Janet Taylor Lisle

Janet Taylor Lisle (February 13, 1947 – October 5, 2023) was an American author of children's books and young adult novels that range between fantasy and reality.

Early years Lisle was born on February 13, 1947, in Englewood, New Jersey. She grew up in rural Farmington, Connecticut, and spent her summers in Rhode Island. Growing up with four younger brothers, Lisle and the rest of her siblings were all passionate readers. She was educated at local schools until age fifteen when she entered the Ethel Walker School, a girl's boarding school in Simsbury, Connecticut.

Higher education, career, and life Lisle attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and graduated in 1969 with a degree in English. Following graduation, she married and joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1971, she returned to college at Georgia State University to take journalism classes. She died in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 5, 2023, at the age of 76.

Works The Dancing Cats of Applesap, illustrated by Joelle Shefts, Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1984. Sirens and Spies, Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1985. The Great Dimpole Oak, illustrated by Stephen Gammell, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1987. Afternoon of the Elves, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1989. The Lampfish of Twill, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1991. Forest, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1993. The Gold Dust Letters, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1994. Looking for Juliette, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1994. A Message from the Match Girl, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1995. Angela's Aliens, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1996. The Lost Flower Children, Philomel Books (New York, NY), 1999. The Art of Keeping Cool, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2000. How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive, Philomel Books (New York, NY), 2002. The Crying Rocks, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2003 Black Duck, Penguin Group (New York, NY), 2007 Highway Cats, Penguin Group (New York, NY), 2008 Quicksand Pond, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 16, 2017)

Selected awards 1990 Newbery Honor Book - Afternoon of the Elves 2001 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction - The Art of Keeping Cool