Josh Berk is an author of books for children and teens. His first published Young Adult novel, "The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin" won a Parent's Choice Silver Medal and was named "a best book of 2010 for teens" by Amazon.com and Kirkus Reviews. His first mystery for young readers, "Strike Three, You're Dead" was nominated for an Edgar Award in 2014.
Biography
Berk was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1976. He grew up in Bethlehem, PA where both of his parents worked as librarians. He holds an MA in Political Science from Drew University and a MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh. He has worked in public libraries since 1998 and was appointed as Executive Director of the Bethlehem Area Public Library in 2014. He has served as a Professor of English, writing, and Young Adult Literature at several colleges and is an active member of the Society for American Baseball Research. Berk began writing for newspapers and magazines, including The Morning Call. He also published poetry, in journals such as Black Bear Review and Thunder Sandwich. He then pursued a master's degree at the University of Pittsburgh where he studied Young Adult literature and became enamored with the genre. His first young adult novel, "The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin" was published in 2010. It was described by School Library Journal as " coming-of-age mash-up of satire, realistic fiction, mystery, and ill-fated teen romance." It has also received acclaim for starring a deaf protagonist and its skillful handling of related issues. His second young adult novel, Guy Langman: Crime Scene Procrastinator, received positive reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus. In 2013 "Strike Three, You're Dead" launched a series of baseball-themed mysteries for younger readers called "Lenny and the Mikes." "Strike Three, You're Dead" was an Edgar Award finalist and a selection for the New York Public Library's 2013 'Books for Reading and Sharing.' The second book in the series, "Say It Ain't So," was published in 2014.
Novels
2010 — The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, Random House,
2012 — Guy Langman: Crime Scene Procrastinator, Random House,
"MC Wax," Short story in "Starry Eyed: 16 Stories that Steal the Spotlight," a performing arts themed anthology. Published by Running Press Kids, 2013..
Other Published Works
"Be a Jock or A Nerd." Essay contributed to "Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors Write About Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself." Chicago Review Press, 2013.
Periodicals
Booklist, December 15, 2009, Cindy Dobrez, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, p. 34.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, March, 2010, Karen Coats, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, p. 277.
Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2009, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin.
Publishers Weekly, January 18, 2010, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, p. 49.
School Library Journal, January, 2010, Jeffrey Hastings, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, p. 96.
Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2010, Grace Zokovitch and Diane Colson, review of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, p. 146.
The Morning Call, April 4, 2012, "," by Kathy Lauer-Williams, Of The Morning Call.
