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Bio

Marc Aronson is an author, professor, speaker, editor and publisher who believes that young people, especially pre-teens and teenagers, are smart, passionate, and capable of engaging with interesting ideas in interesting ways.

He writes books, visits schools, teaches classes, and publishes books that affirm this belief. His mission is to inspire young people to ask questions, to look around, behind, inside of the stories the world tells us – whether that means being a detective, examining the clues history has left behind, or a reporter, telling the truth about the modern world.

Dr. Aronson’s books are arranged in three age groups: Elementary/Middle; Middle/High School; Adult. He is currently engaged in a long-term project to figure out how to best understand and share a full history of the human world.

Aronson’s love of nonfiction and his conviction that young people can read carefully, examine evidence, and engage with new and challenging ideas is reflected in his teaching at Rutgers University, where he trains future librarians in how to select and share materials with children and teenagers, and his active work as and educational consultant, working with librarians, teachers and administrators. He has addressed national ALA, IRA, NCTE, and NCSS conferences and has been asked to speak to statewide conventions in California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee as well as numberless schools throughout the country.

Aronson has a doctorate in American History – his focus was on William Crary Brownell, Edith Wharton’s editor, and he published his conclusions as a lengthy essay in the New York Times Book Review. His parents, the scenic designers Boris and Lisa Aronson, as well as his maternal aunt, the weaver Trude Guermonprez, and grandfather, the conductor Heinrich Jalowetz were deeply involved with the arts and modernism. Here is a recent interview with Marc by the Yiddish Book Center, discussing Lisa and Boris Aronson’s work.

Marc is also working with his wife the author Marina Budhos on further research. That family background in 20th century cultural innovation informs all of his work with 21st century readers. He writes a twice-monthly column called “Consider the Source” for School Library Journal in which he shares his ongoing observations about books, education, reading, nonfiction, and more. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their two sons. The three Aronson males are avid sports players and fans and are always up for a game of pick-up basketball.