David Levithan author page

David Levithan biography

David Levithan is an American author and editor known for his contributions to young adult literature. Born in 1972 in Short Hills, New Jersey, he graduated from Brown University in 1994 with a degree in English and political science. At 19, he began an internship at Scholastic Corporation, which led to a long-term editorial career, including his role as editorial director and founding editor of PUSH, an imprint focused on new voices in teen literature.

Levithan’s debut novel, Boy Meets Boy (2003), began as a Valentine’s Day story for friends and was later published to critical acclaim, winning a Lambda Literary Award. His subsequent works include The Realm of Possibility (2004), Are We There Yet? (2005), and Wide Awake (2006). He has also co-authored several novels, such as Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2006) and Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List (2007) with Rachel Cohn, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010) with John Green.

In 2012, Levithan published Every Day, a novel exploring identity through a character who wakes up each day in a different body. This book led to a series, including Another Day (2015) and Someday (2018). His 2013 novel, Two Boys Kissing, received a Lambda Literary Award and was named a Stonewall Honor Book.

Levithan’s work has been recognized with several awards, including the 2016 Margaret A. Edwards Award for his significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. In 2024, he contributed to The Collectors: Stories, an anthology that won the Michael L. Printz Award.

In addition to writing, Levithan continues his editorial work at Scholastic and serves as a professor of children’s and teen literature at The New School in New York City.