Marilyn Ann Reynolds

Background

Reynolds, Marilyn Ann was born on September 13, 1935 in Alhambra, California, United States. Daughter of Lester Fay Dodson and Esther May Sears.

Education

She attended California State University, Los Angeles and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1965, and her teaching credential in 1967. She earned a Master of Science in 1971 from Pepperdine University.

Career

Reynolds was a high school English teacher and a writing workshop instructor and reading specialist. Reynolds is the author of the award-winning True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High. She wrote ten books for the series.

She covers sensitive topics ranging from child molestation to rape incidents. Reynolds creates and helps workshops for educators. She has also written a collection of essays called Over 70 and I Don't Mean MPH: Reflections on the Gift of Longevity.

Dysart Unified School District in Arizona banned and removed her book in 2000 for its portrayal of a 15-year-old girl who becomes pregnant. In 2005 the book was listed on the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom top 10 banned books lost. In 1996, her novel was adapted as an ABC Afterschool Special, starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Jessica Alba, and written by Reynolds and Karen Kasaba.

Achievements

• Reynolds won the American Library Association Best for Young Adults in 1994 and 1995. In 1996 she won the South Carolina Young Adult Book award. She won the American Library Association Best for Reluctant Readers in 1996.
  
  She was a Finalist for the Benjamin Franklin Award in 2001.

Works

• Other Work

  • Author: (novel) Telling (Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, 1996), (non fiction - education) I Won't Read And You Can't Make Me: Reaching Reluctant Teen Readers, (novel) Detour For Emmy (South Carolina. Young Adult Book Award, 1996), Too Soon For Jeff (American Library Association, Best Books for Young Adults, 1995), (short story collection) Beyond Dreams (American Library Association, Short Takes, 1996), (novel) But What About Me (New York Public Library., Best Books for the Teen Age, 1997).
    
    Author: (co-writer) (teleplay) Too Soon for Jeff (Nancy Susan Reynolds Award, 1997). Author: (novel) Baby Help (Franklin Award, 1999), If You Loved Me (New York Public Library. Best Books for the Teen Age, 2000), Love Rules (New York Public Library.
    
    Best Books for the Teen Age, 2002).

Membership

Community contributions committee Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2000—2006. Member of California School Library. Association, National Council of Teachers of English.

Connections

Married Michael Vance Reynolds, August 5, 1967. Children: Sharon Lee Reynolds Kyle, Cynthia Lynn Foncannon, Matthew Michael.

Father:

Lester Fay Dodson

Mother:

Esther May Sears

Spouse:

Michael Vance Reynolds

child:

Sharon Lee Reynolds Kyle Reynolds

child:

Cynthia Lynn Foncannon Reynolds

child:

Matthew Michael Reynolds