Bio

Lauren Tarshis is the author of the I Survived series. The books, fast-paced historical fiction for kids in grades 3-5, each focus on a historical disaster from the perspective of a boy who lived to tell the tale. The series has been embraced by kids, and also by parents and teachers, for its popularity among the most reluctant readers.

Lauren is also the author of the critically acclaimed Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, a Golden Kite honor book for fiction and Oprah book club pick, and the sequel Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. The books are on many state lists and are often used by schools as part of anti-bully programs.

In addition to writing books, Lauren is an editorial director for language arts at Scholastic, and the editor of Storyworks magazine, an award-winning language arts magazine read by 350,000 children in grades 3-5. She also oversees Scope magazine, a language arts magazine for middle-schoolers.

Lauren has spoken at more than 100 schools and conferences, and is known for her high-energy and highly engaging school presentation that focuses on the writing and research process interwoven with the dramatic story of Lauren’s own struggles with severe reading problems that plagued her through middle school. The presentation is interactive, with students participating in an exciting story creation activity that shows how the elements of fiction — plot, character, setting, tone, and mood — combine to create compelling stories.

Visit her website, www.laurentarshis.com.

Watch a video interview with Lauren Tarshis.