Allen Zadoff

Allen Zadoff is an American writer primarily recognized for his contributions to young adult fiction. He has authored several notable series, including 'The Unknown Assassin' trilogy and the 'Wild & Chance' series. His novel 'Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have' earned the 2010 Sid Fleischman Humor Award, among other accolades. Zadoff also penned the adult memoir 'Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin'.

Born in Boston, Zadoff's upbringing spanned various locations, including upstate New York, Manhattan, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. His academic background includes training at the American Repertory Theater’s Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University and participation in the Warner Bros. Comedy Writers Workshop. He currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues his writing career and works as a writing instructor.

Allen Zadoff is a prolific author of young adult literature. He is widely recognized for his engaging series, such as 'The Unknown Assassin' trilogy, which began with 'Boy Nobody' (later retitled 'I Am the Weapon') in 2013. This series, exploring themes of espionage and identity, garnered significant attention, including a film rights option by Sony Pictures and inclusion on YALSA's list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Zadoff also created the middle-grade 'Wild & Chance' series, commencing in 2020. His standalone young adult novel, 'Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have' (2009), received critical acclaim and the Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Before focusing extensively on young adult fiction, Allen Zadoff published 'Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin' in 2007. This adult memoir, described by the Los Angeles Times as "gentle, funny...uncommonly appealing," chronicles personal experiences. Zadoff's background includes a career as a stage director, with advanced training from Harvard University's American Repertory Theater Institute. He also honed his writing skills through the Warner Bros. Comedy Writers Workshop in Hollywood. These diverse experiences inform his narrative approach across different genres.