Sue Alexander

Vocation

Notable

American writer of children's literature, who authored 26 books for children between 1973 and 2001 as well as "scores of stories" for newspapers and magazines. Alexander taught courses on picture book writing at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was also a children's book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times. Her most acclaimed book was Nadia the Willful (1983), which depicts the grief of a Bedouin girl whose brother has died. Lila on the Landing (1987), drawn from her experience growing up in Chicago, described the loneliness of a girl who is rejected by her peers. While writing in different genres, including realistic fiction and fantasy, Alexander noted that the common theme in all her books is "the importance of feelings". She was a charter member and advisory board member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, which established two awards in her name in recognition of her efforts to educate and mentor aspiring writers. Alexander died on 3 July 2008 at her home in West Hills, Los Angeles, at the age of 74. Link to Wikipedia biography