Patricia McKissack, American children’s writer, Died at 72

  Writer

Patricia L’Ann Carwell “Pat” McKissack was born on August 9, 1944, and died on April 7, 2017.

She was an American children’s writer.

McKissack was the author of three Dear America books: A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, The Great Migration North, and Look to the Hills: The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French Slave Girl.

McKissack has also written a novel for The Royal Diaries series: Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba.

She resided in St. Louis.

McKissack’s husband, Fredrick McKissack, with whom she co-won the Regina Medal in 1998, died in April 2013 at the age of 73; before marrying her and joining her in writing full-time, he had an accomplished career as a U.S. Marine, a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and had owned a contracting business in the St. Louis area.

She was also a board member of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, a national not-for-profit that actively advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.

McKissack was known also as L’Ann Carwell, Pat McKissack and Patricia C. McKissack.

Patricia L’Ann Carwell “Pat” McKissack passed away at 72 years old.