Lois Duncan embarked on her literary journey as a youthful prodigy, selling
her inaugural short story at the tender age of thirteen. With her debut novel,
Debutante Hill, she set the stage for a prolific career that spanned
over thirty books tailored for young readers. Duncan's signature lies in her
masterful portrayal of characters and captivating plots. Her narrative style,
both simple and beguiling, draws readers into the lives of ordinary teenagers
thrust into extraordinary circumstances — from the bizarre to the
spine-chilling.
Her stories delve into the essence of teenage life, tackling subjects as
diverse as drugs, sex, divorce, crime, identity crises, and peer pressure. Some
characters emerge vividly evil, rendered with chilling precision through richly
detailed narration. The perils her young protagonists encounter unfold with
startling believability, lending her tales a layer of reality that is both
terrifying and enticing. Even when Duncan ventures into the supernatural, her
depictions retain a sense of realism, as if these otherworldly occurrences
could happen to anyone.
Drawn from Life
It is rumored that Duncan draws inspiration for her characters from her
circle of family and friends, penning stories she herself would relish reading.
A lifelong aficionado of the supernatural, she once delighted in thrilling her
younger brother with eerie tales that haunted his dreams. Reflecting on her
childhood, Duncan paints a portrait of herself as a solitary, chubby, shy
dreamer who found solace in books and adventure in the secluded woods and
beaches of Florida. Many of her characters and settings are rooted in these
personal explorations.
Award-Winning Legacy
Duncan's literary prowess has been recognized with numerous accolades,
including the prestigious National Press Women's Award, New Mexico Press
Women's Zia Award, Theta Sigma Phi Head Liner Award, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Award, and the California Young Reader's Award. Her novel Stranger with My
Face was hailed as the Best Book of the Year for Young Adults by the New
York Times, Library of Congress, and the University of Iowa.
Though her narratives may occasionally venture into the shocking, young
readers are captivated by the exquisite style and imagination that have
catapulted Lois Duncan to remarkable fame.