Elizabeth Fama
Elizabeth Fama is an American young adult author, best known for her book Monstrous Beauty, a fantasy novel for teens. Her fifth publication was Plus One, which published in April 2014.
Background
Fama attended University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She has a BA in biology with honors from the University of Chicago, and an MBA and PhD in economics and finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.Fama is the daughter of Eugene Fama. She is married to economist John H. Cochrane and, together, they have four children.
Works
- Overboard, Cricket Books, Chicago
- Men Who Wish To Drown, Tor Books, a Tor.Com original, New York
- Monstrous Beauty, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York
- Noma Girl, Tor Books, a Tor.Com original, New York
- Plus One, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York
Reception
Fama's works have generally been well received. Kirkus Reviews wrote about Overboard, "Although some scenes seem implausible, particularly Emily’s ability to carry on complete conversations and sing in her weakened state, first-time author Fama skillfully conveys the impact of survival in human nature" and "Inspired by an actual ferry accident caused by lax safety standards, this is a powerful exploration on the will to live", while Publishers Weekly asserted "Such muddled, cumbersome prose weighs down the chronicle of Emily's nightlong struggle to survive in the sea, heavily reliant upon coincidences."Kirkus was also positive about Monstrous Beauty writing "Not so much romance as suspense, this stylish fantasy mesmerizes", and while Publishers Weekly called it "a chilling and original story", they also found "The alternating narrative device can make for stutters in the momentum, and there are stretches where the plot trudges." but "The horror and humanity are adroitly handled, however, and Fama never lapses into cliché."
For Plus One, Publishers Weekly noted "Fama smoothly unspools the details of her alternate Earth’s history in conversational flashbacks that never impede the brisk pacing, yet enhance the sense of connection with her very human characters."