Ann Howard Creel
Her first book, Water at the Blue Earth, a historical fiction novel, won the Colorado Book Award in 1999. A Ceiling of Stars, her second novel and part of the AG Fiction line from American Girl, won the 1999 Pleasant T. Rowland Prize for Fiction. The idea for A Ceiling of Stars came while Ms. Creel was volunteering at a shelter for homeless and street youth, where she helped prepare and serve meals. Ms. Creel explains, "The strength of the young people working their way off the streets and being robbed of their childhood touched my heart deeply and inspired me to write the story."
Her latest novel, Nowhere, Now Here, is also part of American Girl's AG Fiction line. Ms. Creel wrote this story when she was fairly new to Colorado. "Even though I love it here now, I had always lived in coastal areas and desperately missed the ocean," she says. "I also went to an alpaca show and was struck by the animal's gentle nature while interacting with kids-they seemed like such a perfect match. Those feelings of accepting a new landscape and adjusting to a new life, along with my newly discovered interest in alpacas, gave me the idea for this book."
Ms. Creel grew up in Houston, Texas, and received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and her Master's degree from California State University. Today, when she isn't writing, Ms. Creel works part-time as a hospice nurse and nurse educator.
Ms. Creel lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, three sons, two dogs, and a cat. She recently finished her first adult book entitled The Magic of Ordinary Days.
Reviews
A Ceiling Of Stars
Ann Howard Creel
Creel has created a poignant and positive first person account of a twelve-year-old girl's successful struggle to find her mother, reconcile herself to her father's untimely death, while making herself a life on the streets of a large city. From June 20 to November 2, readers share Vivien's diary that includes letters to an aunt and grandmother. Without ignoring sadness and opportunistic cruelty, Creel makes clear the value of seeing life half full, and being hopeful. Her account details the kindness and mental illness of the street people, the caring competence of the social workers, and leaves no doubt that a successful outcome demands good sense, spirit, and the guidance of both these groups. 1999, American Girl/Pleasant Co, Ages 10 up, $4.76 and $7.96. . Reviewer: Carolyn Dennette Michaels
ISBN: 1-56247-753-6
ISBN: 1-56247-848-6
Nowhere, Now Here
Ann Howard Creel
Laney loves the ocean and is quite happy in her upscale Florida home with her perfect older sister, Angela, and her professional parents. So, when her parents suddenly sell their home and buy a run-down alpaca ranch in rural Eastern Colorado, Laney is overcome with grief and disbelief. How that denial and sadness turn into acceptance, understanding, and even genuine enjoyment make for satisfying and compelling reading. Laney's gradual changes are helped along the way by the unique characters she meets and befriends, the space her wise and loving parents give her to grow in her own ways, the dangers and indignities she overcomes, and the environment itself which, despite its differences from her beloved ocean, has a magnetism and a mystery all its own. The language in this masterfully written book is at once poetic, unselfconscious, and immediate. The story is, too. Too bad it's potential audience has been cut in half by a cover which has flags saying "American Girl" and "For Older Girls" all over it. 2000, Pleasant Company Publications, Ages 10 up, $12.95 and $5.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh
ISBN: 1-58485-200-3
ISBN: 1-58485-199-6
Water at the Blue Earth
Ann Howard Creel
&bnsp; When 12-year-old Wren Taylor moves west in 1854 to live at Fort Massachusetts, in what is now southwest Colorado, she had to make many adjustment to her new surroundings and life-style. Since her physician father and pregnant mother were often occupied with their own work and concerns, Wren often felt lonely and alienated from the mostly unfriendly children in her new, one-room school. This changed as Wren met and gradually overcame her prejudices to become friends with Luther, a blind Ute student, who taught her that there are many ways to see and appreciate her new environment. When she hears that soldiers are preparing to attack Luther's peaceful band, she is forced to make a difficult and dangerous decision. The novel is written in the first person, from Wren's point of view, using a rather formal but poetic style. A Foreword and Author's Note on the historical background and a Further Reading section are included. 1998, Roberts Rinehart, Ages 10 to 14, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 1-57098-209-0
Added 2000
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