Varian Johnson Explained

Varian Johnson
Birth Place:	Florence, South Carolina
Occupation:	Author
Nationality:	American

Varian Johnson (born in 1977) is an American writer, who writes contemporary middle grade literature. He is the author of multiple novels including My Life as a Rhombus.^[1]

Biography

Johnson is a twin and the father of two daughters.^[2] He is also a member of The Brown Bookshelf, an organization that "is designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young authors".^[3]

Published works

• A Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid (2005)
  • Essence best seller list, March 2005
• My Life as a Rhombus (2008)^[1]
• Saving Maddie (2010)
  • Bank Street Best Children's Book, 2011
• Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices (2013), contributor
• Things I'll Never Say: Stories About Our Secret Selves (2015), contributor
• Been There, Done That: School Dazed (2016), contributor
• The Great Greene Heist (2014)
  • Kirkus Reviews Best Book, 2014
  • ALA ALSC Notable Children's Books List, 2015
  • Bank Street Best Children's Book, 2015
• To Catch a Cheat (A Jackson Greene Novel) (2016)
• The Return (2016), Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts book 3
• The Wildcat's Claw (2017), Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts book 6
• Gabriela: Time for Change (2017), American Girl: Girl of the Year 2017 book 3
• The Parker Inheritance (2018)^[1]
  • Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, 2018^[4]
  • Coretta Scott King Book Awards Honor, 2019^[5]
• What Were The Negro Leagues? (2019) a Who HQ series book, Penguin Workshop
• Twins (2020), illustrated by Shannon Wright^[6]
  • Eisner Award nominee^[7]
  • NPR Best Book of 2020^[8]
• Playing the Cards You’re Dealt (2021)^[9]
• Mister Miracle: The Great Escape (2022)^[10]

Notes and References

1. News: Galluscio . Erica . 2022-09-22 . Banned in the USA Q&A: Varian Johnson asks if book bans are meant to ‘keep a certain population of our country down’ . en . 2022-10-15.
2. News: Quattlebaum . Mary . 2020-12-08 . Middle school worries inspired Varian Johnson’s graphic novel ‘Twins’ . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-10-15 . 0190-8286.
3. Web site: Home . thebrownbookshelf.com.
4. Web site: Johnson . Varian . December 14, 2018 . The Parker Inheritance: Varian Johnson's 2018 BGHB Fiction & Poetry Honor Speech . July 13, 2024 . The Horn Book.
5. Web site: The Parker Inheritance ALA . 2024-07-13 . www.ala.org . en.
6. News: Watson . Renée . 2020-10-31 . ‘Everyone Needs a Buddy’ . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-10-15 . 0362-4331.
7. Web site: Staff . S. L. J. . Reviews and Coverage of the 2021 Eisner Award Nominations . 2024-07-13 . School Library Journal.
8. Web site: Books We Love . 2024-07-13 . NPR . en-US.
9. News: Geiszler-Jones . Amy . 2022-09-27 . With a new book release, a major children’s author is set to visit a Wichita school . The Wichita Eagle.
10. News: Allen . David . 2022-02-26 . Review: Mister Miracle: The Great Escape by Varian Johnson . en-AU . 2022-10-15.