Trudy Krisher has a reputation as a trailblazer in writing and speaking out about sensitive issues surrounding self, identity, race, and gender through her fictional works. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BA in English and received her master’s degree from The College of New Jersey. She is a retired professor from the Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.
AWARDS, HONORS:
“On Memories, Keepsakes, and Cigars,” First Place Winner in the Gal’s Guide to the Galaxy Anthology, 2024. On the March: A Novel of the Women’s March on Washington, Artisan Review Book Review Blue Ribbon Award, 2022. Bark Park, Honor Book for Chose to Read Ohio, State Library System of Ohio (2019); Angie Karcher Best-in-Rhyme Award, 2018; Silver Medal, Independent Publishers Association, Best Regional Non-Fiction for Fanny Seward: A Life, (2015); Montgomery County Cultureworks, Individual Artist Award (1996, 200, 2004, 2008); Culture Works Artists’ fellowship, 2004; The Amelia Bloomer Project honors, City of Austin, TX, Youth Services, 2004; American Library Association Best Books Award (1994, 1997, 2004); Best Children’s Book of the Year, Bank Street College of Education, 2004, for Uncommon Faith; Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award, Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 1999; New York Public Library award, 1995, 1997; ALA Best Books award, 1997, 2004; Cuffie Award for Most Promising New Author, Publishers Weekly, 1994; Honor Book selection, Parents’ Choice, 1994; and Best Book for Young Adults selection, American Library Association (ALA), both 1994, and Best Young Adult Novel Award, International Reading Association, 1995; Jefferson Cup Honor Book, Virginia Library Association, 1995; Miami Valley Cultural Alliance Arts Award, 1994.
WRITINGS:
On the March: A Novel of the Women’s March On Washington (novel), The Social Justice Press, 2021.
Spite Fences (novel), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1996; The Social Justice Press, 2019.
Fallout (novel), Holiday House (New York, NY), 2006; The Social Justice Press, 2019.
Uncommon Faith (novel), Holiday House (New York, NY), 2003; The Social Justice Press, 2019.
Kinship (novel), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1997; The Social Justice Press, 2019.
Bark Park (picture book), Beach Lane Books: Simon and Schuster, 2018.
An Affectionate Farewell: The Story of Old Abe and Old Bob (picture book), Bunker Hill Publishing (Chicago, IL), 2015.
Fanny Seward: A Life (scholarly biography), Syracuse University Press (Syracuse, NY), 2014.
Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope (picture book), illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1992; The Social Justice Press, 2022.
Contributor to anthologies, including Time Capsule: Short Stories About Teenagers Throughout the Twentieth Century, edited by Don Gallo, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1999; contributor of book reviews to The Journal Herald. Some works have been translated into Japanese, Norwegian, or Portuguese.
ADAPTATIONS:
Spite Fences and Kinship were adapted as audiobooks, Recorded Books, 2000 and 2001, respectively.
SIDELIGHTS:
Trudy Krisher’s first two books for children and young adults established her reputation as a talented writer who does not hesitate to explore sensitive issues. Works such as Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope portrays the courage of a child battling cancer, and Spite Fences presents a young white woman’s difficult attempt to stand up for civil rights in the southern United States during the early 1960s are just a few of the profound pieces Krisher has produced. Opening the difficult and honest dialogue about race.
Spite Fences earned Krisher critical recognition in 1994, as she won the Cuffie Award from Publishers Weekly as 1994’s most promising new author. It was also selected by the American Library Association as the best book for young adults, received an International Reading Association children’s book award, and was voted a Parent’s Choice honor book.
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 1992, Ilene Cooper, review of Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope, p. 336; December 1, 1994, Frances Bradburn, review of Spite Fences, p. 666; November 15, 2006, Gillian Engberg, review of Fallout, p. 40.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 1992. review of Kathy’s Hats; December 15, 1994, review of Spite Fences; September 15, 2006, review of Fallout, p. 958.
Publishers Weekly, November 14, 1994, review of Spite Fences, p. 70; December 11, 2006, review of Fallout, p. 71.
School Library Journal, November 1994, Margaret Cole, review of Spite Fences, p. 121; October 2003, Kathleen Isaacs, review of Uncommon Faith, p. 169; November 2006, Pat Scales, review of Fallout, p. 139.
Voice of Youth Advocates, October 1994, review of Spite Fences, p. 209.
