Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Katherine Applegate is listed as a writer, novelist and young adult author. Katherine Applegate was born on July 19, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. That works out to 70 years old in 2026. Awards on record include Newbery Medal (2013), Josette Frank Award (2008), E. B. White Read Aloud Award and 3 more. Notable works include The One and Only Ivan.
My Take
Katherine Applegate, to me, represents the conscience of children's literature. From the wild adventure of Animorphs and Everworld to the Newbery-winning The One and Only Ivan, she has trusted young readers with serious ideas. What moves me most is her refusal to talk down to children: Ivan, based on a real captive gorilla, hands kids weighty themes of dignity, captivity, and freedom without flinching. I admire writers who believe a story can genuinely change how a child sees the world. Applegate does exactly that, blending warmth, adventure, and moral seriousness in a way that feels both rare and necessary.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Katherine Applegate
- Name (Japanese)
- K・A・アップルゲイト
- Reading
- K・A・あっぷるげいと
- Born
- July 19, 1956 (age 70)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Monkey
- Origin
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Occupation
- writer / novelist / young adult author
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2013 Newbery Medal
- 2008 Josette Frank Award
- E. B. White Read Aloud Award
- 2017 Premio Bernard Versele
- 2018 E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Middle Readers
- Golden Kite Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The One and Only Ivan | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://katherineapplegate.com
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/kaaauthor/
- Xhttps://x.com/kaaauthor
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine%20Applegate
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q260730
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Katherine Applegate born?
Born July 19, 1956 (age 70).
Where is Katherine Applegate from?
Katherine Applegate is from Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.
What does Katherine Applegate do?
Katherine Applegate works as writer, novelist, young adult author.
What is Katherine Applegate known for?
Notable works include The One and Only Ivan.
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