Tara Sullivan is the author of the award-winning and critically acclaimed
Golden Boy and
The Bitter Side of Sweet. She was born in India and spent her childhood living in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic with her parents, who were international aid workers. She received a BA in Spanish literature and cognitive science from the University of Virginia and an MA in Latin American studies and an MPA in nonprofit management from Indiana University. Her first novel,
Golden Boy, won the 2014 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Award and was selected as a top-ten book of 2013 by YALSA and as a best book of the year by
Kirkus Reviews and
The Wall Street Journal. Her second novel,
The Bitter Side of Sweet, won the 2017 Children's Africana Book Award Honor and was an ALSC Notable Children's Book. She currently lives with her family in Massachusetts.
Praise for Treasure of the World:A 2022-2023 Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee (AL)
A 2022 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the YearA 2022 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award FinalistA 2021 Kirkus Best Book
★ “Rich with
memorable characters and streaks of
brilliant writing, as in the author’s previous works, Ana’s story takes readers on an arduous and ultimately rewarding journey that illuminates a fraction of the human toll behind the profit-driven pursuits of a materialistic world.
Heartbreakingly splendid.” —
Kirkus,
starred review★ “
Utterly riveting. . . [O]ffers a view of complex family dynamics and child labor that is
shocking and powerful.” —
School Library Journal,
starred review“
Gripping . . Sullivan effectively portrays 12-year-old narrator Ana and the oppressive demands she faces…
skillfully crafting memorable characters and close relationships. . . Sullivan approaches tough topics, including child labor, economic pressure, and repressive gender roles, from
a resonant, believably young perspective, balancing Ana’s precarious struggle to survive with hope.” —
Publishers Weekly“Show[s] the
kindness of others and the
importance of family strength and resilience. . . [and] just
how important learning is in bettering your lot in life.” —
School Library Connection“Sullivan, who addressed child labor in the cocoa industry in
The Bitter Side of Sweet, here
exposes the tragedy of child miners forced to leave school to help support
their families by working in the "mountain that eats men."...
Readers are left with...
hope…but the dire plight of all these
families is abundantly clear.” —
Booklist Praise for The Bitter Side of Sweet:
A California Young Reader Medal Nominee – 2020-2021 An ALA Notable Children’s Book – 2017★ “A
tender, harrowing story of family, friendship, and the pursuit of freedom.”—
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review
★ “In crisp, accessible prose, Sullivan draws readers into a most compelling story of survival under unspeakable hardship, bravery, and teamwork…
Absorbing and important.”—
Booklist, starred review
★ “
[A] heart-wrenching survival tale.”—
Publishers Weekly,
starred review
★ “An
engaging story that will engender empathy in readers.”—
School Library Journal,
starred review
★ “Curriculum connections abound and even reluctant readers will be drawn to the
suspenseful plot and distinctive characters.”—
SLC,
starred reviewPraise for Golden Boy:★ “A
riveting snapshot of one Tanzanian boy who makes himself matter.”—
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review★ “Readers will be haunted by Habo’s voice as he seeks a place of dignity and respect in society.
An important and affecting story.”—
School Library Journal, starred review
