Susan Hood wins 2nd Christopher Award for “Alias Anna” for kids 10+

Southport, Conn-based author Susan Hood has been honored with a second Christopher Award for her book Alias Anna: A True Story About Outwitting the Nazis (Ages 10 and up, Harper Collins Publishers). Her first Award was in 2017 for “Ada’s Violin.” She wrote the book with Greg Dawson, Maitland, Fla., whose mother was Zhanna, alias Anna.

“Alias Anna” is one of 12 books for adults and young people as the Christopher Awards program marks its 74th year.

The nonfiction novel-in verse about sisterhood, survival, and music, takes place during the Holocaust. Zhanna/Anna and her sister Frina—piano proteges--hid in plain sight when the Germans invaded Ukraine. The Jewish children with their parents are forced on a long, cold death march. When a guard turns a blind eye, Zhanna flees with nothing more than her musical talent, her beloved sheet music, and her father’s final plea: “I don’t care what you do. Just live.”

Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers. In addition to “Ada’s Violin,” she has written “Lifeboat 12;” “Shaking things Up;” “Titan and the Wild Boars” and “We Are One.” In addition to her Christopher Awards she has been recognized with the E.B.White Honor Award, the Américas Award, the Golden Kite Award, and the Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, given to “a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people.” She worked as an editor and freelance writer for kids, parents, and teachers and as Children’s Content Director of Nick Jr. Magazine creating original stories.

She was also a children’s book editor at Sesame Workshop, and a children’s magazine editor at Scholastic and Instructor Magazine. She has published with Disney, Fisher Price, Penguin Putnam, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, and Simon & Schuster, among others. She wrote for parents and early childhood educators in The New York Times, Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect, Sesame Street Parent’s Guide, Working Mother, and more.

In addition, Hood was a children’s book editor at Sesame Workshop, and a children’s magazine editor at Scholastic and Instructor Magazine for early childhood educators. She has published with Disney, Fisher Price, Penguin Putnam, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, and Simon & Schuster, among others. She wrote for parents and early childhood educators in The New York Times, Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect, Sesame Street Parent’s Guide, Working Mother, and more.

The Awards celebrate authors, and illustrators as well as writers, producers, and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit” and reflects the Christopher motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Christopher Awards were also given to the creators of 10 TV/Cable shows and feature films.

Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications, said, “The stories we’re honoring acknowledge that the struggles we endure in life coexist with beauty and hope when we work together, despite our differences, to add love and healing to our world.”

The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.