Connie Porter
"I wanted children to see African-American people as part of strong, loving families, caught up in slavery, doing what they had to do to survive," says Connie Porter, author of the six books about Addy Walker, a character from The American Girls Collection®. Through Addy's stories, Ms. Porter shows the determination of a young African-American girl who escapes from slavery during the Civil War era and struggles to reunite.
In 1993, over 15,000 people in four cities flocked to bookstores, libraries, and schools to meet Ms. Porter on her first author tour with the Addy books. That same year, Publishers Weekly listed Meet Addy as the tenth best-selling new children's book of 1993, and booksellers voted the Addy series "Best Children's Series of 1993" in the publication's annual Cuffie awards.
Ms. Porter's first adult novel, All-Bright Court, was selected by the American Library Association as one of the "Best Books of 1991" and by The New York Times as one of its "Notable Books of 1991." The Times commented that the book's emotional power "resides in (Porter's) finely rendered characters, people who come alive for the reader as individuals one has known firsthand."
In 1995, Ms. Porter was named the Regional Winner in Granta magazine's contest, "Best Writers in America Under 40."
Ms. Porter received her bachelor of arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1981 and her Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1987. She has taught creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Connie Porter lives in Virginia, where she is currently working on another adult novel.
Reviews
Addy Learns a Lesson
Connie Porter
Illustrated by Melodye Rosales
Continuing the story of Addy, Porter has the young girl and her mother arrive in bustling Philadelphia. At school for the first time, Addy learns to read and write. She is a determined young girl who lives amid turbulent times. When kids finish this story, they will want to know more about this courageous African-American girl and the historical period. 1993, Pleasant Company, Ages 7 up, $12.95 and $5.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 1-56247-078-7
ISBN: 1-56247-077-9
Addy's Boxed Set
Connie Porter
Illustrated by Melodye Rosales
The Pleasant Company's American Girls Collection brings history alive with strong female protagonists in slender illustrated books for beginning novel readers. Devoted fans will happily welcome the new heroine, Addy. Connie Porter helps young readers envision the 1864 enslavement of Addy with the help of illustrations by Melodye Rosales that bring out the drama, warmth, and emotional tone. In Meet Addy, we are introduced to Addy. She is caring, resourceful, and her love of and belief in family support her through the trials of seeing her father and brother sold, the cruelty of an overseer, and leaving her adored baby sister behind when she and her mother run away. Recommended for a reader old enough to handle the story's message, the book lends itself to reading out loud where it can create a perfect beginning for meaningful family discussions about everything from the bonds of family to the bonds of slavery. Addy Learns A Lesson begins after Addy and her mother have reached the bustling city of Philadelphia and freedom. Addy triumphs against conflicting friendships, economic survival, and school. The struggle against poverty continues in Addy's Surprise, but there is the balance of loving friends, appreciation of their bettering life, and finally a warm reunion with Poppa. Also in the series are: Happy Birthday, Addy, in which Addy claims a birthday; Addy Saves the Day set after the Civil War, and Changes for Addy in which the long struggle to reunite Addy's family ends. 1994, Pleasant Company, Ages 8 to 12, $34.95 and $74.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 1-56247-087-6
ISBN: 1-56247-088-4
High Hopes for Addy
Connie Porter
Illustrations by John Thompson and Dahl Taylor
Addy discovers she has been nominated to attend the Institute for Colored Youth, a teaching school for young, black school children. She is thrilled, but fears telling her family because of the high cost and her family's plans to move into a more expensive home. Addy's younger sister Esther, who always interferes with Addy's plans, ends up saving her big sister's day by secretly informing the family of Addy's opportunity. Addy surprisingly learns that her family not only knows about the school, but is also willing to sacrifice their new home to send her to the Institute. After the story is told, a separate section of the book explains how the Institute for Colored Youth was started and what the Institute did for African-Americans. A final section provides step by step instructions and illustrations on making your own paper kite like the one Addy did in the story. This informative book targets a historic time period that will especially interest young girls who want to know more about post civil war black history. It is part of "The American Girls Collection" series. 1999, Pleasant Company Publications, Ages 7 up, $3.95. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill
ISBN: 1-56247-765-X
Meet Addy
Connie Porter
Illustrated by Melodye Rosales
Pleasant Company launches their strongest female protagonist yet in Meet Addy, a book for emerging readers. The author brings the 1864 slave world of Addy vividly alive with great writing, strong situations and the feelings of a loving family torn apart by slavery's bonds. Addy is caring, resourceful, and her love of and belief in family supports her through all trials. You may find that when your children finish this book they will look around hungrily for a sequel. 1993, Pleasant Company, Ages 7 to 11, $12.95 and $5.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 1-56247-076-0
ISBN: 1-56247-075-2
Added 1999
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