Synopses & Reviews
When Charles S. Stratton was born in 1838, he was a large baby, perfect in every way. But then he stopped growing. At age four, though a happy and mischievous child, he was just over two feet tall and weighed only fifteen poundsand#151;the exact same size he had been as a seven-month-old baby. It was then that the notorious showman P.T. Barnum dubbed him Tom Thumb and put him on display, touring him around the world as a curiosity.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Aand#160;natural performer, Charley became enormously popular and wealthy, more so than any other performer before him. In this spirited biographyand#151;the first on its subjectand#151;George Sullivan recounts the fascinating adventures of Tom Thumb, and raises challenging questions about what constitutes exploitationand#151;both in the 19th century and today.
Review
"Well organized and clearly written, this solid biography offers a vivid portrayal of Stratton and makes a strong case for Tom Thumb as Americaand#8217;s first celebrity."and#8212;
Booklist, starred review "Tom's personal and professional relationships with Barnum make this biography a superb complement to Candace Fleming's The Great and Only Barnum (2009)."and#8212;Kirkus
"While Sullivan touches on the subject of exploitation and the limited understanding of dwarfism in Stratton's era, his subject emerges not as a victim but as an individual whose talents earned him the public's admiration and a place in history."and#8212; Publishers Weekly
"Sullivan does a commendable job of placing his biographical subject in the context of his times (nearly the whole of the nineteenth century), bringing both to life in an engaging text complemented with black-and-white photographs."and#8212;The Horn Book
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
In this spirited biography--the first on its subject--Sullivan recounts the fascinating adventures of Tom Thumb, and raises challenging questions about what constitutes exploitation--both in the 19th century and today. Photos.
Synopsis
With courage, wit, and the help of animal friends, Tom shows that despite his size, he is a hero. Richard Jesse Watsonand#8217;s extraordinary full-color illustrations highlight his retelling of this old English tale.
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
Catherine Reef is the author of more than 35 nonfiction books for young people. Her books for Clarion include the highly acclaimedandnbsp;John Steinbeckandnbsp;andandnbsp;Sigmundandnbsp;Freudandnbsp;which was the recipient of the 2002 Sydney Taylor Award, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries. She lives in College Park, Maryland.