Biography
Jessica Dee Humphreys writes books about things that matter to young people (and adults). Jessica grew up reading. She read her first book (Oscar Otter) when she was three years old. From then on, Jessica read all the time. She read all through school, she read all through university, she read while walking to work, she read in the bath. She read new books and classic books, funny books and sweet books, strange books and beautiful books. Jessica read her favorite books over and over again. She read all of the Anne of Green Gables books dozens of times (her most beloved is Anne of the Island). And then she started writing.#Jessica Dee Humphreys specializes in international humanitarian and children’s issues. Her work (as author as well as ghostwriter) has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Maclean’s, Canada’s History magazine, the National Post, and the Globe and Mail. She has a master’s degree in English literature from Queen’s University, and she began her career at the United Nations Development Fund for Women. The books she has written specifically for children are Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War and The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World.#Jessica lives with her family in a big city most of the time. But sometimes they live on a tiny island near the woods, where she rereads To Kill a Mockingbird every summer while lying in a hammock.
Awards
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The International Day of the Girl
2022 - Yellow Cedar Award, Ontario Library Association, Nominee
2021 - Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association, Winner
2021 - Skipping Stones Honor List, Skipping Stones Magazine, Winner
2020 - Holiday/Notable Days Category, Northern Lights Book Awards, Winner
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Child Soldier
2018 - Non-Fiction Award, Grand Canyon Reader Awards, Commended
2017 - Golden Oak Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2017 - Red Maple Non-Fiction Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2016 - 2016 Book of the Year for Children Award, Canadian Library Association, Commended
2016 - 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens, YALSA, Commended
2016 - 2016/2017 Children's Choice Book Award, Hackmatack, Commended
2016 - ALSC Notable Children's Books - 2016 (Older Readers), American Library Association, Commended
2016 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2016 - Best Publication for Kids, Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Commended
2016 - Honor Book, Skipping Stones, Winner
2016 - Information Book Award - Honour Book, Children's Literature Roundtable of Canada, Winner
2016 - Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Fleck Family Foundation, Commended
2016 - The Dragon Award, The Joe Shuster Awards, Commended
2015 - Best Bets Junior Non-Fiction, Ontario Library Association, Winner
Non-fiction
The International Day of the Girl, 2020
Child Soldier, 2015