Margaret Peterson Haddix Margaret Peterson Haddix worked as a newspaper copy editor, a newspaper reporter, a community college instructor and a freelance writer. Haddix has received the International Reading Association Children's Book Award, the ALA Best Book for Young Adults Award, the Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, The National Kids Award, citations, as well as state readers' choice lists in over twenty-eight states. Haddix lives in Columbus, Ohio.