Peck, Richard, 1934-....

Richard Peck attended Exeter Univ. in Eng. and has degrees from DePauw Univ. and Southern Illinois Univ.

Richard Peck was born April 5, 1934, in Decatur, IL. He is an award-winning author of young adult novels that explore contemporary issues such as peer pressure, single parenting, rape, censorship, suicide, and the death of a loved one. He has also written a series of historical novels for junior high rieaders, and his "Blossom Culp" books delve into the supernatural. In addition, he as written humor, mystery and horror YA novels, as well as adult novels. In the 1960s Peck vacillated between teaching English and textbook editing. In 1971 he decided to give up both and go into writing. His years of teaching came in handy for such a task because he had identified an audience and had also learned that kids read not to be educated but "to be reassured, to be given hope." Biographical Source: Something About the Author, Vol. 97, p. 181-186.

American children's author, born in Decatur, Illinois. Peck has written more than fifteen novels and edited several collections of poetry for young adults. Though the genre may be comedy, mystery, or the realistic "problem" novel, his books have the underlying message that to be grown up is to take responsibility for one's own actions and to think and act independently of one's peers.