Karen Hesse is the author of many books for young people, including "Out of the Dust", winner of the Newbery Medal, "Letters from Rifka", "Brooklyn Bridge", "Phoenix Rising", "Sable "and" Lavender". In addition to the Newbery, she has received honors including the Scott O Dell Historical Fiction Award, the MacArthur Fellowship Genius Award and the Christopher Award, and was nominated for a National Jewish Book Award. Born in Baltimore, Hesse graduated from the University of Maryland. She and her husband Randy live in Vermont.