RICHARD PECK (1934-2018) was born in Decatur, Illinois and lived in New York City for nearly 50 years. The acclaimed author of 35 novels for children and young adults, he won the Newbery Medal forΒ A Year Down Yonder, a Newbery Honor forΒ A Long Way from Chicago, the Scott OβDell Award forΒ The River Between Us, the Edgar Allen Poe Award forΒ Are You in the House Alone?, aΒ Boston Globe-Horn BookAward Honor forΒ The Best Man, and the Christopher Medal forΒ The Teacherβs Funeral. He was the first childrenβs author ever to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal, and was twice a National Book Award Finalist.Β Β