Katherine Applegate is an American author of children's and young adult fiction. She is best known for her novel The One and Only Ivan, which won the 2013 Newbery Medal. Applegate has written over 100 books, including the Animorphs series, the Roscoe Riley Rules series, and the Endling series. She has also written several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Home of the Brave. Applegate is passionate about animal rights and environmental conservation, and her books often reflect these values. She lives in California with her family and their rescue dog, Daisy.