Alan Gratz
Born: January 27, 1972 – Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Alan Gratz is an American author of historical fiction and adventure novels for young readers, focusing on war, displacement, survival, and social conflict. He is best known for Refugee, Allies, Grenade, and Projekt 1065, and his work has reached wide classroom and library audiences as a frequent bestseller in middle-grade literature.
Biography & Author's Journey
Alan Gratz grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. His mother was an elementary school teacher, and as a boy he began making a neighborhood newspaper on his grandfather’s Underwood typewriter, delivering copies by hand. He attended Webb School in Knoxville, then studied at the University of Tennessee, where he completed undergraduate work in creative writing and later a master’s degree in English education. At UT he also worked at The Daily Beacon, writing humor pieces and helping produce the paper. ((https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/98188-alan-gratz-is-going-for-the-gold.html))
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Community Voices
"Alan Gratz couldn't write a slow-paced book even if he were paid by the word"
— Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
"Alan Gratz is the author of several books for young readers, including acclaimed historical novels Projekt 1065 and Prisoner B-3087"
— Kirkus Reviews
"Alan Gratz has been entertaining and inspiring young readers since his first novel"
— Chapter 16
"Alan Gratz returns to Nazi Germany with a fast-paced Olympic thriller"
— Publishers Weekly
"Author Alan Gratz is often credited with starting the trend with his book Refugee"
— NPR
"Alan Gratz writes fast-paced, suspenseful fiction with characters who seem like real, relatable kids"
— Common Sense Media
"Alan Gratz is your middle schoolers' favorite author"
— The Hub
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
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