Patricia Reilly Giff (April 26, 1935 – June 22, 2021) was an American author and teacher born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. She was educated at Marymount Manhattan College, where she was awarded a B.A. degree, and St. John's University, where she earned an M.A. and Hofstra University, where she was awarded a Professional Diploma in Reading and a Doctorate of Humane Letters. After spending some twenty years as a full-time teacher, she began writing, specializing in children's literature. Giff resided in Trumbull, Connecticut, along with her husband Jim and their three children. Giff's writing workshops have influenced other children's authors such as Tony Abbott and Elise Broach. She was a Newbery Honor, ALA Best Book For Young Adults, and Christopher Award laureate. She died on June 22, 2021.

Writing

Polk Street School series

Giff's series of children's books about the kids from Polk Street School has proven popular and won critical acclaim. The stories revolve around second-grade teacher Ms. Rooney and the students in her class, in particular perpetual troublemaker Richard Best (nicknamed "Beast"), who is good at art but terrible at reading and Emily Arrow, who is good at math but also terrible at reading. Some novels in the series also feature Emily's younger sister Stacy as the central character. Books in the series include:

Wild Girl

Lidie leaves Brazil and she dreams of going to Queens, New York. But she discovers that a new world is a big challenge.

Lily's Crossing

Awards: Newbery Honor Book 1998

Nory Ryan's Song

Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults Book 2003

Pictures of Hollis Woods

Awards: Newbery Honor Book 2003. Hollis is an abandoned orphan who is searching for a home.

Eleven

Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack's room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are many other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He's desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather.

Genevieve's War

Awards: Christopher Award 2018.