Anna Fienberg
Anna Fienberg grew up in a house filled with books. Her mother was a teacher librarian who relished stories as much as chocolates.
"On Sunday mornings we'd all lie in bed with our books, lost in magical wardrobes, witch's spells, genie's magic... What we were going to read next was just as important in our family as what was for lunch!" says Anna.
Anna started writing stories when she was eight, but never imagined being an author. She studied psychology, fascinated by the dark world of dreams. She gave up counseling after an unfortunate incident with an enraged man and a chair (he missed!), began writing and scored the best job in the world.
"Working for School Magazine was a treat," Anna says. "I couldn't believe you could get paid for sitting back comfortably in your chair, cappuccino in hand, reading over a thousand books a year. Heaven!" Of course, as an editor she also had to write reviews and articles, stories and plays. One of those stories for School Magazine later became her first book.
Anna says reading has always fired her imagination. As a child it showed her that anything was possible. As an adult, she still loves being lost in the world of a story. "The good thing about writing you own stories," she says, "is that you can get lost for days, weeks, lolling around in your egg-stained pajamas, guilt-free because it's your job!"
THE BEGINNING OF TASHI
"Tashi began as a conversation with my mother. She was telling me how, when she was a child, she used to tell whoppers. Creative fibs. Tall stories. And the kids would crowd around, dying to hear the latest tale. We began talking about a character like her - a character who told fantastic stories - and over many cups of tea we cooked up Tashi."
HOW I WRITE
"I write in my head all the time. If I hear something interesting, I underline it in my mind and put exclamation marks around it, trying to remember it for later. News items, conversations, books, dreams, memories - they're all precious gold mines for story ideas. Better still, if I have my notebook with me, I write it down."
For further information on the Tashi series of books or to arrange an interview with Anna Fienberg, please contact Independent Publishers Group, 814 N. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610, (312) 337-0747.
Text provided by the publisher.
Reviews
Borrowed Light
Anna Fienberg
Callisto May divides the human race into stars and moons. Stars make their own light; moons borrow it. Cally is a moon--always trying to please others by putting their wants and needs before her own. Her boyfriend, Tim, is a star like the sun and Cally basks in his light and heat until she is burned. Sixteen and pregnant, she feels alone in the universe. Her mother, unable to work through a secret grief, spends more time "communicating" with the dead than the living. Her father uses business dealings in South Africa to distance himself from his family's problems, and her grandmother, a renowned astrophysicist who infects Cally and her brother Jeremy with a love of astronomy, is wrapped up in her studies and career. Cally consults a doctor by herself and makes the difficult decision to have an abortion. She plans to go to the women's clinic on her own, until her self-absorbed mother foists Jeremy upon her. His disappearance from the clinic forces Cally to confront her dysfunctional family, moving this powerful story to its hopeful ending. 2000, Random House/Delacorte Press, Ages 14 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Ellen R. Braaf
ISBN: 0-385-32758-7
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2001; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Fifteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Children's Books of the Year Awards Honor 2000 Older Readers Australia
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Garden State Teen Book Awards, 2003; New Jersey
Dead Sailors Don't Bite
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Ann James
Suspend your sense of disbelief on the first page and let this book will take you on an unbelievable ride with two young kids who are chaperoning four unruly pirates through 20th century life. The pirates enter mail-in contests, stock up on bargain toothpaste, and kidnap an unkind teacher. Along the way young Boa and Wiggy must find ways to keep the surly pirates out of trouble. Entirely unbelievable, but whimsical and entertaining, Fienberg tells a modern day pirate tale with humor. James' cartoon drawings set the tone for this goofy tale. 1996, Allen & Unwin, Ages 8 to 12, $6.95. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 1-86448-088-2
Horrendo's Curse
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Something bad is about to happen in a small seaside village. Young Horrendo and his friends (boys only) are soon to turn twelve and, as occurs each year, wicked pirates will invade the town and abduct the boys to be slaves aboard the fearsome pirate vessel. With this terrible threat hanging over their heads, the villagers lead a miserable life full of nasty insults and disgusting food. Although Horrendo, the only kind or polite person in the village, has a plan to escape his fate, when he sees his mates being taken away, he decides to join them no matter how awful their future. Fienberg, an Australian author of several prize-winning books, has fashioned a fantasy-adventure novel featuring eccentric villagers, bumbling pirates, a cruel captain, and a resourceful hero. The boys do escape, share a treasure with the pirates, and all (except the captain who has fallen into a smoking volcano) return to the village in triumph. Kim Gamble's pencil sketches, scattered liberally throughout the book, emphasize the more comic aspects of the inept, overweight pirates. The eight-to-twelve set will probably relish the colorful insults and disagreeable details as much as the happy ending where pirates and villagers learn to live together in harmony. It's not Harry Potter, but this lively adventure has its own ambiance and even a touch of magic. 2002, Annick Press, Ages 8 to 12, $18.95. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 1-55037-773-6
Joseph
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Joseph's saga is freely interpreted from the Genesis text and told intimately and informally, as if by a storyteller. His father's favorite, Joseph is characterized warmly as a person with a quick smile, shining eyes, and an amazing ability to interpret dreams, which he cannot help sharing with his family, even though his dreams show him ruling over everyone. His envious brothers decide to sell him secretly into slavery in Egypt. Once there, he flourishes until his master Potiphar's wife, furious that Joseph has scorned her advances, causes his own imprisonment, where he continues to interpret dreams. Fortunately, this leads to his summons by Pharoah, his interpretation of the ruler's puzzling nightmares, his elevation to governor of the entire kingdom, and his rescue of his family from starvation. The illustrations are done in oils on paper and arranged in an interesting variety of sizes and shapes. They are painted in a dreamy folk art style, showing the brothers bearded and glowering and Joseph slender and elegant. The colors are unusually muted so that even the brilliant African sun is rendered as a subdued coppery glow. All together, the familiar tale is presented in a fresh and readable manner. 2001, Allen & Unwin, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Patricia Dole
ISBN: 1-86448-173-0
ISBN: 1-86448-170-6
Minton Goes Driving
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Minton is an adventure-loving, spotty salamander. He loves things that move--boats, planes, cars and trucks. In this book Minton finds just what he needs to make a cute little car. He stays up all night creating his dream machine. The next day Minton takes his friends Bouncer and Turtle out to explore the city. These prove to be the rides of a lifetime. The last page features instructions for making a Minton car of your very own out of everyday kitchen materials such as margarine tubs, corks and skewers. Written by Anna Fienberg, one of Australia's most popular children's authors, this story is the third book in the "Minton" series. 1999, Allen & Unwin, Ages 3 to 8, $6.95. Reviewer: Julie Eick Granchelli
ISBN: 1-86448-594-9
Minton Goes Flying
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Minton, a salamander, is walking along the shore, having decided to make an aeroplane. He finds an empty soda bottle, though he never names it. The text says he has found what he needs, and that it will be the body of his plane. His friend Turtle happens along and tells him that if he gets struck by lightning, he will explode. The third character, Bouncer the acrobat, comes along with a triangle that she found under a berry bush. What it is made of, the reader is not told. Minton decides it will be the tail of the plane, which makes Bouncer very happy because she cannot wait to get back to the circus and off this island. What island? What circus? How did she get there? How did she meet the talking salamander and turtle? Where did they come from? These questions are not answered in this book, but are answered in the first of the series, Minton Goes Sailing, which is an offshoot of The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived. Picture books should not depend on the reader's familiarity with other titles in order to understand the plot. Instructions at the end tell how to make Minton's plane. The illustrations are bright and cheerful. 1998, Allen & Unwin, Ages 4 to 6, $6.95. Reviewer: Candace Deisley
ISBN: 1-86448-593-0
Minton Goes Trucking
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Minton, which is as far as I can tell is a gecko, is determined to get a job at the building site. But the foreman has informed him that if he wants to work there, he will need a dump truck. Minton is quite innovative and quickly figures out how he can get a dump truck. His friend Turtle scoffs at Minton, since Minton came up with his plan by remembering a dream he had the night before. But Minton is determined and heads out early in the morning to collect the supplies he needs. He borrows a paper clip from the Beetle Circus, a wooden skewer from his toolbox, and constructs a dumping lever that works perfectly. Turtle and Minton head off to the construction site and are quickly hired by the foreman. Minton and Turtle are told to create castles from a giant sand heap. They work all afternoon, making skyscraper sand castles with lakes, rivers, islands and bridges. The illustrations are colorful and fun and emphasize the actions taking place on each page. Also included are directions for making a miniature dump truck using margarine tubs, a paperclip and skewers. 1999, Allen & Unwin, Ages 3 to 7, $6.95. Reviewer: Danielle Williams
ISBN: 1-86448-595-7
Pirate Trouble for Wiggy and Boa
Anna Fienberg
Illustrated by Ann James
Boadicea and Wiggy have been friends forever. They live on the same street, go to the same school and are in the same class. Boadicea, Boa for short, lives with her grandfather, a retired admiral who has lived on ships for many years and still considers himself the captain and Boa part of his crew. Wiggy lives down the street with his mother and father, the musicians. Wiggy's house is always in a state of disruption, and Boa's house is always in a state of confusion. Boa's grandfather has told her about his pirating days, and how he sent bad pirates to a deserted island for their punishment. When Boa's class begins to study pirates, Boa rummages through her grandfather's things to find something special for her class. Boa has no idea that the journal she has found and shares with Wiggy will begin an adventure. This is an excellent adventure book for reading aloud to young readers. Its short chapters and high adventure will be ideal for story time. 1996 (orig. 1988), A Little Ark Book/Allen & Unwin, Ages 8 to 12, $6.95. Reviewer: Joyce Rice
ISBN: 1-86448-253-2
Tashi
Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
In this first volume of the "Australian Easy-to-Read" series, Jack tells his parents about his exciting new friend, an elf-like boy named Tashi, who has some harrowing but satisfying adventures with a dragon. The many black and white drawings should encourage beginning readers who are just beginning to attempt slightly longer books. 1995, Little Ark, Ages 5 to 9, $4.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 1-86373-806-1
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Children's Books of the Year Awards Short List 1996 Younger Readers Australia
Tashi and the Ghosts
Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
It's a little hard getting into this Australian book, due to its story-within-a-story, a fanciful creature named Tashi, and the disconcerting use of single quotes where we use double. I was also taken aback by finding black and white illustrations inside this color-cover paperback. After all's said and done, though, the story itself is cute and does expose one to a slice of down-under life. 1997, Allen & Unwin/Little Ark, Ages 5 to 8, $4.95. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
ISBN: 1-86448-090-4
Tashi and the Haunted House
Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illustrated by Kim Gamble
Tashi spins wonderful tales firmly planted in the ordinary but bearing fruit in places wild and fantastic. In Haunted House Tashi tells two stories. The first is about an abandoned house and a clever plan to dupe the bad guys. The second story pits the hero, Tashi, against some drooling demons. Both are told to his gathered, eccentric family who provide comic relief between adventures. Authors Anna and Barbara Fienberg and illustrator Kim Gamble weave this text with confidence and skill. They need not apologize for the brevity of the book or the simple language of the text. All is presented with grace and charm that will completely win over any middle reader, parent, or teacher. This middle reader market is so shamefully overlooked and underestimated. Tashi eloquently speaks to this reader about things like self-confidence, problem solving and intelligence. Illustrations are well placed and plentiful leaving just enough room for imagination. Haunted House will leave the reader smiling and passing it along to friends. The only other thing to do after reading "Tashi" is to go to the book store and buy the rest of the series. 2002, Allen & Unwin, Ages 6 to 12, $5.95. Reviewer: Elizabeth Colbroth
ISBN: 1-86508-840-4
The Witch in the Lake
Anna Fienberg
Leo's small Italian village is torn between the Renaissance enlightenment of nearby Florence and the persistent superstitions of a distant past, urging children to come home after dark and scaring them with tales of a menacing supernatural being that dwells in the lake. Leo himself, who has the traits of a wizard, asks his father Marco to tell him about the powerful wizards in his family. Marco, though, has been betrayed by his own magical powers, having been unable to use them to save two young women from death. Now, he is a pure rationalist, studying the works of Leonardo da Vinci and learning physiology to discover scientific causes and treatments. When Marco himself falls ill and Leo's dear friend Merilee is spirited away by her evil aunt, Leo must rely on his growing magical powers to rescue his friend and discover the dark secrets in his own family's past. The juxtaposition of a detailed Renaissance setting with otherworldly elements is an interesting one, but unfortunately, neither is sustained consistently. The witch in the lake, in particular, after being introduced in a dramatic fashion at the beginning of the story, remains virtually hidden until the overly long climax at the novel's end, thereby robbing the narrative of the full potential for building suspense. 2002, Annick Press, Ages 10 to 14, $7.95. Reviewer: Norah Piehl
ISBN: 1-55037-723-X
ISBN: 1-55037-722-1
Added 07/01/03
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