Matthew Landis

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Matthew Landis

Goodreads Author


Born
in Bucks County, The United States
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Influences
Tana French, Jo Nesbo, Lev Grossman, Erik Larson, Bill Bryson, Sharon ...more

Member Since
July 2013

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Matthew Landis teaches middle school history outside Philadelphia, where he seeks to slay boredom wherever it lurks in his classroom. He is the author of five novels, including the forthcoming NATIONAL ARCHIVE HUNTERS series for 8–12-year-olds. He won Mississippi's 2020 Magnolia Book Award and the ILA 2019 Teacher’s Choices Reading List Award. A three-time Junior Library Guild recipient, Matthew's MG novel, IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS I KNOW IT, was shortlisted for the Virginia Reader’s Award, the Missouri Truman Reading Award, Oklahoma's Sequoyah Book Award, and the South Dakota Teen Choice Award. He has one epic wife, four kids, thirty-five chickens, three barn cats, and love tacos. He hasn't slept good since 2015. ...more

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Matthew Landis Chrissie! Great catch. I've updated it, thanks! …moreChrissie! Great catch. I've updated it, thanks! (less)
Matthew Landis Kate! Glad you and your son enjoyed Oliver. That kid is special to me, what a fun and nerdy story to write. Partly autobiographical LOL.

My teaching is…more
Kate! Glad you and your son enjoyed Oliver. That kid is special to me, what a fun and nerdy story to write. Partly autobiographical LOL.

My teaching is the #1 influence on my writing: thematically, but primarily voice-related. My recent novel, IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS I KNOW IT, which takes place at the same school as PRIVATE NOBODY, was inspired by two students who faced apocalyptic life scenarios. So thematically it's more of a basis, rather than directly lifted. Rarely do I use an exact student, but rather a "type" of student I've had, and then puzzle piece the rest of their personality.

Voice-related, I'd say, is the biggest influence. I've spent 13 years with middle school kids, so I know their lingo. That's likely my greatest insider info, allowing me to be super authentic without much research. Kids talk a certain way, and it's easy to spot inauthentic dialogue. My goal is never do that. EVER.

I'd say less influence on writing to teaching. Mainly I write stories that move me, which are usually based on kids, not the other way around.

Thanks so much again for checking my stories out, and please continue to do so! The third novel in the series will be out in Fall 2021 about another group of kids, same school.

Take care!(less)
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More books by Matthew Landis…

The End Is Near. But Not Really.

final 4.jpg













Here is a truth: I love doomsday stories. I’ve always wanted to write one. Think a teenage version of The Road, maybe with zombies. Definitely motorcycles. A couple years ago I stumbled upon Charlie Higson’s The Enemy series and sobbed for days that he beat me to it. Then I binged a season of The Walking Dead and felt better.

I needed to forge my own direction—end the world my way. For a wh

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Published on June 01, 2019 12:03
Capitol Chase Eternal Flame
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The Closers
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We Were Liars
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Talking to the Dead
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Matthew’s Recent Updates

Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
"This was so much fun to read. I enjoyed the sarcastic humor of Ike and Iris as well as their determination to solve the heist mystery. The twins' parents were loving and involved and built a trust between adult and child that when Ike and Iris were a" Read more of this review »
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
"I liked it me and my mom read it together and thought it was a fun read about twins that end up finding themselves in a mystery."
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
" Thank you Emily! Sequel is out now! "
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
"Loved the book! So much history, great read and would recommend to families and students. Excited for a sequel!"
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
" Haha you're right—I had to change some things for fun! Glad you and your kids enjoyed it! Hope you check out the sequel too, out now! ...more "
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
"I chose this book for a Young Adult book club at my library. The kids all enjoyed reading it, even the ones who don't particularly like history. We had some good discussions. I am not giving it 5 stars because the author did present some incorrect "h" Read more of this review »
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
" Hahaha yes! I was going for those National Treasure vibes!!! Nicholas Cage fans unite! "
Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
" Elizabeth! Thanks for the review! And yes—the sequel is out! Enjoy! "
Operation Final Notice by Matthew Landis
" Ha! I'm glad you gave it a read, though! Thanks! Honestly, it was so fun to write. Love these characters and setting—where I teach! Best of luck on yo ...more "
Matthew Landis answered Prisha Patel's question: Matthew Landis
Hey Prisha!!!! So I've got five books published so far—number six on the way this August! I'm so glad you loved IT'S THE END, that's my FAVORITE one of them all!!!
More of Matthew's books…
Quotes by Matthew Landis  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“It’s like a giant mountain of information. Most people can see the famous peaks, but only from a distance. Climbing it is a lot different. When you’re on the mountain you learn all sorts of really interesting stuff that other people don’t know.”
Matthew Landis, The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody

“people sometimes make history what they want it to be instead of what it actually was.”
Matthew Landis, The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody

“I was in the Boy Scouts for half a year. Why I left isn’t important. Okay fine, there was an incident during a camping trip with a raccoon I’d rather not get into right now, but the point is that I’ve got really good spatial awareness.”
Matthew Landis, The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody

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