Linda Sue Park is an American author of children's fiction. Park published her first novel, Seesaw Girl, in 1999. She has written six children’s novels and five picture books. Park’s work achieved prominence when she received the prestigious 2002 Newbery Medal for her novel A Single Shard. She has written the ninth book in the 39 Clues series, Storm Warning, published on May 25, 2010.
Park was born on March 25, 1960 and grew up outside Chicago.[1] Park has been writing poetry and stories since the age of four. Park published her first poem when she was nine years old for Trailblazer magazine. Through elementary and high school, she continued to publish poems in magazines for children and young people.
Park competed on the gymnastics team at Stanford University and graduated with a degree in English. She obtained advanced degrees in literature from Trinity College, Dublin in Ireland and from the University of London.
Before writing her first book, Park worked at many jobs, including public relations for a major oil firm, food journalism for British magazines and newspapers, and teaching English as a second language to college students. She currently serves on the board of directors for the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.
Park competed in the television game show Jeopardy! on an episode aired October 20, 2006, where she finished in 3rd place. [2]
Park lives in Rochester, New York with her husband and two children, Sean and Anna.
Park writes historical fiction. With the exception of three picture books, all of Park’s books center upon Korean history and Korean culture. Her first three novels are set in ancient or medieval Korea. However, her fourth novel, When My Name Was Keoko, depicts the more recent history of Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. Project Mulberry occurs in a contemporary setting outside Chicago. Park’s latest book, Archer’s Quest, introduces a historical figure into modern times.
Park researches her Korean heritage for her books, demonstrated by historical details within the story along with sections for author’s notes and bibliographies. Her topics feature characteristic elements of Korean culture, including: embroidery (Seesaw Girl); kite fighting (The Kite Fighters); celadon pottery (A Single Shard); silkworms (Project Mulberry); Korean food (Bee-Bim Bop); and archery (Archer’s Quest). She also continues to publish poetry.
