Auseon, Andrew 1976–

PERSONAL: Born 1976, in Columbus, OH; married Sarah Zogby; children: Samara Ruth. Education: Ohio University, B.A. (creative writing); Vermont College, M.F.A. (creative writing for children and young adults). Hobbies and other interests: Travel.

ADDRESSES: Home—Baltimore, MD. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Harcourt International, 6277 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando, FL 32887.

CAREER: Writer. PhotoAssist, Inc., photo editor, 1999–2002; The History Factory, senior researcher, 2002–04; Words & Numbers, Baltimore, MD, currently editor and staff writer.

MEMBER: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

WRITINGS:

Funny Little Monkey, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: An M.F.A. graduate of Vermont College who has traveled to over twenty countries, Andrew Auseon published his first book, the young-adult novel Funny Little Monkey, in 2005.

In what a Publishers Weekly reviewer called a "darkly comic debut novel," Auseon introduces readers to mild-mannered main character Arty Moore. Arty is mere shadow in contrast to his much larger and quite intimidating twin brother Kurt. Raised by a single mother, with a father who serves as a poor role model in his career as a bank robber, the boys have always found themselves at odds. Now, as a freshman at Mill-ard Fillmore High, Arty's luck seems to be changing when he makes two new friends: the beautiful, wealthy overachiever Leslie Dermott, and Kerouac, the ringleader of a rebellious group of kids. With his friends' help, Arty is able to finally put his bullying brother in his place, while at the same time adjusting to life in high school. The Publishers Weekly critic wrote that Auseon "taps into the painful experience of high school, leavened with healthy doses of hyperbole, hope and wry humor," while Susan W. Hunter noted in School Library Journal that Arty "steps up and uses an outrageous fabrication to resolve the final crisis in this offbeat coming-of-age story."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 15, 2005, Jennifer Hubert, review of Funny Little Monkey, p. 1447.

Columbus Dispatch, November 6, 2005, Nancy Gilson, "Novel Explores Sophomoric Cruelty of High School."

Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2005, review of Funny Little Monkey, p. 632.

Publishers Weekly, July 11, 2005, review of Funny Little Monkey, p. 94.

School Library Journal, June, 2005, Susan W. Hunter, review of Funny Little Monkey, p. 147.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2005, Jazmine Nazek, review of Funny Little Monkey, p. 133.

ONLINE

Andrew Auseon Home Page, http://www.andrewauseon.com (November 6, 2005).