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Courtney Summers

コートニー・サマーズ

Kōtonī Sāmāzu

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1986-01-01 （Belleville, Ontario, Canada）
Nationality
Canada
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Writer
Active Years
2009-

Awards

Cybils Award
2009
Work: Cracked Up to Be
Category: Young Adult Fiction
Organization: Cybils
Result: Won
White Pine Award (Forest of Reading)
2010
Work: Some Girls Are
Category: YA Fiction
Organization: Ontario Library Association / Forest of Reading
Result: Nominated (Honor)
Goodreads Choice Awards
2010
Work: Some Girls Are
Category: Young Adult Fiction
Organization: Goodreads
Result: Nominated
White Pine Award (Forest of Reading)
2014
Work: This Is Not a Test
Category: Fiction
Organization: Ontario Library Association / Forest of Reading
Result: Nominated (Honor)
Audie Award
2019
Work: Sadie (audio)
Category: Audio Book (Young Adult)
Organization: Audio Publishers Association (Audie Awards)
Result: Won
Cybils Award
2018
Work: Sadie
Category: Young Adult Fiction
Organization: Cybils
Result: Won
Odyssey Award
2019
Work: Sadie (audio)
Category: Audio Book (Children or Young Adult)
Organization: American Library Association / ALSC (Odyssey Award)
Result: Won
Edgar Award
2019
Work: Sadie
Category: Young Adult Novel
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: Won
White Pine Award
2020
Work: Sadie
Category: Fiction
Organization: Ontario Library Association / Forest of Reading
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Cracked Up to Be

2008 Young adult fiction

A young adult novel that explores self-image and fragile relationships through the protagonist's high-school experiences and inner struggles.

AdolescenceIdentityInterpersonal relationships

Some Girls Are

2010 Young adult fiction 245 pages

A novel about teenage friendship, violence, and school life, noted for its sharp and candid voice.

ViolenceFriendshipSchool culture

Fall for Anything

2011 Young adult fiction

A book that portrays complicated family dynamics and the troubles of youth, praised for its emotional depth.

Family issuesLossComing of age

This Is Not a Test

2012 Young adult fiction (zombie/apocalyptic elements) 320 pages

A YA novel set during a zombie apocalypse. A genre-expanding work for the author, focusing on survival and friendships.

SurvivalFriendshipFear
Adaptations
  • [Television (optioned)] This Is Not a Test (script/TV development)

All the Rage

2015 Young adult fiction 336 pages

A novel dealing with sexual harassment and the silencing of victims; notable for its frank voice and social critique.

Sexual violenceJusticeSpeaking out

Please Remain Calm

2015 Young adult / e-novella

An e-novella sequel to This Is Not a Test that follows characters during the apocalypse scenario.

SurvivalTrauma

Sadie

2018 Young adult / Mystery

The story of Sadie, a girl seeking justice for her murdered sister. Told partly from Sadie's perspective and partly as podcast transcripts.

RevengeLossJustice
Adaptations
  • [Podcast (companion)] The Girls: Find Sadie (mock true-crime podcast) (2018)

The Project

2021 Young adult fiction

A novel addressing cults and manipulative communities, exploring ideological conflict and personal agency.

CultsManipulationAutonomy

I'm the Girl

2022 Young adult fiction

A recent YA novel exploring complex teenage emotions and coming-of-age themes.

Self-discoveryComing of age

Bibliography

  • Cracked Up to Be (2008)
  • Some Girls Are (2010)
  • Fall for Anything (2011)
  • This Is Not a Test (2012)
  • What Goes Around (2013)
  • Please Remain Calm (2015)
  • All the Rage (2015)
  • Sadie (2018)
  • The Project (2021)
  • I'm the Girl (2022)

Adaptations

  • This Is Not a Test (optioned for television)
  • The Girls: Find Sadie (companion/mock true-crime podcast)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Frank, emotionally-driven proseRealist focus on young people's interior lives
Recurring Motifs
TraumaLossYouthful anger and a sense of justice

Legacy

Courtney Summers has been acclaimed for frank, emotionally intense YA fiction. Works like Sadie have won major mystery and audio awards, and she is influential for addressing youth experiences and social issues.

Archives

  • Library of Congress (catalog records)

In Popular Culture

  • #ToTheGirls hashtag campaign (2015)

Trivia

  • Launched the #ToTheGirls campaign in 2015, which trended worldwide on Twitter.
  • Sadie was accompanied by a mock true-crime podcast titled The Girls: Find Sadie on release.
  • Debut novel Cracked Up to Be won the 2009 Cybils Award for YA Fiction.