Member Profile

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Natasha Deen

Guyanese-Canadian author NATASHA DEEN has published over thirty works for kids, teens, and adults, in a variety of genres and for a variety of readerships. Her works include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Thicker than Water, Guardian which was a Sunburst Award nominee, and the Alberta Readers Choice nominated Gatekeeper. Her YA novel, In the Key of Nira Ghani, won the 2020 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. When she’s not writing, she teaches with the University of Toronto SCS and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Visit Natasha at www.natashadeen.com and on Twitter/Instagram, @natasha_deen.

E-mail: c/o Writers' Union of Canada
Phone number:
c/o Writers' Union of Canada

Publications

Lark Has the Shivers. Orca Book Publishers, 2021
Depth of Field. Orca Book Publishers, 2021
Maria and the Plague: A Girls Survive Story. Capstone Press, 2020
You Too?. Inkyard Press, 2020
Jake Maddox: Softball Switch Up. Capstone Books, 2019
Thicker than Water. Orca Book Publishers, 2019
In the Key of Nira Ghani. Running Press, 2019
Lark and the Dessert Disaster. Orca Book Publishers, 2019
Lark Takes a Bow. Orca Book Publishers, 2018
Lark and the Diamond Caper. Orca Book Publishers, 2017
Terminate. Orca Book Publishers, 2017
Lark Holds the Key. Orca Book Publishers, 2016
Across the Floor. Orca Book Publisher, 2016
Gatekeeper. Great Plains Publishing, 2016
Sleight of Hand. Orca Book Publisher, 2015
Burned. Orca Book Publisher, 2015
Guardian. Great Plains Publishing, 2014

Awards

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award for In the Key of Nira Ghani, 2020
CCBC Best Pick for Kids and Teens for Gatekeeper, 2016
Red Maple Award Nominee for In the Key of Nira Ghani, 2019
Moonbeam Award for Gatekeeper, 2016
CCBC Best Pick for Kids and Teens, Starred Selection for Sleight of Hand, 2015
CCBC Best Pick for Kids and Teens for Guardian, 2015
Moonbeam Award for Guardian, 2015
Eligible for National Public Readings Program :
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

Natasha’s dynamic sessions have been described as "Ted Talk meets stand-up comedy," and in them, she celebrates the funny, awkward, sometimes sad, moments of being a kid and being part of an immigrant family. She uses her experiences to connect with students on the universal moments of growing up: feeling different, wanting friends, and hilarious moments when the grown-ups act more like kids. Through the presentation, she weaves in literacy tips as well as themes of inclusion, diversity, and growth mindset.

Natasha has specific presentations for FDK, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12, as well as presentations for mixed-age audiences (i.e. K-8). She is also happy to customize her presentations/workshops per your students’ needs. Please contact her for to discuss your organization's needs.

Presentation Length:
One hour
Genre:
YA, kidlit
Grades:
JK-Grade 12
Audience size:
Flexible (200+)
Northern OAC WITS:
Yes
One session:
$$
GST:
GST applicable

Equity Initiative

As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:

  • Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized