YA Authors You Need to Read: Garth Nix

This article first appeared on the examiner on December 1, 2010. 

Garth Nix has worn a number of hats related to the book industry. He’s worked as a “literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller” and as a full time author since 2001. According to his biography on his website he was born in Melbourne Australia in 1963. He currently lives with his wife and two children near Sydney.

“Mister Monday” is the first book in the Keys to the Kingdom series and introduces Arthur Penhaligon. Arthur is starting seventh grade in a new school. Unbeknownst to him the entire seventh grade is forced to participate in a cross-country run on every Monday, and naturally he's starting school on Monday. Even though he's a severe asthmatic Arthur doesn't have a note from his doctor because he didn't know he needed to bring one... he tries to do the run anyway and winds up passing out. While he's struggling to breathe he witnesses a strange interaction between men who just appeared out of thin air. A man being wheeled in a bathtub carriage gives Arthur a key (the minute hand to a huge clock) in the hopes that Arthur will die and he can take the key back having fulfilled his part of a Will demanding he give the key to a mortal. But Arthur doesn't die and is instead revived by the Key. Thus enters Mister Monday, the lesser Key to the House, and the strangeness begins...

Other Books for Teens:

The Abhorsen Trilogy:

• “Sabriel”
• “Lirael”
• “Abhorsen”
  The Keys to the Kingdom Series:
• “Grim Tuesday” (Goddess Librarian review)
• “Drowned Wednesday” (Goddess Librarian review)
• “Sir Thursday” (Goddess Librarian review)
• “Lady Friday” (Goddess Librarian review)
• “Superior Saturday” (Goddess Librarian review)
• “Lord Sunday” (Goddess Librarian review)
  The Seventh Tower series:
• “The Fall”
• “Castle”
• “Aenir”
• “Above the Veil”
• “Into Battle”
• “The Violet Keystone”

You can find more information about Garth Nix on hiswebsite, and his facebook fan page (he has reached the 5000 friend limit for his personal facebook and cannot accept any more friends).

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