RICHARD PECK (1934-2018) was born in Decatur, Illinois and lived in New York City for nearly 50 years. The acclaimed author of 35 novels for children and young adults, he won the Newbery Medal forย A Year Down Yonder, a Newbery Honor forย A Long Way from Chicago, the Scott OโDell Award forย The River Between Us, the Edgar Allen Poe Award forย Are You in the House Alone?, aย Boston Globe-Horn BookAward Honor forย The Best Man, and the Christopher Medal forย The Teacherโs Funeral. He was the first childrenโs author ever to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal, and was twice a National Book Award Finalist.ย ย