Christina Soontornvat

Born in 1980, Christina Soontornvat is an American author, educator, and mechanical engineer with Thai heritage. She earned degrees in mechanical engineering and science education before embarking on a writing career, initially working at a science museum. Soontornvat gained significant recognition in 2021 when she received two Newbery Honors in the same year for her children's books, 'A Wish in the Dark' (fiction) and 'All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team' (nonfiction). This achievement made her one of only a few authors to receive two Newbery awards simultaneously and the first to do so for both a fictional and a nonfictional work. She later received another Newbery Honor in 2023 for her middle grade novel, 'The Last Mapmaker'. In addition to her writing, Soontornvat co-organized the Everywhere Book Fest in 2020, an online event created in response to pandemic-related festival cancellations. She resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.

Christina Soontornvat has achieved significant acclaim for her contributions to children's literature. In 2021, she was honored with two Newbery Honors for her books 'A Wish in the Dark' and 'All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team.' This dual recognition was particularly notable as it marked her as the third author in history to receive two Newbery awards in a single year and the first to achieve this distinction for both a fictional work and a nonfictional work. Her novel 'A Wish in the Dark' was recognized for fiction, while 'All Thirteen,' which details the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, was honored for nonfiction. Soontornvat further solidified her literary standing by earning another Newbery Honor in 2023 for her middle grade novel, 'The Last Mapmaker'.

Soontornvat was born in 1980 and is the granddaughter of Thai broadcasting executive Saengchai Sunthornwat. She pursued a strong academic path, earning a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Trinity University in 2002 and a Master of Science in science education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007. Before dedicating herself to writing, Soontornvat worked in a science museum, an experience that likely influenced her approach to storytelling and her ability to explain complex subjects. Her background as an engineer and educator informs her writing, particularly in her non-fiction works where factual accuracy and clear explanation are paramount.

“from the Thai perspective as much as possible, and to let people know about Thailand”