About Me

My name is Michael Northrop, and I am a writer living in New York City. I am the author of 15 books for young readers, including the multi-platform adventure series TombQuest. Book 1: Book of the Dead spent three weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and was named one of the best children’s books of the year by the Los Angeles Public Library. I have written three young adult novels: Gentlemen, which earned a Publishers Weekly Flying Start citation; Trapped, an Indie Next List selection; and Rotten, one of the Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of the Year. My first middle grade novel, Plunked, was named one of the best children’s books of the year by both the New York Public Library and Bank Street and was selected by NPR for its Backseat Book Club. I have also written three graphic novels for DC Comics Kids: the critically acclaimed hit Dear Justice League, its nefarious sequel Dear DC Super-Villains, and the deeply ridiculous Teen Titans Go! Undead?! Altogether, my books have sold more than one million copies!

I am originally from Salisbury, Connecticut, a small town in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains. It was a great place to grow up (to the extent that I did), falling out of trees, shooting BB guns at soda cans (and my brother), and kicking field goals for my high school football team.

Back in the day… Go, Pats!

Since moving to New York to attend NYU, I have worked at The World Almanac and Sports Illustrated Kids, where I was a senior editor for eight years. I have moonlighted as a standup comedian and earned a black belt. I’ve been to the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and spring training. My writing has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, People Online, The New York Times Upfront, Notre Dame Review, McSweeney’s, Weird Tales, and many other places.

Three random facts about me:
1) I am dyslexic and had to repeat second grade.
2) I once stepped on a yellowjacket nest and was stung approximately 75 times.
3) According to family lore, I am related to Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s Travels.

Three of my favorite things:
1) Watership Down (book)
2) Jaws (movie)
3) Spicy tuna hand rolls (food)