Praise & Awards
PRAISE FOR ONA GRITZ
Teresa Crider’s review of The Space You Left Behind | Review Writer | 2024
“With a lesson on friendship, family, love, and self-appreciation, this book is truly an iconic model for teen readers…The writing is poetic and filling. Gritz’ craft is exquisite…”
Review of Everywhere I Look| Kirkus Reviews | 2024
“This is a remarkably cohesive, genre-defying memoir that is at once a beautiful love letter and a haunting true-crime investigation. A poignant, gripping story of love, memory, and physical and psychological brutality.”
Liz Chang’s review of Present Imperfect | Philadelphia Stories | 2022
“Although these essays are poignant, the surprising treat when one reads them is that they do not weigh us down. … She has the ability to bring two images together to create a breathtaking magnetism.”
Ellen Blum Barish’s review of Present Imperfect | Brevity | 2021
“Ona Gritz on the page is a warm, wise, and concise confidant who deftly turns the craggy rocks of life into touchstones.”
Maria Scala’s review of Present Imperfect | Literary Mama | 2021
“As readers, we are right there with her on that learning journey. … As we have seen with these honest and moving essays, Gritz seeks, over and over, to claim the many facets of her identity.”
Sheila Black’s review of Welcome to the Resistance: Poetry as Protest | Wordgathering | 2021
“I feel that if someone in the future wanted to understand what we are living through now, they would be able to grasp it through reading this book. Similarly, if a reader today was looking for a way to feel both the hard outlines of the present and yet have a way to hold his, her, or their heart open, this would be the book I would give them.”
Emily K. Michael’s review of Border Songs | Wordgathering | 2021
“These poems arrive at the conclusion that truth is in the retelling of our oldest stories.”
HONORS & AWARDS
Pencraft Best Book Award in Nonfiction - Memoir | 2024
Independent Author Award in New Nonfiction | 2024
Independent Author Award in True Crime | 2024
Readers Choice Gold Award for Best Adult Book | 2024
Finalist for the Reader’s Choice Award in Middle Grade Fiction | 2023
Longlisted for the Acheven Book Prize in Young Adult Fiction | 2022
Finalist for the Wishing Shelf Award in Middle Grade Fiction | 2022
Best American Essays Notable Author | 2016 and 2020
Winner, Poetry Archive Now Worldview Competition | 2020
Best Life Story of the Year, Salon | 2019
Finalist, Paper Nautilus’s Vella Chapbook Prize | 2019
Finalist, The Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award | 2013
Winner, Her Mark Calendar Poetry Competition | 2010
Second Place, Lilith Magazine’s Charlotte Newberger Poetry Competition | 2009
Second Place, The Bellingham Review’s Annie Dillard Prize for Creative Nonfiction | 2008
Winner, Inglis House Poetry Contest | 2007
Winner, Late Blooms Poetry Postcard Competition | 2007
Nick Jr. Family Magazine’s Best Alphabet Book of the Year | 2005
A Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine Best Book of the Year and Teacher’s Pick | 2005
Winner, Tattoo Highway, Picture Worth 500 Words Contest | Summer 2005
Finalist, The Ekphrasis Prize | 2004
RECOMMENDED READING LISTS
“Cuddle Up w/ A New Queer Book” in GoMag
“Best Middle Grade & YA Books by Disabled Authors” in Shepherd
“Year End Roundup” in CLMP | 2023
“Books of the Month: Coming of Age” in Independent Book Review | 2023
“Reading List for Disability Pride Month” in CLMP | 2023
“Top Ten Indie Books” in Literacious | 2023
“What to Read Next If You Love the Ramona Books” in The Children’s Book Review | 2023
“Nine Beautiful Picture Books for Children” in Artful Parent | 2008
Victoria Russell’s review of Geode | The Dodge Poetry Festival | 2014
“ … looking at the whole roll of film from her stunningly perceptive camera, allows for greater depth of understanding and appreciation, adds shading and contrast, to the multilayered portrait of this stunningly authentic poet.”
Ginny Kaczmarek’s review of Geode | Literary Mama | 2014
“With casual yet muscular language, Gritz’s poetry sets readers’ expectations of quiet moments and then upends them with a surprise turn of phrase or a devastating event.”
Holly Woodward’s review of Geode | Wit’s End | 2014
“‘Why is the heart alone in the chest?’ Ona Gritz asks in her book of poems, Geode. She doesn’t give an easy answer, but in the poems you feel her heart at work.”
Paige Bennett’s review of On The Whole | SheKnows | 2013
“This should be required reading for all new moms, those living with a disability, or those who simply need a healthy dose of inspiration to get through hump day.”
Anne Kaier’s review of On The Whole | Wordgathering | 2013
“The real drama of this powerful memoir is the journey from passing and denial though justifiable anger to the kind of self-acceptance that spills over into laughter.”
Michael Northen’s review of Left Standing | Wordgathering | 2005
“There are few books of poetry that one picks up and reads straight through because they could not put it down, but Left Standing is one of them.”
Michael Northen on Ona Gritz’s work | Dispoet | 2007
“Ona Gritz is a poet whose work deserves much wider attention. … Without pretense or fanfare, Gritz shows you how it’s done.”