Harper Lee, b. 1926. Enough has been said and written about To Kill a Mockingbird. If you haven’t read it, put down whatever you’re reading now, especially if it was published after 1940, and go borrow or purchase a copy of Miss Lee’s book and read it.

Lois Duncan, b. 1934. Author of many YA suspense novels, including Killing Mr. Griffin and I Know What You Did Last Summer.