Biography
Award-winning author Susan Hughes has written over thirty books – both fiction and nonfiction – for children of all ages, including Walking in the City with Jane: A Story of Jane Jacobs, Earth to Audrey, Island Horse, Case Closed?: Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science and No Girls Allowed: Tales of Daring Women Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure. She is also a freelance editor and writing coach.#When she was a child, Susan grew up on a very special street in Toronto, where the neighbors were like one big family. Parents planned events and street parties, and the kids of all ages played together, especially during the long summer days and evenings. Susan still enjoys getting together with these important childhood friends. And in recent years, Susan has been fortunate enough to make her home on other special streets with wonderful neighbors.#Susan has always loved writing. When she was in grades five and six, she and several friends had a writing club. They would gather with their poems and stories and read them aloud to one another. After finishing high school, Susan studied English literature at the University of Toronto. During the summer and after graduation, she worked for a short time at a children’s publishing house. Then she began doing freelance editing work, mainly for educational publishers, and also writing commissioned articles and stories, while also working on her own story ideas.#Today, Susan lives with her family in Toronto, Canada, in a house with a big red door. She continues to enjoy freelance editing and commissioned writing, as well as story coaching and critiquing manuscripts. And of course, she loves writing her own stories – from picture books, middle-grade novels and graphic novels to nonfiction and young adult novels!
Awards
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Walking for Water
2022 - Silver Birch Express Award, Ontario Library Association, Nominated
2022 - Skipping Stones Book Honor Awards, Skipping Stones, Joint Winner
2023 - Delaware Diamonds Award, Diamond State Reading Association, Short-Listed
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Sounds All Around
2023 - Delaware Diamonds Award, Diamond State Reading Association, Short-Listed
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Walking in the City with Jane
2019 - OLA Light Reads Great Stories, Forest of Reading, Ontario Library Association, Listed
2018 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, The Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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Maggie McGillicuddy’s Eye for Trouble
2017 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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The Island Horse
2013 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street Children's Book Committee, Winner
2013 - Hackmatack's Children's Choice Book Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, , Winner
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Case Closed?
2012 - Alberta Children’s Choice Rocky Mountain Book Award, Children's Crown Award Reading Program, Short-listed
2012 - Lamplighter Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
2012 - Silver Birch Nonfiction Award, The Children's Literature Association of Utah, Short-listed
2012 - Utah Beehive Award - Informational Category, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed
2011 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2011 - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, NSTA, Short-listed
2011 - Norma Fleck Award, , Winner
2010 - Outstanding Science Trade Book, , Winner
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No Girls Allowed
2011 - Red Maple Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2009 - Best Bet for Children and Teens, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2009 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2009 - Norma Fleck Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
Non-fiction
Lights Day and Night, 2021
Walking for Water, 2021
Sounds All Around, 2021
Walking in the City with Jane, 2018
Case Closed?, 2010Picture Books
Maggie McGillicuddy’s Eye for Trouble, 2016Early Chapter Books
The Island Horse, 2012Graphic Novel
No Girls Allowed, 2008