Scott O' Dell

Scott O'Dell is an American writer who wrote mostly for young people, but he also wrote three novels for adults and also a few non-fiction books. O'Dell is born in 1898 in Los Angeles, USA. His first name is Gabriel Scott but it was incorrectly published in his first published book, so he kept the name, Scott O'Dell. O'Dell grew up in California, and went to Occidental College, then at the University of Wisconson, and after that in Stanford, and finally in the University of Rome. He works as a cameraman and technical director. He was also a book review editor. In the WWII he served in Air Force.

O'Dell started his writing as an article writer. Then he started to write fictional and non-fictional books for adults. Finally, in the late 50s, he started to write children's books. He mostly wrote novels for youth, placed in historical California or Mexico. His most known children's books are Island of the Blue Dolphins, Zia, The Amethyst Ring, The King's Fifth, The Black Pearl and others.

O'Dell won Andersen's prize in 1972. for his literary work and contribution in child's literature. His most famous novel is

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is established in 1981. And his novel Island of the Blue Dolphins is adapt as a movie in 1964.

O'Dell died in 1989.