Press
Critics have called M. T. Anderson's work for children, teens, and adults:
"Smart and fierce." — New Yorker
"Chillingly satirical." — NPR Morning Edition
"Sweeping and epic." — New York Times
"Imaginative and important." — Wall Street Journal
"A rare achievement." — Toronto Globe & Mail
"Hilarious." — People Magazine
"Prescient." — Entertainment Weekly
"Singular." — San Francisco Chronicle
Quick Links:
Features & Essays
Wired, “M.T. Anderson’s Feed Remains Frustratingly Prescient” (Feed) (August 25, 2022)
School Library Journal, “The Astonishing Achievements of M.T. Anderson, Recipient of the 2019 Margaret A. Edwards Award” (Body of Work) (June 3, 2019)
New York Times, “Planned Obsolescence” (Essay) (December 29, 2017)
Select Interviews
National
Slate, “How Do You Write History for Teenagers?” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (October 9, 2015)
Entertainment Weekly, “Trump era becomes accidental novella in new M.T. Anderson book” (Landscape with Invisible Hand) (September 28, 2017)
UPROXX, “The Man Who Predicted Your ‘Feed’ Discusses Our Post-Capitalist Future” (Landscape with Invisible Hand) (November 14, 2017)
NPR Here & Now, “The Music That Brought Hope To A Besieged City” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (September 21, 2015)
Regional
Vermont Public Radio, “Vermont Author M.T. Anderson Wins Lifetime Achievement Award For Young Adult Literature” (January 30, 2019)
Vermont Public Radio, “Author M. T. Anderson” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (December 1, 2015)
WBUR Radio Boston, “M.T. Anderson's New YA Book, 'Landscape With Invisible Hand,' Is Full Of Cultural Satire” (Landscape with Invisible Hand) (November 13, 2017)
WBUR Boston, “Visionaries: Author M.T. Anderson, Pioneer Of Smart Young Adult Fiction” (Body of Work) (May 1, 2012)
Boston Globe, “M.T. Anderson needs nighttime, silence” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (October 2, 2015)
Seven Days Vermont, “The Power of Art, Engaged Youth & Great Diners: A Conversation with M.T. Anderson” (Body of Work) (December 22, 2018)
Trade
Shelf Awareness, “M.T. Anderson: The Logical Results of a Completely Absurd Premise” (Elf Dog and Owl Head) (March 8, 2023)
Publishers Weekly, “In Conversation: M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin” (The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge) (September 11, 2018)
Publishers Weekly, “M.T. Anderson Writes History... in Four Movements” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (July 17, 2015)
Publishers Weekly, “Q & A with M.T. Anderson” (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves) (October 16, 2008)
Publishers Weekly, “Children's Bookshelf Talks With M.T. Anderson” (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol I: The Pox Party) (October 4, 2006)
Booklist, “Carte Blanche: Anderson's Answers” (Landscape with Invisible Hand) (September 15, 2017)
Mr. Schu Reads, “M.T. ANDERSON DISCUSSES YVAIN: THE KNIGHT OF THE LION” (Yvain: The Knight of the Lion) (February 27, 2017)
YALSA Hub, “One Thing Leads to Another: An Interview with M.T. Anderson” (Body of Work) (May 19, 2016)
School Library Journal, “Strike Up the Band | M.T. Anderson and the Story Behind the Leningrad Symphony” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (August 1, 2015)
School Library Journal/Fuse #8, “Video Interview: M.T. Anderson and the Symphony for the City of the Dead” (Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad) (March 2, 2015)
Review Highlights
Feed
New Yorker: “Smart and fierce. Merciless and very clever satire of late-capitalist complacency”
NPR Morning Edition: “Chillingly satirical…a terrific choice for both teen and adult book discussion groups.”
New York Times: “Subversive, vigorously conceived…and surprisingly engaging”
Chicago Tribune: “This dystopic vision is dark but quite believable. Sad and strong and scary”
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party
New York Times: “Imaginative and highly intelligent”
Toronto Globe & Mail: “A rare achievement”
Wall Street Journal: “Imaginative and important”
Boston Globe: “A serious look at Boston, pre-Revolution. It's layered, it's full of historic references…”
Christian Science Monitor: “The history of the American Revolution is presented against the backdrop of slavery, racism, human rights violations, and the ravages of war.”
San Francisco Chronicle: "Presents a unique vision of this nation's infancy, one to which young-adult readers with sophisticated tastes are likely to respond with enthusiasm.”
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves
New York Times: “Sweeping and epic”
Wall Street Journal: “Places Octavian at the heart of…harrowing historical episodes underscoring the bleakness of a tale that is ultimately about the melancholy predicament of a brilliantly educated and appealing young black man in a world that has no place for him”
Christian Science Monitor: “Anderson also knows how to temper brutality with a few moments of tenderness and mercy, which, sprinkled like light rain on parched earth, are just enough to offer hope of a fresh start.”
Los Angeles Times: “Powerful and unforgettable”
San Francisco Chronicle: “Singular”
Chicago Sun-Times: “Spectacular”
Toronto Star: “A powerfully self-critical novel”
Yvain: The Knight of the Lion
New York Times: “Stunning”
Wall Street Journal: “At turns elegant, startling and ironic, this turbulent adventure makes a superb introduction to medieval ideas and storytelling for readers ages 12 and older”
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Wall Street Journal: “Sophisticated, witty and sharply political”
New York Times: “Both moving and hilarious”
People Magazine: “Hilarious”