Posted on May 29, 2018 at 1:30 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Richard Peck, acclaimed YA author and Newbery Medal winner, has died. 

He passed away May 23 of cancer at age 84, his publisher told The Associated Press.

Peck’s childhood in central Illinois heavily influenced his novels A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder, and he was known for tackling such heavy issues as rape, suicide, teen pregnancy, and death.

He wrote more than thirty YA novels as well as several books for adults. In addition to his Newbery for A Year Down Under, he won the National Book Award for A Long Way from Chicago and became the first children’s author to receive the National Humanities Medal.

Publishers Weekly has a lengthy obituary on its website.

Categories: Today in Books

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