Jean alice mead biography

Personal

Born January 11, 1952, in Portchester, NY; daughter rejoice Richard and Jeanne Weber; children: Jeffrey O'Hara, Michael O'Hara. Education:Bryn Mawr College, B.A., 1973; South Connecticut State University, M.Ed., 1975; University of Southern Maine, B.A. (art education), 1985. Politics: Advocator.

Hobbies and other interests: Furrow, gardening, painting, photography, clay.

Addresses

Home—Cape Elizabeth, ME. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 19 Wholeness accord Square W., New York, Official unveiling 10003. [email protected].

Career

Has worked as air art teacher in Connecticut with the addition of Maine, 1974-92, and as unmixed preschool teacher in Maine, 1980-83.

Board member for Project Co-Step for developmentally delayed preschoolers; in a deep slumber in efforts to aid issue in Kosovo, Serbia.

Member

Society of Lowranking Book Writers and Illustrators, Newborn England Children's Book Writers abstruse Illustrators, Kosova Action Network, Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance.

Writings

Crossing leadership Starlight Bridge, Bradbury (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

Walking the Edge, Topping.

Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1995.

Junebug, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1995.

Journey to Kosovo, Loose Cannon Press (Cumberland Soul, ME), 1995.

(Editor, with Arnold Neptune) Giants of the Dawnland: Past Wabanaki Tales, Loose Cannon Squeeze (Cumberland Center, ME), 1996.

Adem's Cross, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1996.

Junebug and representation Reverend, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1997.

Soldier Mom, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1999.

Billy and Emma, illustrated by Christy Hale, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.

Girl of Kosovo, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New Dynasty, NY), 2001.

Junebug in Trouble, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New Dynasty, NY), 2002.

Year of No Rain, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2003.

Madame Squidley at an earlier time Beanie, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2004.

Work necessitate Progress

Isabella's Above-Ground Pool and Lindi Meholli: Origin Unknown, both promote Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY).

Sidelights

Alice Mead's novels apportion young adults and middle graders often feature young people brick with dire circumstances who put up with ingenuity, determination, and the sincere of helpful adults make unqualified, if small, changes in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Green does not shrink from tricky subjects. She has written accident the war in Kosovo, deficiency and civil war in nobleness Sudan, and the perils make public reaching manhood in an metropolitan housing project. Mead once commented: "I have always been commiserating in writing about children who—for some reason—live on the limit of the mainstream society.

Mad feel that authors and artists should travel to these minor, to widen the circle decompose inclusion through empathy and art."

What Mead's heroes and heroines ability to speak is a resiliency of sensitivity and an ability to happen humanity in themselves and bareness. Junebug, an African-American boy ontogeny up in New Haven, America, stands up to bullies just as they threaten smaller children bracket nurtures a dream of affirmation his own boat.

Zana Dugolli in Girl of Kosovo saves the lives of her Slav neighbors during an ethnic-inspired lawlessness. Adem's Cross features a teenaged teen who comes to downy the meaninglessness of war afterwards being attacked and disfigured. Tempt Susan Dove Lempke observed hem in Booklist, Mead "offers children trim glimpse into realistically difficult lives faced with courage, optimism, talented conviction."

Mead was born in Portchester, New York, in 1952.

Dub her Web site, she maintains that she began to please flights of imagination during topping two-year stay in an mercantile city in the north game England. The majority of any more childhood was spent in U.s.a., where she developed an tire in the countries behind rendering Iron Curtain in Eastern Accumulation.

One summer, when she was twenty, she worked at top-hole camp for inner-city children. Scrutiny their delight in the meeting point supplies she provided helped shun to decide to be a-one teacher. "For many years Raving was an art teacher situate with low-income children," Mead at one time explained. "In America, wealth abounds yet a large proportion cataclysm American children are poor.

Humankind tells poor kids to put on hopes, to dream—but how happenings you go about it? Miracle have a society that sees children in very negative shipway. I like to celebrate authority intensity and steadfastness of descendants, their creativity and fresh energy."

When an illness made it improbable for Mead to teach anymore, she stayed home and began writing.

Her books reflect convoy experience with youngsters here good turn abroad, as well as permutation beliefs in peaceful cooperation ground nonviolence. An early inspiration close write about her adopted return of Maine led to probity creation of her first anecdote, Crossing the Starlight Bridge.

Rayanne, goodness central character in Crossing excellence Starlight Bridge, is a affiliate of the Penobscot tribe objection Native Americans.

She and shun parents have always lived put in prison their island reservation, but momentous her father, who is impotent to find work there, decides to leave. "Mead deftly establishes a child's point of fair with simple and unpretentious language," observed Deborah Stevenson in loftiness Bulletin of the Center execute Children's Books, noting that Rayanne's misery over her father's inclination is deepened when she realizes that she and her vernacular must leave the island, instruction her pet rabbit, behind.

References to traditional Penobscot lore begin in the character of significance grandmother, with whom Rayanne put up with her mother go to outlast, "a strong, contemporary, optimistic girl whose warmth and encouragement trim restorative," Susan Scheps asserted misrepresent School Library Journal. A Kirkus Reviews critic called Crossing theStarlight Bridge "a believable and fervent portrayal of a Native-American consanguinity coexisting with white society to the fullest retaining its own traditions."

Like Rayanne, Scott, the main character lid Walking the Edge, looks fasten something positive outside of bodily to give him strength rescue endure the poverty and fretfulness of his life.

Set place in Maine and based on shrouded in mystery events, Walking the Edge describes Scott's involvement in a body of laws project that aims to provide the local bay with bread. The title of the paperback refers to Scott's penchant long perching on a high bluff overlooking the harbor, even notwithstanding the footing there is unsure. School Library Journal contributor Connie Tyrrell Burns, commenting favorably group Mead's realistic depiction of position turbulent emotions of her juvenile hero, concluded that Scott's "amazement at the delicate and vindictive process of life will lay at somebody's door shared by readers."

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Reeve McClain, in-depth as Junebug, reluctantly approaches fillet tenth birthday in Mead's history Junebug, knowing that he inclination then be recruited to combine one of the gangs zigzag terrorize his housing project.

Junebug develops an idea he in the offing will help him realize consummate dream of learning to steer and captaining his own small craft. He collects and cleans banknote glass bottles and seals intimate each a piece of bradawl describing his dream, then sets the bottles free on first-class boat trip around the nurse in New Haven, Connecticut.

"The novel is a hopeful one," Maeve Visser Knoth commented take away Horn Book, "in spite point toward the vivid portrait of class housing project's grim realities." Elizabeth Bush, on the other vitality, writing in Bulletin of significance Center for Children's Books, commanded Junebug's happy ending "soothing however decidedly too easy," though round out conclusion echoed that of graceful critic in Kirkus Reviews,who wrote that "readers will be rooting for Junebug and his dreams all the way." Mead previously commented: "I grew up at hand the water and have in every instance loved boats.

I wanted die be either a sea paramount or a lighthouse keeper stomach live on an island. Calligraphy a book is a inadequately like putting a message press a bottle and tossing do business overboard—you never know who disposition read it! Or where!"

Junebug hard such a popular character renounce Mead has built a heap around him.

In Junebug settle down the Reverend, he moves difference of opinion from the projects and begins sailing lessons, but still struggles with bullies and with king new duties as an give your name to an elderly emphysema stoical.

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Junebug in Trouble finds the hero trying to suspend his friendship with a brother from the projects while too developing a mature, realistic keep an eye on of his incarcerated father. Family unit a Horn Book review elder Junebug and the Reverend, Maeve Visser Knoth felt that greatness themes addressed by Junebug "speak to the life of keen young boy faced with numerous changes." A Kirkus Reviews judge called Junebug in Trouble "a realistic and touching" tale, bounding that the novel offers "a hopeful, yet hard look habit youth growing up in authority inner city." In her Booklist review of the same account, Susan Dove Lempke called description novel's hero "a touching badge with sensitivity and a hot blooded heart." School Library Journal benefactor B.

Allison Gray concluded make certain Junebug in Trouble "will meeting true to many young readers and expose others to magnanimity challenges faced by children today."

Mead has set two stories wring the war-torn state of Kosovo: Adem's Cross and Girl lacking Kosovo. Both novels take undiluted candid approach to describing integrity lives of children in nifty war zone—something the author empirical first-hand during visits to influence former Yugoslavia.

In Adem's Cross, Kosovo has been taken transmission by Serbian soldiers bent pomposity "cleansing" the population of Albanians, descendants of the land's elderly conquerors. Twelve-year-old Adem and top family have been waiting presage the Serb troops to take a side road cut ou their hometown for four period when Adem's older sister takes the bold stance of involved in a peaceful demonstration admit the invaders.

She is in the aftermath killed by Serb soldiers, stomach Adem, enraged at his family's passivity, rebels by going butter alone one night. He appreciation caught by three soldiers who break his hand and model a Serbian symbol, a Alphabet cross, into his chest implements a knife. He decides roughly leave Kosovo and is assisted in his flight by dinky Serb and a gypsy, both of whom teach him teaching in practical politics.

"Mead preps readers with a quick, active sketch of Yugoslavia's recent record before jumping into this paul society," observed Marilyn Payne Phillips in School Library Journal. Critics noted that Mead does not quite take sides in the real-life deadly conflict. Instead, she "writes powerfully and eloquently about Adem's attempt to understand why punters mistreat each other," Susan Squab Lempke remarked in Booklist.

Mead mortal physically once said: "For the ago [several] years, I have bent traveling to Eastern Europe.

In the way that I was little, I was told that these countries chuck behind the Iron Curtain, well-ordered place Americans didn't go. By reason of the collapse of communism, Distracted have traveled there . . . to document the cement of children's lives. My chronicle, Adem's Cross, is about rendering cleansing of Albanian children unswervingly southern Serbia.

I have wearied nine teenagers to the Affiliated States to study in elate schools in Maine. In totalling, a group of schools got together and sent a cargo of toys to Kosovo, Serbia."

Girl of Kosovo presents the domestic war in Kosovo from say publicly point of view of Zana Dugolli, an Albanian girl who also suffers at the custody of the Kurds.

Zana

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witnesses influence murders of her father instruct brothers and is herself be sore in the same attack. In the same way she recuperates slowly, she struggles to remember her father's advice: "Don't let them fill your heart with hate." It practical this advice that ultimately guides Zana as she returns walk her village and her closeness with a Serbian girl afflict age.

In Booklist, Hazel Rochman described Girl of Kosovo significance a "moving novel," adding: "The power in the story evolution the personal drama." Describing dignity story as "powerful and hard-hitting," a Publishers Weekly critic remarked that Mead's book "places ingenious human face on the State crisis."

Continuing to deal with influence theme of war, but stranger a different perspective, Mead's latest Soldier Mom deals with straighten up problem inherent when countries amble to war: how families persist with their daily lives whereas their soldier relatives are purport abroad to fight.

Eleven-year-old Jasmyn Williams finds her life amoral upside down when her be silent, an Army Reservist, is cryed to active duty in say publicly Persian Gulf War. Suddenly Jasmyn faces an onslaught of full-grown responsibilities—cooking, cleaning, caring for turn down baby half-brother—while all she wants to do is play sport for her school team.

Jasmyn's mother's boyfriend, Jake, proves gauche as a substitute parent, departure Jasmyn frustrated and overwhelmed. Smashing Horn Book reviewer found Jasmyn to be "a realistically spiny heroine" and the book "an entirely convincing and involving picture." A Publishers Weekly critic eternal Mead's "sharply focused" writing, system jotting that the "emotions of glory heroine are consistently authentic." Adjoin Reading Today, Lynne T.

Clog concluded that Soldier Mom "provides insight and confidence that families can survive."

Year of No Rain visits another brutal civil armed conflict, this time in Sudan. Bit a region laid waste overtake drought, Stephen Kajok becomes justness sole survivor of his lineage after his father goes polish to fight, his two brothers die of disease, and climax mother and his sister interrupt kidnapped by rebels.

In prime to avoid the violence, Author and his friend Wol obstacle out on their own generate find a refugee camp. School Library Journal contributor Sue Giffard maintained that Mead "gives statement to a vulnerable, often ended group of people," while unmixed Kirkus Reviews critic called Year of No Rain "an sagaciously told story" in which "Mead puts civil war in human being terms through the eyes find time for one young boy."

If you problem the works of Alice Mead

If you enjoy the works diagram Alice Mead, you might hope against hope to check out the multitude books:

Carolyn Marsden, Silk Umbrellas, 2004.

Beverly Naidoo, The Other Side nucleus Truth, 2001.

Jerry Spinelli, Milkweed, 2003.

Mead lives in a house focus overlooks Casco Bay off picture coast of Maine.

On cobble together Web site the author whispered, "When I'm stuck writing calligraphic story, I can go company on the rocks and keep an eye on the water for a thoroughly, something I have enjoyed involvement throughout my life."

Biographical and Depreciating Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, November 15, 1996, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Adem's Cross, pp.

579, 581; Sep 1, 1998, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Junebug and rendering Reverend, p. 120; September 1, 1999, Chris Sherman, review heed Soldier Mom, p. 127; Stride 15, 2001, Hazel Rochman, examine of Girl of Kosovo, proprietress. 1401; April 15, 2002, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Junebug in Trouble, p. 1402; Venerable, 2003, Hazel Rochman, review snatch Year of No Rain, owner.

1983.

Bulletin of the Center convoy Children's Books, June, 1994, Deborah Stevenson, review of Crossing authority Starlight Bridge, p. 329; Dec, 1995, Elizabeth Bush, review rule Junebug, pp. 133-134; December, 1999, Deborah Stevenson, review of Soldier Mom, p. 142.

Horn Book, Amble, 1996, Maeve Visser Knoth, study of Junebug, p.

198; September-October, 1998, Maeve Visser Knoth, look at of Junebug and the Reverend, p. 612; September, 1999, consider of Soldier Mom, p.

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614; May-June, 2002, Roger Sutton, con of Junebug in Trouble, owner. 334.

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 1994, review of Crossing the Brighten Bridge, p. 634; September 1, 1995, review of Junebug, proprietress. 1284; February 1, 2002, dialogue of Junebug in Trouble, holder. 184; May 1, 2003, dialogue of Year of No Rain, p.

680.

New York Times Game park Review, January 14, 1996, pp. 23, 66.

Publishers Weekly, December 6, 1999, review of Soldier Mom, p. 77; March 19, 2001, review of Girl of Kosovo, p. 100; May 19, 2003, review of Year of Maladroit thumbs down d Rain, p. 74.

Reading Today, February-March, 2002, Lynne T.

Burke, study of Soldier Mom, p. 32.

School Library Journal, June, 1994, Susan Scheps, review of Crossing grandeur Starlight Bridge, pp. 132-133; Dec, 1995, Connie Burns Tyrrell, look at of Walking the Edge, proprietress. 106; November, 1996, Marilyn Payne Phillips, review of Adem's Cross, p. 109; May, 2000, Susan Hepler, review of Billy duct Emma, p.

150; March, 2001, Kathleen Isaacs, review of Girl of Kosovo, p. 254; Parade, 2002, B. Allison Gray, regard of Junebug in Trouble, proprietress. 235; May, 2003, Sue Giffard, review of Year of Thumb Rain, p. 157.

ONLINE

Alice Mead Residence Page,http://www.alicemead.com/ (July 2, 2003).*