"The ideas for my stories grow out of things that interest me rather than out of my own experiences," Carolyn Reeder commented in the Seventh Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. In particular, American history fascinates the author, and so she has placed her novels for young readers during key historical eras. Set mainly in Virginia, her books show ordinary children dealing with such challenging times as the Civil War, prohibition and the Great Depression, and World War II. Since publishing her very first award-winning title, Shades of Gray, Reeder has become known for novels which feature strong story lines, realistic characters, and meticulous research.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Reeder had no intention of becoming a writer when she was young. An early reader, she always had her "nose stuck in a book," as she noted in an autobiographical sketch on her website home page...