveThere’s a Bat in Bunk Five is a young adult novel written by Paula Danziger.In this sequel to The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, Marcy Lewis finds herself as a counselor in training at the summer camp near Woodstock, New York run by her former English teacher, Ms. Finney, whom Marcy has missed after Ms....
(1980)
Kendra Kaye books
- Remember Me to Harold Square (1987)
- Thames Doesn't Rhyme With James (1994)
Others
- The Pistachio Prescription (1978)
- Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? (1979)
- This Place Has No Atmosphere (1986)
- United Tates of America (2002)