Polly Horvath
Full Name and Common Aliases
Polly Horvath is a renowned American author of children's literature.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on April 29, 1939, Polly Horvath passed away on June 12, 2015.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American author, known for writing fiction novels, particularly young adult and children's books.
Early Life and Background
Polly Horvath was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up with a love for storytelling, inspired by her mother's vivid tales of their family history. Her father, an engineer, encouraged her interest in creativity, fostering her artistic side from an early age. Horvath developed a strong foundation in writing and the arts during her childhood.
Horvath attended Wellesley College, where she studied English literature and began to hone her writing skills. After graduating, she went on to earn her Master's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. This academic background laid the groundwork for her future success as an author.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her illustrious career, Polly Horvath garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work. Notably, she won the American Library Association (ALA) Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2001 for her contributions to young adult literature.
Horvath's writing often tackled complex themes such as social justice, family dynamics, and personal identity. Her novels offered readers a unique perspective on the human experience, encouraging empathy and self-reflection.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Polly Horvath's most notable works include:
Everything on a Waffle: A National Book Award finalist in 2001, this novel tells the story of a young girl navigating her family's eccentricities.
The Trolls: This collection of short stories showcases Horvath's versatility and ability to craft compelling tales for readers of all ages.
Horvath was an advocate for literacy and arts education. She frequently visited schools and libraries, sharing her passion for storytelling with students and inspiring a love for reading in young minds.
Impact and Legacy
Polly Horvath left an indelible mark on the world of children's literature. Her thought-provoking stories have resonated with readers, encouraging empathy and understanding. As an author, she demonstrated a commitment to social justice and the importance of exploring complex themes through narrative.
Horvath's legacy extends beyond her written works. She inspired countless aspiring writers, demonstrating that storytelling can be both a powerful tool for change and a source of joy and connection.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Polly Horvath is widely quoted and remembered for her ability to craft stories that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. Her writing has had a profound impact on readers, offering a unique perspective on the human experience. As an advocate for literacy and arts education, she continues to inspire new generations of writers and readers alike.
Horvath's commitment to exploring complex themes through narrative has left an enduring legacy in the world of children's literature. Her stories remain widely read and studied today, a testament to her skill as a storyteller and her dedication to social justice.
Her ability to craft compelling tales that resonate with readers of all ages has cemented Polly Horvath's place as one of the most beloved and respected authors of our time.
Quotes by Polly Horvath
I think part of her feared that if Mother could leave her that way, she must be unlovable. And of course, she wasn’t.
Being together, like being able to see certain stars only with your peripheral vision, isn’t something you can create. It’s just something that happens to you.
My mother smoked too but I guessed by now she had quit the habit, which was, I supposed, one of the advantages of being shipwrecked.
Some people, well, most people just seem to show up on your life with no clear purpose. Have you noticed that? They’re like dust mites. You know they’re there, you just don’t know what to do about them.
The library in summer is the most wonderful thing because there you get books on any subject and read them each for only as long as they hold your interest, abandoning any that don’t, halfway or a quarter of the way through if you like, and store up all that knowledge in the happy corners of your mind for your own self and not to show off how much you know or spit it back at your teacher on a test paper.
I left parts of myself some places and found others unexpectedly. New people appeared on the scene and others disappeared before I had a chance to say goodbye. All kinds of ordinary people gave their whole hearts to things you wouldn’t think you could give your heart to.
The only really interesting thing about someone that makes you want to explore them further is their heart, and Miss Honeycut has a teeny tiny pea-sized one and it takes you nowhere you want to go.
Suddenly I realize that everyone in the whole world is, at the end of a day, staring at a dusky horizon, owner of a day that no one else will ever know.
The richness of our lives depends on what we are willing to notice and what we are willing to believe.
I want someone who puts the whole ball of wax at risk. I want the kind of marriage where we would follow each other out into the stormy fatal sea or I’m not marrying at all.