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Marsha Skrypuch

Marsha Skrypuch

Photo: Orest Skrypuch

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch is the author of 20+ books for young people. Her scrupulously researched historical fiction and narrative non-fiction focuses on refugees and war from a young person’s perspective. Her books have won many honours, but her favourites are the provincial readers’ choice awards, of which she’s won many. Marsha has a Master of Library Science degree and worked as a librarian for the federal government before she began writing books. She considers herself a librarian-detective (and also a princess, but that’s another story).

Her best-known book is Making Bombs for Hitler. Her newest is Traitors Among Us.

City:
Brantford
Province:
Ontario

Publications

Traitors Among Us. 2021, Scholastic
Trapped in Hitler's Web. 2020, Scholastic
Don't Tell the Nazis (Don't Tell the Enemy). 2020 (2018), Scholastic
The War Below (Underground Soldier). 2018 (2014), Scholastic
Making Bombs for Hitler. 2012, 2017, Scholastic
Stolen Girl (Stolen Child). 2010, 2019, Scholastic
Adrift At Sea. 2016, Pajama Press
Too Young To Escape. 2018, Pajama Press
Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars. 2021, Pajama Press

Awards

Winner, Red Cedar non-fiction Award for Too Young to Escape, 2020
Winner, Yellow Cedar Award for Too Young to Escape, 2020
Winner: Golden Oak Award for Adrift at Sea, 2018
Winner: Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People for Dance of the Banished, 2015
Winner: Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award for Making Bombs for Hitler, 2014
Wnner: Silver Birch non-fiction for One Step At A Time, 2014
Winner: Silver Birch Fiction for Making Bombs for Hitler, 2013
Winner: Red Cedar Information Book Award for Last Airlift, 2013
The Order of Princess Olha for body of work, 2008
Best Book of the Year for Stolen Child, 2010
OLA Best Bets for Last Airlift, 2011
Red Cedar nomination for Last Airlift, 2012
Starred Best Book, Children's Book Centre for Stolen Child, 2011
CLA Children's Book of the Year nomination for Stolen Child, 2010
OLA Best Bet for Stolen Child, 2010
Diamond Willow nomination for Stolen Child, 2011
Golden Oak nomination for Stolen Child, 2011
SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Stolen Child, 2011
Manitoba Young Readers' Choie Honour Book for Stolen Child, 2012
Manitoba Young Readers' Choice award nomination for Hope's War, 2003
Saskatchewan Snow Willow nomination for Hope's War, 2003
Ontario Red Maple nomination for Nobody's Child, 2005
Alberta Rocky Mountain Book Award nomination for Nobody's Child, 2005
Alberta Rocky Mountain Book Award nomination for Hope's War, 2004
CLA Book of the Year nomination for Aram's Choice, 2007
Resource Links Best Books for Aram's Choice, 2006
Silver Birch Express nomination for Aram's Choice, 2007
ResourceLinks "Best of the Best 2001" in picture book category for Enough, 2001.
ResourceLinks "Best of the Best 2004" in novel category for Nobody's Child, 2004.
Nominated, Ontario Red Maple Award for Nobody's Child, 2005.
Nominated, BC Stellar Award for Nobody's Child, 2006.
Links:
Website
http://www.calla.com
,
,
Complete list of books
https://www.calla.com/wordpress/books-available-in-canada/
,
Awards and honours
https://www.calla.com/wordpress/awards-and-honours/
Eligible for National Public Readings Program:
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

Readings: 60 minutes: interactive reading plus how a non-reader became an author. Turning failure into success with perseverence. Students are inspired by her anecdotes.

Presentation Length:
45 to 60 min.
Genre:
YA, middle-grade novels, picture books.
Grades:
k to adult
Audience Size:
negotiable
Workshop Description:

Workshops: Marsha loves helping young writers develop their own works-in-progress. Topics: writing longer fiction, self-editing, developing characters/scenes. Making great bad guys, WWI, WWII, literacy, bullying, eating disorders, multiculturalism, genocide.