Alex Flinn (born October 23,1966 in Syosset, New York) is an author of novels for young adults. To date, she has written five books which have been published. A sixth novel, Beastly will be published in the fall of 2007.
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Life
At the age of 5 she started thinking about being a writer and submitted early efforts to magazines like Highlights, which did not publish them. At twelve, she moved to Palmetto Bay, Florida, where she still lives. She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in vocal performance (opera) then went to law school and practiced law for 10 years before retiring to devote herself full-time to writing. She is married to Eugene Flinn and has two daughters. Many of Flinn's published books deal with legal issues such as domestic violence, murder, a hate crime, and a bombing. Flinn comes about her interest and expertise in legal areas because she is a former lawyer. She has a particular interest in domestic violence, having interned as a law student in the Miami-Dade State attorney's office under then-state attorney, Janet Reno and also, from having volunteered with battered women at Miami's Inn Transition North facility.
Breathing Underwater
Flinn's first novel, Breathing Underwater was originally published in 2001 and was chosen by the American Library Association as a Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults for that 2001. This list is at [www.ala.org/yalsa]. The story of 16-year-old Nick Andreas, a wealthy Miami teen who is sent to anger management because his girlfriend, Caitlin, takes out a restraining order against him. Ordered by the judge to write about his relationship, Nick tells of falling in love with her, and the eventual time when his anger took over. The book is set in Miami and Key West, Florida. An excerpt from the book was included in Liz Claiborne, Inc's Love is Not Abuse curriculum, which was formulated to teach students about dating violence. Diva, a sequel to Breathing Underwater was released in 2006.
Breaking Point
Breaking Point, (2002) which tells the tale of Paul Richmond. Paul and his mother have just moved to Maimi after a nasty divorce. Paul enters Gate-Bicknell Christian, a nasty high school. Paul has trouble finding friends, but then meets Charlie Good, one of the most popular kids in school. But soon enough, Charlie asks Paul to do things he might never have done. And Paul has to choose between his friendship or what is right.
Nothing to Lose
Nothing to Lose (2004) is about Michael Daye, a seventeen year old boy, who runs away from home after his mother killed his stepfather. Michael finds refuge at a traveling carnival and also falls in love with a fellow carny, Kirstie. But Michael finds out his mother is on trial for murder. He must decided whether to stay with the carnival and Kirstie, or come back to Miami to defend his mother.
Fade to Black
Fade to Black (2005) is perhaps Flinn's second-best known work and a frequent high school required read. Alex Crusan, a HIV positive high school junior, has been attacked in his car on an early Monday morning. The attacker smashed his front window with a baseball bat. Alex is sent to the hospital. This novel is written in the perspective of three people: Alex Crusan, the victim; Clint Cole, the suspect; and Daria Bickel, a young woman with Down syndrome, the witness.
Awards
Many of her books have made the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults lists, as well as Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. They have also received such teen-selected honors as the International Reading Association Young Adult Choices list (Breathing Underwater, Nothing to Lose, and Fade to Black). Flinn's books seem to appeal to teens who might otherwise prefer not to read, which is the charge of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list. [1] Her books have also been nominated for numerous state awards. Breathing Underwater won the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award in 2004. Beastly is nominated for the 2009 Lone Star State (Texas) Award.
Beastly
Flinn's newest book, Beastly, is a break from Flinn's usual realistic style, in that it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in modern-day New York City. In Beastly,, 16-year-old Kyle Kingsbury angers a witchy girl in his class and is surprised when she turns him into a beast. He must find true love in two years to break the spell . . . and unfortunately, MySpace doesn't work. When a robber stumbles into his garden Kyle offers him a deal; He won't report him to the police if the robber brings Kyle his daughter. According to the author's note in the back of the book, Flinn researched many versions of the Beauty and the Beast story in writing her book. Many of these are playfully alluded to in portions of the book, particularly the chat room transcripts in which the character of Kyle talks to other teens who have been transformed into creatures. The novel has been optioned by CBS Films for a movie which could be released as early as winter, 2009.
Sources
- American Library Association website (only available to members)
- Young Adult Library Services Association of the ALA. Available to nonmembers
- International Reading Association Website, www.reading.org
- Breathing Underwater (book)
- Breaking Point (book)
- Nothing to Lose (book)
- Fade to Black (book)
- Diva (book)
- "Love is Not Abuse" curriculum, copyright, 2006, Liz Claiborne, Inc.
- Hollywood Reporter Article[2] "CBS Films Sinks Teeth Into Beastly," December 5, 2007
