Synopses & Reviews
Few historical figures have captured the public imagination as completely as Sigmund Freud. At a time when many ailments of the mind were treated with soothing baths or dangerous electroshock therapy, Freud initiated a novel practice: he simply listened to his patients. He called his method of treatment psychoanalysis, or the talking cure.” Though the validity of Freuds theories is still widely debated, there is little doubt that his contributions to the study of the mind were invaluable. In this compelling, even-handed biography, Catherine Reef explains Freuds groundbreaking theories and methods and shows how Freudian thought has affected our culture, changing the way we think about everything from art and literature to raising children. Beautiful archival family photographs round out this intimate look at a fascinating man. Endnotes, bibliography, index.
Review
"The handsome design makes the hard facts accessible
.many readers will use the meticulous endnotes. A must for history collections." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"Taking care to explain the prejudice and promise that relocation held, the foundations of this seldom-explored topic are readily understood." School Library Journal
"Reef is. . .skillful. A well-selected gallery of maps, period lithographs, and captioned photos enhance the presentation." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
". . . an engrossing look for . . . all ages at both a continent and a chapter of American history too often ignored." --Ruminator Review Ruminator Review
"An unbiased, journalistic style...award-winning author...photographs...add interest...fills a void in African-American history collections and is highly recommended." VOYA (VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES) VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Review
a JLG selection "Along with extensive details of Austenand#8217;s family. . .Reef deftly sets the biographical facts onto a larger cultural and historical canvas that will give readers a much deeper understanding of Austenand#8217;s novels, and well-chosen images, from period paintings and photos to contemporary film stills, add even more context."and#8212;Booklist, starred review "Perhaps this work will lead readers to Jane Austen and imaginatively apply the facts of the author's life to the novelsand#8212;or vice-versa."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Review
Orphanages and other homes for children have long fueled the imaginations and fantasies of young people. In the first book of its kind, award-winning nonfiction author Catherine Reef uncovers the true history of orphanages, revealing what it was like to eat, sleep, study, and play in such institutions, why children were sent to live there in the first place (not always because their parents were dead), what happened to them after they left, and more. Carefully researched and vividly brought to life through accessible writing, first-hand accounts, and more than 70 compelling archival photographs and prints, this intriguing piece of our countrys history should satisfy all curiosity seekers. Endnotes, bibliography, index."The highly readable text gives readers a powerful glimpse into the living conditions of these orphans" KIRKUS REVIEWS Kirkus Reviews
"Intensely dramatic history...exhaustive detail...thoroughly documented...stirring photos and historic prints...there's a lot to talk about here." BOOKLIST Booklist, ALA
"A striking assortment of archival photographs and informative captions...carefully researched and sourced...a thorough overview." BCCB Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[A] thoroughly researched history...[a]fascinating account. An important historical resource for public and school libraries." SLJ, starred School Library Journal, Starred
"Exhaustively detailed...attractively designed...offers a perceptive look at American society's evolving views of childhood." HORN BOOK Horn Book
"Reef presents a balanced picture...fascinating, disturbing, with dozens of heartbreaking photographs of lost children..." VOYA VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Review
and#8220;[A] perceptive, captivating biography of one of the twentieth centuryand#8217;s most influential writers. . . . Teens jaded by too much classroom analysis of
The Old Man and the Sea and Hemingwayand#8217;s short stories will come away from Reefand#8217;s thorough, skillfully constructed biography with fresh interest in and appreciation for this American legend.and#8221;and#8212;
Booklist, STARRED review
and#8220;Reef creates a memorable portrait of the writer and his times, and even readers too young for most of Hemingwayand#8217;s oeuvre will enjoy armchair traveling to the bullfights in Spain. . . . Along the way, they will gain a sense of the writer and his times and will even pick up some writing tips, including Hemingwayand#8217;s insistence on simple, declarative sentences. The volume is attractively designed with well-chosen photographs, captions that add personality to the text, solid documentation and judicious use of quotations.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;This engaging and detailed biography will be valued for its accessible style and honest portrayal of one of America's icons. Reef's account of Hemingway's life is riveting and unglamorized.and#8221;and#8212;School Library Journal and#8220;An accessible and entertaining look at an American icon.and#8221;and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#8217;s Books
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Review
"[A] compelling, thoroughly researched survey of Cummings's fascinating life...that will speak directly to teens." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"An excellent resource for students of the poet's literary works, this is also a solid example of literary biography." School Library Journal, Starred
"Careful research and judicious quoting allows Cummings to speak for himself and his contemporaries to speak upon him." (starred review) Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A cogent biography weaves life and poetry together for an appreciative look at the unconventional and exacting artist." Kirkus Reviews
"Cummings's life reads like a romantic adventure, though Reef takes care to include his darker moments of conflict." Horn Book
"Black-and-white photographs vivify the facts, while the spacious format gives Cummings's words room to spread out." Horn Book Guide, Pointer
Review
"Romance and heartache and doom, oh my! This beautifully written and researched accountand#160;. . . and#160;reads like a novel, with rich and evocative language." and#8212;
The New York Times Book Review"For readers discovering the wonder of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, this collective biography of the Brontand#235; family fills in fascinating detail of their personal and public lives . . .and#160;[a] stirring biography."
and#8212;Booklist, starred reviewand#160;
"Gracefully plotted, carefully researched . . . A solid and captivating look at these remarkable pioneers of modern fiction."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"A detail-rich look at the lives of theand#160;Brontand#235; sisters, whose work shocked, entertained, and provoked the mindsand#160;of their Victorian audiences.and#160;. . . . A comprehensive introduction to the authors behind some of the most-studied novels in English literature."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"For anyone who has ever loved the romantic yet melancholy Heathcliff or the determined Jane Eyre, this book belongs on your shelf."
and#8212;The Huffington Post
"This biography for middle-schoolers introduces a fascinating, close-knit family with lively imaginations who liked nothing better than to run free on the moors that surrounded their home and make up stories and poems about imaginary kingdoms."
and#8212;Bulletinand#160;of the Center for Children's Books
"If you're in search of a readable, yet detailed, biography of the Bronte sisters, then look no further than Reef's account, an ideal supplement to any student's reading of the Bronte classics."
and#8212;EW.com
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Review
"In this captivating portrait of the restless, versatile Steinbeck, Reef follows up her stellar Walt Whitman by illuminating the life and work of another wayward icon of the American cultural scene." Kirkus Reviews with Pointers
Review
"Reef makes it clear that although Freud's individual theories mattered greatly, they were less important than his leading us to new ways of looking at ourselves." Booklist, ALA
Reef's piercing biography deftly interprets the life of the father of psychoanalysis and one of the most influential men of the 20th century. . . The text hits controversy head-on. . . Reef distills Freud's theories into comprehensible descriptions and combines a wealth if primary source material and idiosyncratic details to demonstrate his intellect, character and personality.
Publishers Weekly, Starred
Skillfully, Catherine Reef weaves the developing theories of the first psychoanalyst into a chronological report of his eventful life, setting both in the political and social currents of his era. . . .Reef depicts a complex, brillant, and humane man whothough he had evidently been a tyrannical childbecame a devoted, well-loved colleague, husband, and parent. With admirable clarity, she presents both his seminal ideas and the objections, refinements, and alternatives to them that are still debated.
Horn Book, Starred
Quotations from others about him and black-and-white photographs provide an image of Freud not only as a great thinker, but also as a loving devoted father and husband. Reef's descriptions of his struggle to see his ideas accepted, his willingness to experiment with new theories, and his writing literally until he died clearly convey a picture of an indefatiguable spirit with a passion and zest for every facet of life.
School Library Journal
Effective use of personal details that reveal Freud's intellect, emotions, and personality, plus photos of his family, friends, and professional life, make this book rich and visually appealing.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
null Children's Books: 100 Titles NYPL
Synopsis
In the early 19th century, the American Colonization Society was formed with the sole intent of creating a colony for free blacks and former slaves. Both blacks and whites took passionate stands either for or against this proposal. Despite the controversy, the first group of settlers landed on the west coast of Africa in 1822. They faced numerous problems arising from the unfamiliar climate, hostile encounters with the indigenous people, and the failure of other nations to recognize their independence, but they managed to build a nation, naming it Liberia, for liberty. Today, partly because of these difficult beginnings, Liberia is a country plagued by unrest.
In this accessible and well-written book, award-winning author Catherine Reef presents a significant but as of yet relatively unexplored chapter in African American history. Her account is filled with excerpts from diaries and letters of the settlers and richly illustrated with period photographs and prints, many of which have never been published before. Photo gallery, endnotes, bibliography, index.
Synopsis
A photobiography of John Steinbeck, covering his life and writing career, with excerpts from his works.
Synopsis
An introduction to the life and work of one of the most significant and notorious American writers of the 20th century.
Ernest Hemingway's literary status alone makes him worthy of a biography. In addition, his life reads like a suspense storyand#151;it's full of action, romance, heartbreak, machismo, mishaps, celebrity, and tragedy. He had first-hand experience of several historic events of the last century, and he rubbed elbows with many other notable writers and intellectual greats of our time. Though his reputation has weathered ups and downs, his status as an American icon remains untouchable. Here, in the only biography available to young people, Catherine Reef introduces readers to Hemingway's work, with a focus on his themes and writing styles and his place in the history of American fiction, and examines writers who influenced him and those he later influenced.
Synopsis
Jane Austen novels have experienced a resurgence of popularity in the past half century, particularly among young people. She has hoards of devoted fans, and it seems that every year there is a new adaptation of her work, life, and characters. In this highly readable book, Catherine Reef explores the mystery that is Jane Austen, beginning by tantalizing readers with passages from Austen's last, unfinished novel. She sets the stage for Jane's own story with rich details of early 19th-century society life in England, and reveals particulars about Jane's close-knit family, her experiences, and personality. She provides speculation on Austen's own romantic foibles and lost true loves. Throughout Reef includes commentary of Austen's six published novels. At last young readers have a biography on one of their most beloved writers!
Synopsis
Jane Austenand#8217;s popularity never seems to fade. She has hordes of devoted fans, and there have been numerous adaptations of her life and work. But who was Jane Austen? The writer herself has long remained a mystery. And despite the resonance her work continues to have for teens, there has never been a young adult trade biography on Austen.and#160;
Catherine Reef changes that with this highly readable account. She takes an intimate peek at Austenand#8217;s life and innermost feelings, interweaving her narrative with well-crafted digests of each of Austenand#8217;s published novels. The end result is a book that is almost as much fun to read as Janeand#8217;s own workand#8212;and truly a life revealed. Includes bibliography and index.
and#160;
Synopsis
Catherine Reef takes an intimate peek at Austenand#8217;s life and innermost feelings, interweaving her narrative with well-crafted digests of each of Austenand#8217;s published novels. The end result is a book that is almost as much fun to read as Janeand#8217;s own workand#8212;and truly a life revealed. Includes bibliography and index.
Synopsis
Even before his groundbreaking style helped change the landscape of American poetry, E. E. Cummings was going against the grain. Defying the traditionalists of the early 20th century, Cummings lived a life devoted to the shifting archetypes of art and literature, and wrote some of the most celebrated poetry of the modern era. Nearly a century after his first works were published, E. E. Cummings is still inspiring readers. Noted nonfiction writer Catherine Reef provides a well-rounded portrait of Cummings while examining the culture in which he lived as he developed his craft. Serving as both an exploration of his rich and sensational life as well as a foundation from which readers can learn about his work, this comprehensive biography includes Cummingsand#8217;s original sketches and paintings, quotes from friends and family, photographs, and the poetry of Cummings and his peers. Bibliography, endnotes, index.
Synopsis
After exploring the world of Jane Austen, Catherine Reef now turns her attention to the tragically short but utterlyand#160;fascinatingand#160;lives of the Brontand#235; sisters--Charlotte (author of Jane Eyre),and#160;Emily (Wuthering Heights), and Anne (Agnes Grey).and#160;Aand#160;biography asand#160;gothic and fun to read as any of the Brontand#235; novels.and#160;Includes bibliography, notes,and#160;and index. and#160;
Synopsis
The Brontand#235; sisters are among the most beloved writers of all time, best known for their classic nineteenth-century novels Jane Eyre (Charlotte), Wuthering Heights (Emily), and Agnes Grey (Anne). In this sometimes heartbreaking young adult biography, Catherine Reef explores the turbulent lives of these literary siblings and the oppressive times in which they lived. Brontand#235; fans will also revel in the insights into their favorite novels, the plethora of poetry, and the outstanding collection of more than sixty black-and-white archival images. A powerful testimony to the life of the mind. (Endnotes, bibliography, index.)
About the Author
Ernest Hemingway: A Writer's Life•A Golden Kite Honor Book
"[A] perceptive, captivating biography of one of the 20th centurys most influential writers. . . . Teens jaded by too much classroom analysis . . . will come away from Reefs thorough, skillfully constructed biography with fresh interest in and appreciation for this American legend."--Booklist, starred review
E.E. Cummings: A Poet's Life
• Best Book for Young Adults
• A JLG Premier Selection
"An engaging and informative chronicle of the life of this talented and unconventional artist. . . . A high-quality effort. --School Library Journal, starred review
"A clear, engaging portrait of a poet whose refusal to write and live according to convention will endear him to teens." Booklist, starred review
Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of the Mind
•Sydney Taylor Award
"[A] piercing biography. . . .Reef distills Freud's theories into comprehensible descriptions and combines a wealth of primary source material and idiosyncratic details to demonstrate his intellect, character and personality." --Publishers Weekly, starred review " With admirable clarity, [Catherine Reef] presents both [Freud's] seminal ideas and the objections, refinements, and alternatives to them that are still debated." --Horn Book, starred review
Walt Whitman
"An absorbing, honest, and highly informative portrait." --School Library Journal, starred review
John Steinbeck
"This thoughtful story, supplemented by more than 70 black-and-white photos, is as nonjudgmental and upbeat as Steinbeck himself strove to be, and an excellent introductory work." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[A] captivating portrait of the restless, versatile Steinbeck." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review