Synopses & Reviews
The colorful boyhood of a popular author comes to life in this personal account
Imagine learning from a nosy classmate that your mother is having yet another baby. To Ralphs classmates, news of one more Fletcher baby is just “scuttlebutt.” But for Ralph, the oldest of nine, being part of a large family means more kids to join in the fun—from making tripods in the woods and “snicking” up the rug to raising chicks and even discovering a meteor (well, maybe). It doesnt feel like theres life beyond Marshfield, Massachusetts. Then one day Dads new job moves the family to Chicago, and theres so much Ralph has to leave behind. In this humorous and captivating memoir, Ralph Fletcher traces the roots of his storytelling.
Review
“Written with sagacious eloquence and gentle humor, this work stands strong in the ranks of authors memoirs and autobiographies.” —School Library Journal
“Boisterously good times . . . For readers who enjoy imagining what it was like to be a kid in days of yore, this has a certain charm.” —Booklist
“Charming . . . Sensitive glimpses of a close-knit, traditional family.” —VOYA
“This scrapbook of family moments is an amusing, charming and heartwarming memoir about a close family—close in terms of both small house space and their feelings for each other. A snapshot of small-world life that will open readers eyes to the bonds of a peerless time and simpler lifestyle.” —Kirkus Reviews
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
and#160;
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
Ralph Fletcher is the author of a wide range of books for young readers from picture books through novels. He also teaches workshops on poetry and writing. Mr. Fletcher lives with his family in Lee, New Hampshire.