Joan Winsor Blos (December 9, 1928 – October 12, 2017) was an American writer, teacher and advocate for children's literacy.For her 1979 historical novel, A Gathering of Days, Blos won the U.S. National Book Award in category Children's Books and the Newbery Medal for the year's most distinguished contribution to American children's literature. She was born in New York City. She lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Source: Wikipedia (en)