Katherine Paterson, author and two-time Newbery medal winner, was born in China to missionary parents and spent four years living in Japan before attending public school in the United States, where the other children called her "Jap." She earned a master’s degree from the Christian Education College in Richmond, and another from the Union Theology Seminary in New York. Gates of Excellence is a collection of the author's essays and book reviews. Of her fiction, Bridge to Terabithia won the Newbery in 1977; The Great Gilly Hopkins won the Newbery Honor award in 1979; and Jacob Have I Loved won another Newbery Medal, this one gold, in 1981. Gates of Excellence covers Mrs. Paterson's work during the late 1970’s when she was at the height of her career. It includes such gems as the original three pages of “The First Plank,” which became Bridge to Terabithia, as well as a description of her personal experience as a foster mother, which set the stage for The Great Gilly Hopkins. The final pages of Gates of Excellence contain her original acceptance speeches for The National Book Award and the Newbery Medal. ( )

A fun collection of essays on writing by children's author Katherine Paterson (Gily Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved). For any Paterson fan, or any person interested in the craft of writing, this is an exceptional book.