Shaun David Hutchinson

Shaun David Hutchinson (born May 1, 1978) is an American author of young adult texts. His novels often "combine speculative elements with LGBT characters and themes."

Personal life Hutchinson was born May 1, 1978, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and grew up in Jupiter, Florida.

Selected texts

We Are the Ants (2016)

We Are the Ants was published January 19, 2016, by Simon Pulse with a 24-page companion story, "What We Pretend to Be", published on the publisher's website, Riveted, later that year.

The book was generally well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. Kirkus called the book "itterly funny, with a ray of hope amid bleakness". Shelf Awareness echoed the sentiment, calling the novel "bracingly smart and unusual". Both complimented Hutchinson's writing. Lambda Literary called the book "a beautiful, masterfully told story by someone who is at the top of his craft", and was selected as one of the best 63 novels for young adults published in the previous twelve months. Time included the novel on their continuously updating "100 Best YA Books of All Time" list.

In 2022, We Are the Ants was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, "Sensitive Materials In Schools", 42% of which "feature LBGTQ+ characters and or themes". The material "is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion" Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. Kirkus called the book "n earthy, existential coming-of-age gem," Commenting on the book's plot and structure, Shelf Awareness said it is "delightfully constructed," Publishers Weekly highlighted how "Hutchinson uses a science fiction overlay to explore important topics." and the Chicago Public Library included it on their "Best Teen Fiction of 2017" list.

Awards and honors Below is an incomplete list of awards and honors Hutchinson's books have received.

Eight of Hutchinson's books are Junior Library Guild selections: We Are the Ants (2016), At the Edge of the Universe (2017), The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza (2018), Brave Face (2019), The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried (2019), The State of Us (2020), A Complicated Love Story Set in Space (2021), and Before We Disappear (2022).

The Chicago Public Library has included two of Hutchinson's books on their year-end lists of the best books for teens: The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza (2018),

Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction Nominee

American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10

Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection American Library Association Rainbow List Selection

Brave Face Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Selection The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Selection 2022 A Complicated Love Story Set in Space Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Selection Publications

Anthologies

Violent Ends (2015) Feral Youth (2017)

Nonfiction

Brave Face: A Memoir (2019)

Novels

The Deathday Letter (2010) FML (2013) The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley (2015) We Are the Ants (2016) At the Edge of the Universe (2017) The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza (2018) The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried (2019) The State of Us (2020) A (Complicated) Love Story Set In Space (2021) Before We Disappear (2021) Howl (2022)

Short stories

"Better" in Grim, edited by Christine Johnson (2014) "Please Remain Calm" in Been There, Done That, edited by Mike Winchell (2016) "The Inferno and the Butterfly" in All Out, edited by Saundra Mitchell (2018) "What We Pretend to Be," a We Are the Ants online exclusive from RivetedLit.com (2016) "Defying Definition" in (Don't) Call Me Crazy, edited by Kelly Jensen (2018) "Love is a Battlefield" in Battle of the Bands, edited by Eric Smith and Lauren Gibaldi (2021) "Spite and Malice" in Game On: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between, edited by Laura Silverman (2022)