Catherine Reef

Catherine Reef is the recipient of the 2020 Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award, which recognizes her significant contribution to the quality of nonfiction for young readers. Her many books for young people and adults have earned wide recognition. In recent years Catherine has specialized in biography. Her most recent book, MARY SHELLEY: THE STRANGE TRUE TALE OF FRANKENSTEIN'S CREATOR, introduces the woman who, at eighteen, authored one of the world's most enduring horror classics. This story of love, tragedy and survival gained for Catherine the NOBLE Award for Young Adult Nonfiction and was named to several year-end "best" lists. Catherine's dual biography, FRIDA & DIEGO: ART, LOVE, LIFE, explores the lives and work of two remarkable artists admired in Mexico and throughout the world, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, in a colorful, richly illustrated format. One of Booklist’s Top Ten Arts Books for Youth 2014, FRIDA & DIEGO received starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal and Booklist. Catherine also wrote THE BRONTE SISTERS: THE BRIEF LIVES OF CHARLOTTE, EMILY, AND ANNE. This popular young adult book received three starred reviews and was named to several annual lists of “best” books, including Kirkus’s Best Books for Teens, Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books and the Amelia Bloomer Project List. Among Catherine’s other notable books are FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE: THE COURAGEOUS LIFE OF THE LEGENDARY NURSE, recipient of four starred reviews, an Outstanding Science Trade Book and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book; and VICTORIA: PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN, one of the Denver Library's Best and Brightest Books for 2017 and Bank Street College's Best Books of 2017. Catherine works hard at her writing, but she also loves to travel, read, work with her hands and spend time with her family and friends. She likes to cook and can bake a prize-worthy apple pie.