Welcoming Christina Soontornvat

Christina Soontornvat
Gordon's nineteenth annual Karla Harry Visiting Author.
On campus December 8th and 9th

This December, Gordon welcomes Christina Soontornvat to campus as the nineteenth annual Karla Harry Visiting Author.

Christina Soontornvat is an award-winning author, engineer, and STEM educator. Her many works for children include picture books, chapter books, and the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series, The Tryout. She is a three-time Newbery Honor recipient, most recently for The Last Mapmaker, which was also named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Times, and she is the only author to be awarded Newbery Honors for both fiction and nonfiction in the same year. Her account of the Thai cave rescue, All Thirteen, received numerous accolades, including the Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature. 

Christina grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). 

In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math), about helping students use their own voices, and about learning new things. She currently lives in Tennessee with her husband and two daughters.

During her visit to Gordon, Christina will be working with all three divisions of the school.

The Karla Harry Visiting Author program is held in memory of a beloved Gordon librarian, administrator and parent. The program provides Gordon students the unique experience of delving into the writer’s craft by working with nationally recognized authors and illustrators. It is supported by the Karla Harry Visiting Author Fund, which was established in 2006. 

Soontornvat’s visit overlaps with the annual GCA Book Fair, which is December 9th to December 11th. Learn more about the Book Fair at www.gordonschool.org/bookfair.