Introduction
Karen Hesse is an author of children’s literature and literature for young adults, often in historical settings. She received the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust (1997). Hesse’s writing is known for its strong characters, vivid imagery, and attention to historical detail. Her books often explore themes of courage, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. She is a powerful voice for young readers, and her work has inspired and entertained children for generations.
Karen Hesse Biography
Karen Hesse is an American author of children’s literature as well as literature for young adults, often within historical settings. She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, United States as Karen S. Hesse. She also won the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust.
10 Quick Facts About Karen Hesse
10 Quick Facts About
- Name: Karen Hesse
- Age: 71 years
- Birthday: 29th August
- Birth sign: Virgo
- Height: Average
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Author
- Marital Status: Married to Randy Hesse
- Salary: To be updated
- Net Worth: $1 to $5 Million
Karen Hesse Age
Karen is 71 years old as of 2021, she was born on 29 August 1952, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. She celebrates her birthday on 29 August every year and her birth sign is Virgo.
Karen Hesse Height and Weight
Hesse stands at an average height and has a moderate weight. She appears to be quite tall if her photos, relative to her surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding her actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.
Early Life and Education
Karen Hesse was born on August 29, 1952, in Baltimore, Maryland. She grew up in a row house in the Pimlico area of the city. Her childhood was not easy. She lived in a crowded environment and felt isolated. Her feelings of isolation spurred her to read, and she spent hours sitting on the boughs of an apple tree located out her back door, with a good book.
Hesse loved to read as a child, and she was an avid reader throughout her school years. She was also interested in writing, and she began writing poetry in her early teens. After high school, Hesse attended Towson State College, where she studied math. However, she soon realized that her passion was writing, and she transferred to the University of Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with double minors in psychology and anthropology.
Rise To Fame
Karen Hesse’s rise to fame began in the early 1990s with the publication of her first novel, Letters from Rifka (1992). The book tells the story of a young Jewish girl who is forced to flee her home in Russia during the Russian Revolution. Letters from Rifka was a critical and commercial success, and it won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.
Karen Hesse Family, Parents, and Siblings
Karen was born and raised by her parents in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Our efforts to find out more about her family came to no avail as no such information is publicly available. Thus, the identity of Kate’s parents is still unclear. It is also not known if she has any siblings. We will update this section once this information is available.
Karen Hesse Husband
Hesse is happily married to her lovely husband Randy Hesse. The couple got married in 1978 before Karen completed her studies and together they are blessed with two adorable children; Rachel Hesse, and Kate Hesse. The family resides in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States.
Karen Hesse Children
Hesse is a proud mother of two children namely Rachel Hesse, and Kate Hesse.
Karen Hesse Net Worth
Karen has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million dollars as of 2023. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as an author. Through her various sources of income, Karen has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Karen Hesse Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Hesse;
Karen Hesse Wiki
- Full Names: Karen S. Hesse
- Popular As: Karen Hesse
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Author
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Christian
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Karen Hesse Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 71 years
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Date of Birth: 29th August 1952
- Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Birthday: August 29th
Karen Hesse Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Updating
- Height / How Tall?: Average
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Updating
- Dress Size: Updating
- Breast Size: Updating
- Waist Size: Updating
- Hip Size: Updating
Karen Hesse Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Known
- Mother: Not Known
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Randy Hesse
- Dating / Boyfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Daughter (Rachael and Kate)
Karen Hesse Networth and Salary
- Net Worth: $1.5 million(Approx)
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Author
Career
After graduating from college, Hesse moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, with her husband and two young children. She worked as a librarian and a substitute teacher, and she began writing children’s books. Her first published book was a poetry collection, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1989).
Karen has since published over 30 books, including novels, picture books, and nonfiction. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and have won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal, the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the Christopher Award.
Karen Hesse Out of the Dust
Hesse’s verse novel, Out of the Dust was first published in 1997. The book follows the story of a 14-year-old girl, Billie Jo. Billie Jo has to learn how to navigate life amid the 1930s Dust Bowl.
Billie struggles with loss and hardship all the way through. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it is inspiring.
Karen Hesse Witness
The novel, Witness, is a free poetry book of historical fiction that was published in 2001. The book follows a story of racism in a rural Vermont town in 1924. In Witness, Hesse continues the distinctive poetic style she pioneered in Out of the Dust (1998). The two books are part of a notable recent cluster of verse novels for children and young adults.
Karen Hesse Books
- Wish on a Unicorn
- Letters from Rifka
- Lester’s Dog, illus. Nancy Carpenter
- Poppy’s Chair, illus. Kay Life
- Phoenix Rising
- Sable, illus. Marcia Sewall
- A Time of Angels
- Lavender, illus. Andrew Glass
- The Music of Dolphins
- Out of the Dust
- Just Juice, illus. Robert Andrew Parker
- Come on, Rain, illus. Jon J. Muth
- A Light in the Storm: the Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin
- Stowaway
- Witness
- Aleutian Sparrow
- The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories of Hanukkah through History, illus. J. Brian Pinkney
- The Cats in Krasinski Square, illus. Wendy Watson
- The Young Hans Christian Andersen
- Spuds, illus. Wendy Watson
- Brooklyn Bridge
- “Nell” — a short story included in the young-adult anthology What You Wish For
- Safekeeping
- My Thumb
Karen Hesse Awards and Accomplishments
Hesse has won numerous awards for her writing, including:
- 1992: Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Letters from Rifka
- 1997: Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust
- 1997: National Book Award for Young People’s Literature for Out of the Dust
- 1997: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Out of the Dust
- 1998: Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in Writing for young adults
- 2002: MacArthur Fellowship
Social Impact: Charitable, Philanthropic, and Community Involvements
Karen Hesse is a philanthropist who is committed to using her platform to make a difference in the world. She is a strong advocate for literacy and education, and she has donated her time and money to support a number of organizations that promote these causes.
Here are some of the organizations that Karen Hesse has supported:
- The Children’s Defense Fund
- The National Center for Children in Poverty
- The American Library Association
- The National Book Foundation
- The PEN/Faulkner Foundation
Hobbies and Personal Interests
In addition to her writing, Hesse enjoys a number of hobbies, including:
- Reading
- Hiking
- Spending time with family and friends
- Traveling
- Playing music
Legacy
Hesse’s legacy is one of a talented author who is making a significant contribution to children’s literature. Her books are sure to continue to be enjoyed by children for generations to come.
Quotes
Final Thoughts
Karen Hesse is a talented author who has made a significant contribution to children’s literature. Her books are known for their strong characters, vivid imagery, and attention to historical detail. Her books often explore themes of courage, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. She is a powerful voice for young readers, and her work has inspired and entertained children for generations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Karen Hesse
Karen Hesse is an American author of children’s literature as well as literature for young adults, often within historical settings. She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, United States as Karen S. Hesse. She also won the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust.
Karen is 71 years old as of 2021, she was born on 29 August 1952, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Hesse stands at an average height, she has not shared her height with the public. Her height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.
Yes, Hesse is married to her husband Randy Hesse. The couple got married in 1978 before Karen completed her studies and together they are blessed with two adorable children; Rachel Hesse, and Kate Hesse. The family resides in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States.
Karen has an estimated net worth of $1 to $5 million as of 2023. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career.
At the moment, we do not have the salary that Karen makes on a monthly or annual basis. We shall keep you posted as soon as we get the figures.
Because of security reasons, she has not revealed the precise location of her residence. We shall upload the image and address of her house as soon as we get them.
Karen is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of her being sick or having any health-related issues.
Karen is still pursuing her career as an author of children’s literature for young adults.
Karen Hesse Contacts
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