Sharon Creech
Sharon Creech spent nearly two decades in Europe. She knows what it is like to leave home. When she returned each summer to the States she would also have the feeling of leaving home. This casting about to find her home is certainly reflected in her novels. Absolutely Normal Chaos (1995, HarperCollins, $14.95 and $4.95), her first book for young adults, is based on her life in Ohio when she lived in a house on Buxton Road. Sharon noted that Walk Two Moons (1994, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $4.95) was written during a period when she was really pining for America. The protagonist's trip across the states helps her learn about herself and the world. She needed to leave home to expand her perspective.
Chasing Redbird (1997, Harper-Collins, $14.95, $4.95) was drafted before she won the Newbery for Walk Two Moons, but the crush of publicity and the demand for speeches put it on the back burner for awhile. It too is filled with truth about herself and her family.
Bloomability (reviewed front page) relates the growing up of an American girl in a Swiss boarding school. Sharon taught English literature and her husband was the headmaster at a private school. Her kids attended the school., and on one of their vacations, they went to the Alps. She knew then that the sounds, smells, colors and scenes were going to be in a book.
She begins a book by painting the place in words, then brings in friends and family-thus introducing and expanding on the scenes. Her characters are shaped by the place. At this point editing is not important -time will be spent polishing and refining later. In addition, Sharon undertakes more research. In the case of Bloomability she revisited Switzerland and enjoyed the food.
There comes a time about halfway through when she feels that she is writing drivel. She retreats from the world, makes lists of questions and completes the first draft. She lays it aside and catches up with her personal life. Weeks later Sharon reads her manuscript through, noting all the things that must be fixed. She becomes ruthless like an editor. It may take weeks or months until she can read it through without much concern. Now it is ready to go to her editor and after a few more rounds "you the reader are ready to enter her world."
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Visit Sharon at her website at www.sharoncreech.com
Reviews
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Sharon Creech
Mary Lou Finney, 13, is keeping a summer journal for her English class. Letting it all hang out, she describes her noisy, uninhibited but loving family, her first romance, and her nerdy cousin, Carl Ray, who changes the path of her summer. Her efforts to make sense of Homer's Odyssey add depth and delight to the story, especially when she realizes that the epic poem is an odyssey for life. She sees parallels in her own experiences that adds to the comic elements in this original coming of age story. The results are in turn funny, wise, serious, and irreverent. This story is a winner for middle schoolers who may even be motivated to read Homer's classic poem.
1995, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14, $14.95, $14.89, and $4.50.
Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-06-026989-8
ISBN: 0-06-026992-8
ISBN: 0-06-440632-6
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Sharon Creech
Written in the form of a journal by a slightly precocious thirteen year old, Mary Lou, this is the story of a summer and of the protagonist's growth out of childhood. Wacky cousin Carl Ray comes to visit, but is he any wackier than Mary Lou's own family? And what's the mystery surrounding this inheritance that Carl Ray suddenly receives? The journal is peppered with delightful bits of reflection on The Odyssey (Mary Lou's summer required reading), as well as asides such as "pretend this is a play," or "I am getting tired of writing 'I said' and 'he said.' " It all makes for snappy reading, and Mary Lou's family and friends are a likeable cast of characters.
1995, HarperCollins, Ages 9 up, $14.95, $14.89, and $4.50.
Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami
ISBN: 0-06-026989-8
ISBN: 0-06-026992-8
ISBN: 0-06-440632-6
Bloomability
Sharon Creech
Dinnie Doone has spent most of her twelve years living like a gypsy with a n'er do well father, her mother the dreamer, and emotionally upset siblings. She is suddenly pulled from this existence to spend a year at a posh Swiss boarding school run by her aunt and uncle. Switzerland, her international classmates, and her new sense of permanence are a shock to the system. During an idyllic year that any adolescent might covet, Dinnie skis, climbs mountains, and learns to bloom. Creech creates believable characters and great dialogue. She also conveys a nice sense of place-and of Dinnie's role within this place-while trying to work out where she truly belongs.
1998, Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95.
Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-06-026993-6
Chasing Redbird
Sharon Creech
Zinny Taylor is tired of being asked, "Which Taylor are you?" She decides to make her mark in the world by uncovering an old foot trail. As she uncovers the old trail, she works through the pain of losing her Aunt Jessie and lets go of the guilt she felt for surviving the Scarlet Fever that killed her cousin Rose. Throw in a little romance, a healthy dose of sibling rivalry, and a pinch of fear for an uncle who starts chasing after the ghost of his wife, and you have the unique blend of humor, family dynamics, and magic that make this a noteworthy novel.
1997, Harper, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95, $14.89, and $4.95.
Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 0-06-026987-1
ISBN: 0-06-026988-X
ISBN: 0-06-440696-2
Pleasing the Ghost
Sharon Creech
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Newbery award winning author Sharon Creech has a remarkable gift for finding humor in dark places. Her stories teach without preaching and serve as a tool for youngsters dealing with painful situations such as the death of a parent, debilitating strokes and grief. Her young hero, Dennis, is visited by ghosts in this fantasy. Although he longs to converse with the spirit of his dad, Dennis instead is haunted by strangers and a distant uncle, who nonetheless, help him through a very painful time.
1996, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $13.95, $13.89 and $4.50.
Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-06-026985-5
ISBN: 0-06-026986-3
ISBN: 0-06-440686-5
Pleasing the Ghost
Sharon Creech
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Many people say that laughter is the best medicine and Creech certainly takes this to heart. Dennis is frequently visited by ghosts, but not the ghost he wants to see the most-that of his father. Instead, Dennis is visited by the ghost of strangers and his Uncle Arvie. His uncle stays for some time because he wants Dennis to finish the tasks he left undone. This book takes serious and painful situations-death, stroke related speech problems, and the anger involved in grief -and makes them funny. This approach may help young readers who are dealing with these issues to relieve some of their tensions through laughter.
1996, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $13.95, $13.89 and $4.50.
Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 0-06-026985-5
ISBN: 0-06-026986-3
ISBN: 0-06-440686-5
Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
Salamanca Tree Hiddle, 13, believes her mother will return before the tulips bloom. During a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, true originals, Sal relates all that has happened the past year after her mother's sudden departure from home. A story within a story, Sal tells about Phoebe Winterbottom, her charismatic friend, who exaggerates, who believes she is being stalked by a "lunatic," who avoids cholesterol, unless it's her mother's brownies, and whose mother also has left home. Themes of love, life, death, and relationships are at the core of this story which is playful, imaginative, and satisfying. Awarded the 1995 Newbery Medal.
1994, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14, $16.00, $15.89 and $4.50.
Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-06-023334-6
ISBN: 0-06-023337-0
ISBN: 0-06-440517-6
Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
The Newbery Award for best young adult novel is the story of Salamanca Tree Hiddle who is traveling with her odd, but caring grandparents to find her mother and her own healing. By the story's end, she uncovers the truth. Her mother is dead and she has begun a new journey towards acceptance. The committee should be credited for recognizing the beautiful lyricism of the book. The main character is a poetic thirteen year old who feels at odds when her father "pluck[s] her up like a weed"and takes her to Ohio where the "houses were all jammed together like a row of birdhouses." The entire book sparkles with word images, expressed with intelligent metaphor and description. The award could also have been given because Salmanca Hiddle is proud of "the Indian-ness of her blood" in this era that is quick to leap on multi-ethnicity. Despite the lyricism of the writing, poignant themes of acceptance amid change, and interesting characters, the numerous characters and plots will leave young adult readers reeling. Four plots and subplots weave in and out of each other and eccentric characters pop up at every turn in the book. I doubt many children will relate to any of the characters and they might be confused by the preponderance of twists and turns. Only the strongest will persevere in finishing.
1994, Harper Collins, Ages 8 to 13, $16.00, $15.89 and $4.50.
Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-06-023334-6
ISBN: 0-06-023337-0
ISBN: 0-06-440517-6
The Wanderer
Sharon Creech
Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech's latest novel is a multi-layered story that encompasses family drama, mystery and intrigue, and death defying sea adventure. It is also a touching coming of age saga about a girl coming to terms with grief. Thirteen-year-old Sophie is determined to join her three uncles and two cousins on a transatlantic journey aboard the 45-foot sailboat, The Wanderer. Sophie's grandfather, Bompie, awaits the family in England. During their journey, Sophie engages her travel companions with stories from Bompie's childhood. Sophie's anecdotes about Bompie ring true but they have the family puzzled. Sophie has never even met her grandfather-she is an orphan and has only been in the family for a few years. But there is no time to ponder such mysteries-the wave of Sophie's worst nightmare batters the sailboat and for some time the family's very survival is in doubt. The novel is related through the journal entries of Sophie and her thirteen-year-old cousin, Cody, a device that proves to be extremely effective. When the family finally reaches its destination, Sophie is able to gain closure from the tragic events of her early childhood. 2000, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
ISBN: 0-06-027730-0
Added 2000
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