PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born 1979, in Ogden, UT; married; husband's name Justin; children: two sons. Education: Brigham Young University, B.A., 2001. Avocational Interests: Running, gardening, reading. Addresses: Home: Fort Collins, CO. Agent: Catherine Drayton, InkWell Management, 521 5th Ave., 26th Fl., New York, NY 10175. E-mail: becca@beccafitzpatrick.com.
CAREER
Formerly worked in an alternative high school in Provo, UT.
WORKS
WRITINGS:
"HUSH, HUSH" YOUNG-ADULT NOVEL SERIES
- Hush, Hush, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2009.
- Crescendo, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2010.
- Untitled, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2011.
- Silence, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2011.
- Finale, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2012.
STAND-ALONE NOVELS
- Black Ice, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2014.
- Dangerous Lies, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2015.
Also author of a Web log. Author's works have been translated into several languages, including French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish.
SIDELIGHTS
Becca Fitzpatrick had graduated from college with a degree in community health and was working as a teacher and secretary at an alternative high school when her life took a surprising twist. In February of 2003, Fitzpatrick's husband surprised her with an interesting birthday gift: a seat in an upcoming creative writing workshop. Her first novel, Hush, Hush, grew out of that workshop and was inspired by Fitzpatrick's vivid memories of her own high-school years.
Hush, Hush taps a popular subject in young-adult fiction--angels--but approaches it in a unique manner. Fitzpatrick's hero is actually a fallen angel who travels among humans in the guise of a handsome and laid-back teenager named Patch. For Nora Grey, a sophomore hoping to earn a college scholarship at her Maine high school, Patch makes an engaging biology-class partner despite his bad-boy reputation. At first she finds him attractive and seductive, but as she falls for Patch romantically, Nora also becomes aware that he knows too much about her, right down to what she is thinking. As she discovers Patch's secrets, she also learns that her birthright has enmeshed her in a battle between good and evil that is older than humankind. Calling Hush, Hush a "thrilling debut," a Kirkus Reviews contributor wrote that the "forbidden romance between Nora and Patch" will appeal to fans of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" novels. A Publishers Weekly reviewer also recommended Fitzpatrick's story to paranormal romance readers, noting that her "gripping chiller" treats teens to "a fast-paced, exhilarating read."
Fitzpatrick continues Nora's story in Crescendo, which finds Patch shifting his interest to a classmate even though he is supposed to be her guardian angel. When images of the teen's murdered father begin to haunt her dreams, Nora resolves to seek out the truth of his disappearance, with or without Patch's help. Riva Pollard, a reviewer in School Library Journal, commented: "An unsatisfying ending, mid-scene, anticipates a third book, but readers may be unwilling to put in the effort." In a more favorable assessment, a contributor to the London Guardian Web site described the book as "a very fitting and mind-boggling sequel." "This is a great continuation of the first book," commented Elizabeth Provenzano on Examiner.com. Provenzano added: "Nora's emotional strength has obviously grown, which makes her easier to root for and love."
Black Ice, Fitzpatrick's 2014 stand-alone novel, finds two teenage friends, Britt and Korbie, traveling to Korbie's family's cabin in the Grand Tetons. The girls are caught in a blizzard while on their way to hike. They go to a nearby cabin to ride out the storm, where they meet two men, Mason and Shaun. The men take them hostage. Britt offers to guide Mason and Shaun, in order to keep Korbie safe and away from them. Korbie's brother, Calvin, who is also Britt's ex-boyfriend, comes to find them, and it is revealed that he may be just as dangerous as Mason and Shaun.
"If you enjoy mystery, suspense, and romance you will find this a great read. The danger and beauty create a haunting mystery that even as the truth is revealed stays with you long after the book is done," asserted Leslie Wright on the Blogcritics Web site. Booklist reviewer Krista Hutley commented: "With an action-packed conclusion ... this finds a good intersection between romance and suspense." Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Walter Hogan remarked: "Girls who enjoy lengthy romantic suspense novels will be the prime audience for this one." A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that the book contains "plenty of thrills and some kissing too." "Fitzpatrick's novel is rife with psychological twists exploring themes of revenge, misogyny, and familial duty," suggested a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. Sunnie Lovelace, a critic in School Library Journal, stated: "Britt has realistically complex feelings towards her parents, best friend, and ex-boyfriend, and many teens will enjoy the mix of horror, mystery, and chick lit."
In Dangerous Lies, Stella is planning to testify against a violent Philadelphia mobster named Danny Balando. The witness protection program sends her to a small town in Nebraska, where she lives with a retired cop, Carmina. Stella feels out of place in the rural environment, and she misses her boyfriend. However, eventually, she becomes close to a handsome local boy, Chet Falconer. Stella worries that Trigger McClure, a high-school bully, may discover her secrets and put her in danger.
A writer on the London Guardian Web site suggested that the volume features "a story so strong, powerful and captivating that nothing else can compare." "Dangerous Lies is a fast-paced, romantic suspense novel. It tells an exciting story," asserted Debbie Kirchhoff in Voice of Youth Advocates. Hutley, writing in Booklist, commented: "This is a solid romantic thriller." A contributor to Kirkus Reviews described the novel as "a swoonworthy romance that doesn't really need the promised thrills," and School Library Journal reviewer Cary Frostick called it "a good read for romance fans, but crime drama enthusiasts should look elsewhere."
FURTHER READINGS
FURTHER READINGS ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 2014, Krista Hutley, review of Black Ice, p. 72; September 15, 2015, Krista Hutley, review of Dangerous Lies, p. 70.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December, 2009, Kate Quealy-Gainer, review of Hush, Hush, p. 152.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2009, review of Hush Hush; September 1, 2014, review of Black Ice; September 1, 2015, review of Dangerous Lies.
Publishers Weekly, October 12, 2009, review of Hush, Hush, p. 51; August 11, 2014, review of Black Ice, p. 70; August 31, 2015, review of Dangerous Lies, p. 95.
School Librarian, spring, 2010, Alison A. Maxwell-Cox, review of Hush, Hush, p. 47.
School Library Journal, December, 2009, Sue Lloyd, review of Hush, Hush, p. 116; March, 2011, Rival Pollard, review of Crescendo, p. 160; August, 2014, Sunnie Lovelace, review of Black Ice, p. 98; September, 2015, Cary Frostick, review of Dangerous Lies, p. 164.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 2009, Lynne Farrell Stover, review of Hush, Hush, p. 419; October, 2010, Lynne Farrel Stover, review of Crescendo, p. 346; October, 2014, Walter Hogan, review of Black Ice, p. 64; December, 2015, Debbie Kirchhoff, review of Dangerous Lies, p. 56.
ONLINE
Alice Marvels, http://www.alicemarvels.com/ (November 16, 2014), review of Black Ice.
Becca Fitzpatrick Home Page, http://www.beccafitzpatrick.com (August 1, 2016).
BlogCritics, http://blogcritics.org/ (November 11, 2014), Leslie Wright, review of Black Ice.
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (August 1, 2016), Jill Murphy, review of Black Ice.
Examiner.com, http://www.examiner.com/ (July 10, 2013), Elizabeth Provenzano, review of Crescendo.
Guardian Online, https://www.theguardian.com/ (October 1, 2012), review of Crescendo; (February 15, 2016), review of Dangerous Lies.*