R. J. Anderson


Rebecca Joan Anderson is a Canadian author of fantasy and science fiction for children and teens, including the Faery Rebels and Ultraviolet series. Anderson currently lives in Stratford, Ontario.

Biography

Anderson was born in Uganda in 1970, and went to school in New Jersey. Anderson has three older brothers and is the daughter of a preacher. As a child, she would read many books to help her cope with bullying at her school. Her father introduced her to science fiction and fantasy, while her brothers introduced her to comic books. In June 2015, her father was 90; his health was declining due to Alzheimers. She is involved in her church as a pianist and a Bible study teacher. Anderson includes issues of Christian faith in some of her books, though Publishers Weekly states that she "generally handles her material without preaching." She is married and has 3 children.

Critical responses

Kirkus Reviews says that Anderson is "an assured storyteller with a knack for creating memorable characters." Anderson has been praised for both series, with Knife winning the Concorde Book Award in 2011 and nominated for a Carnegie Medal in 2009. In 2011, she was nominated for a Nebula Award for Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award in 2012. She has been reviewed in CM: Canadian Review of Materials and Canadian Children's Book News. Booklist has called Ultraviolet, a story about a young adult synesthete, "a natural grabber for teens." In 2010 the Canadian Library Association gave Spell Hunter the Honor Book designation.

Selected works

[Faery Rebels] Series

  • Knife, Orchard, 2008, published as Spell Hunter, HarperCollins, 2009. Republished 2015 as "Knife" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC
  • Rebel, Orchard, 2009, published as Wayfarer, HarperTeen, 2010. Republished 2015 as "Rebel" by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC
  • Arrow, Orchard, 2011,. First US publication 2016 by Enclave Publishing / Third Day Books LLC

    Flight and Flame Trilogy

  • Swift, Orchard, 2012, First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2020
  • Nomad, Orchard, 2014, First US publication by Enclave Publishing 2021
  • Torch, Enclave Publishing, 2021,

    Ultraviolet Series

  • Ultraviolet, Carolrhoda Books, 2013,
  • Quicksilver, Carolrhoda Books, 2013,

    Uncommon Magic Series

  • A Pocket Full of Murder, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015,
  • A Little Taste of Poison, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016,