Karen Bass (writer)
# Karen Bass (writer)

Karen Bass (born 1962 in High Prairie, Alberta) is a Canadian writer of young adult fiction. Her 2017 novel Grafitti Knight won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award and Geoffrey Bilson Award. Her 2015 novel Uncertain Soldier also won the Geoffrey Bilson Award.

## Biography

Bass was born in 1962 in High Prairie, Alberta and grew up on a farm. After attending the University of Alberta, she received a degree in psychology from the University of Victoria. In 2012, she was the writer-in-residence for the Peace region in Alberta.

Later, Bass managed a library in northwest Alberta for sixteen years before committing to writing full-time. In 2017, Bass moved to Hamilton, Ontario with her husband. Although she focuses on writing full-time, she also volunteers at the Hamilton Public Library. She is a member of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors Illustrators & Performers, Writers' Union of Canada, and Writers Guild of Alberta.

## Awards and honours

Three of Bass's novels are Junior Library Guild books: The Hill (2016), Two Times a Traitor (2017), and Blood Donor (2021).

In 2015, Bank Street College of Education included Graffiti Knight on their list of the best books for children ages fourteen and up. In 2017, the novel was included on CBC Books' "100 young adult books that make you proud to be Canadian" list in the thirtieth position.

Awards for Bass's writing :

| Year | Title | Award | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2008 | Run Like Jäger | INDIES Award for Young Adult Fiction (Children's) | Honorable mention |
| 2009 | Summer of Fire | INDIES Award for Young Adult Fiction (Children's) | Finalist |
| 2011 | Drummer Girl | INDIES Award for Young Adult Fiction (Children's) | Bronze |
| 2012 | Drummer Girl | Moonbeam Children's Book Award for YA General | Bronze |
| 2014 | Grafitti Knight | Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award | Winner |
| 2014 | Grafitti Knight | Geoffrey Bilson Award | Winner |
| 2014 | Grafitti Knight | R. Ross Annett Award for Children's Literature | Winner |
| 2014 | Grafitti Knight | Stellar Book Award | Nominee |
| 2016 | Uncertain Soldier | Forest of Reading Red Maple Award | Finalist |
| 2016 | Uncertain Soldier | Geoffrey Bilson Award | Winner |
| 2016 | Uncertain Soldier | IODE Violet Downey Book Award | Shortlist |
| 2016 | Grafitti Knight | Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award | Nominee |
| 2017 | The Hill | Forest of Reading Red Maple Award | Finalist |
| 2017 | The Hill | Snow Willow Award | Winner |
| 2017 | The Hill | Sunburst Award for Young Adult Fiction | Longlist |
| 2018 | The Hill | Rocky Mountain Book Award | Nominee |
| 2022 | Blood Donor | Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence for Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book | Shortlist |

## Publications

* Run Like Jäger (2008)
* Summer of Fire (2009)
* Drummer Girl (2011)
* Graffiti Knight (2013)
* Uncertain Soldier (2015)
* The Hill (2016)
* Two Times a Traitor (2017)
* Blood Donor (2021)
