Marty loves sharing stories of America's past with young readers. She grew up in Springfield, Missouri, "the Queen City of the Ozarks." As a child, she loved visiting her grandparents who lived in the Mississippi river town of Hannibal, the boyhood home of Mark Twain. While there she would attend the annual summer festival called "Tom Sawyer Days." That literary tribute taught her about the power of books and how they can stick in people's minds.
Marty's desire for a horse and her interest in writing came together when she was six years old. She wrote a book, The Black and Whit Pony, which is proof that correct spelling is not a requirement for creativity, though it is certainly something to be desired.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies at Mount Holyoke College. History has remained one of her passions, so it is not surprising that her books focus on fascinating aspects of American history.
Selected Reviews of Marty's Books
The Schoolchildren's Blizzard
Marty Rhodes Figley
Illustrated by Shelly O. Haas
Whether children attend schools that close with the first flurry or get to school no matter how much snow is on the ground, they will enjoy and appreciate the story of the blizzard that caved in the roof of the school. There really was just such a blizzard in central Nebraska in 1888. The school was a small building made of sod. The wind was simply too strong for the tiny structure on that January day, so when the blizzard came inside, the young teacher tied all the children to a rope and they walked half a harrowing mile to her home. The author's note carefully explains what was true (the blizzard and the teacher) and what the author imagined (Sarah and Annie, the main children in the story).This is an excellent story that introduces the newest readers to historical fiction while giving them a bit of danger and suspense in the lives of realistic, congenial characters with whom they can identify. The softly colored illustrations capture well the emotions, the schoolhouse atmosphere and that vast Nebraska prairie under sun and snow. 2004, Carolrhoda Books, $21.27. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature.
Washington Is Burning
Marty Rhodes Figley
Illustrated by Craig Orback
This book recounts a major event of the War of 1812 from the point of view of teenage African American slave Paul Jennings, a personal servant to President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison. The story tells of his experiences from late August to mid-September 1814, climaxing on August 24, when the White House was evacuated and the British set fire to the city of Washington. The book does not try to do an overview of the entire war, though it does offer simple background information. Instead, this book brings one important episode vividly to life, in language children can read themselves. The text includes Paul's observations of the White House interior, details of his domestic chores, and eventually descriptions of his efforts and Dolley Madison's efforts to save various items from the house, including the portrait of George Washington and the White House silver. An "Afterword" includes fascinating information about the life of Paul Jennings, a real historical figure who gained his freedom as an adult and wrote a memoir of life with the Madisons. The book combines his account with accounts of the same events recorded by Dolley Madison and another White House servant. Students may be confused at some points by references to the first lady as "Dolley" and "Mrs. Madison" on the same page. An editorial choice was made to start each sentence flush with the page margin instead of using indents and paragraphs; sentences are short and easy to understand. Engaging illustrations dramatize and complement the text. The title is part of the "On My Own" series of history books from this publisher. 2006, Millbrook Press, $23.93. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: J. H. Diehl (Children's Literature).
Saving the Liberty Bell
Marty Rhodes Figley
Illustrated by Kevin Lepp
In an easy-to-read format, this book relates how John Mickley and his son Johnny smuggled the Liberty Bell, then called "Old Independence," out of Philadelphia as the British approached in 1777. Drawing well on historical material, the story imagines that young Johnny took over the driving of the hay wagon while his father pretended to sleep to draw the attention of patrolling British soldiers away from the man and to the sleepy farmboy in his farm wagon. The next day when the axle of the wagon broke, the bell had to be quickly transferred to Frederick Leaser's wagon to get to Northampton Town (now Allentown) and the boy must have suffered deep disappointment in not being able to complete the journey. But the author has Johnny visiting the church to view the bell hidden under the floorboards and safe from the British. This is a fitting ending because, as the text states, one person couldn't do what everyone working together could do--save the bell, and by inference, free the country. It's a stirring story aptly illustrated in paintings that show the solid farm boy persevering through the night and standing proudly with his father's arm around him at the end. An afterword explains how the author used facts to bolster this part of the American Revolutionary saga. 2004, Carolrhoda Books, $23.93. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Also available in Spanish: Salvar a la Campana de la Libertad
The Story Behind the Books
Marty tailors her program for each audience. Using humor to enliven her talk, she tells children how she became a writer and urges them to discover their writer within. She interacts with the students in talking about history and historical fiction, and their similarities and differences. She discusses her research techniques and the wonder of primary sources. She shares why she chose to write the books she did and gives tips to the children on where to find their own ideas. She shows her very messy brainstorming pages, rough drafts, edited pages, and proofs to help explain how a book is created. An interactive question and answer session follows her talk. Throughout her presentation she strives to dispel the mystery of writing and to encourage and inspire children to write.
Marty will conduct up to two presentations in a day for students in grades 2 and 3. She prefers groups of two to three classrooms, or a maximum of 90 students per presentation. Her presentations last approximately 50 minutes.
Costs: $350 for one presentation; $500 for two back-to-back presentations in the Washington, DC area; fees negotiable for longer sessions, conferences and presentations to adults, and out of town appearances; travel, lodging and other expenses to be paid by the booking organization.
To learn more about Marty and her publications please visit www.martyrhodesfigley.com.
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