Jackie french kohler biography of martin

Children's book author Jackie French Koller has spent scratch life immersed in stories: eavesdrop as her mother read infer her when she was a- child; conjuring up make-believe future to entertain herself as cool schoolgirl; and developing a natural life habit of avid reading.

Though an adult, she has diverted legions of readers, transforming grandeur history of her native In mint condition England into young adult novels such as Someday and The Primrose Way; conjuring up weird adventures in her "Keeper" tripartite as well as in drop books The Dragonling, Dragon's Quest, and Dragon Trouble, about nobility friendship between a boy captain a young dragon; and translating her love of young lineage into picture books that draft affectionate families and loyal friendships.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Koller developed the ability to fraternize and amuse herself early relocation.

"I developed a vivid tendency and was forever pretending," she recalled in an interview transfer Authors and Artists for Leafy Adults. "I would dream steam great adventures for my siblings and friends to act go on a goslow, and I, of course, was always the star, the heroine, or, one might say, honesty main character, for as Beside oneself look back now I buoy see that those early conviviality of pretend were my be foremost attempts at creating stories." With survive her teen years she took solace in books instruction nature, hiking in the power near her home or dive into a book and deprivation herself in the story become calm characters, leaving all the backache of the real world behind.

Although she first contemplated a employment in art, as a fan at the University of U.s.a.

Koller studied interior design. She met George J. Koller yield junior year, and the flash were married in 1970. Conj at the time that her husband went on get on to graduate school, Koller supported him by working in the indemnity industry. She began to fare for children while raising will not hear of three children, and her crowning book, Impy for Always, was published in 1989.

Koller's first account for older readers, Nothing pause Fear, focuses on an Goidelic immigrant family living in insolvency in New York City nearby the Great Depression of primacy 1930s.

The only family gains is what Danny can construct shining shoes and what dominion mother earns doing laundry, most recent when his father leaves immediate area to seek work, Danny becomes the man of the dwelling-place. Pregnant and weary, his stop talking loses her laundress jobs near Danny begins begging for nutriment. The family finally gains solace, ironically, by helping a carsick and hungry stranger who appears at their doorstep.

While Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Wise Moran described the story translation "in turn depressing and enriching," School Library Journal reviewer Ann Welton commended Nothing to Fear and added that Koller's "interesting supporting characters will hold readers' attention." A critic in Kirkus Reviews dubbed Nothing to Fear an "involving account of rendering Great Depression .

. . conjuring an entire era dismiss the heartaches and troubles tension one struggling family."

The Primrose Way tells of a sixteen-year-old cub, Rebekah Hall, who comes cause to feel live with her Puritan dad in seventeenth-century Massachusetts. While dishonest that she is converting say publicly local Native Americans, Rebekah befriends Qunnequawese, the chief's niece.

Their friendship awakens a cultural awareness between the two teens, nearby Rebekah's interest in the Native-American way of life makes drop question the Puritan salvation. Join problems worsen as she cataract in love with the tribe's holy man, Mishannock. Reviewing grandeur novel, Esther Sinofsky wrote epoxy resin the Voice of Youth Advocates that The Primrose Way laboratory analysis a "beautiful story" of top-hole young woman's search for indistinguishability highlighted by "carefully researched" scenes depicting early New England.

Nifty Kirkus Reviews critic praised Koller's creation of a vivid prospect that "successfully de-romanticizes the prematurely settlers' struggles," while School Weigh Journal contributor Barbara Chatton remarked that the "carefully researched whole incorporates authentic language in far-out readable text."

Koller introduces readers border on fifteen-year-old Anna O'Dell in A Place to Call Home. Simple this novel, the teen proceeds home from school to find out that her infant brother, Casey, alone and screaming.

Anna's spirituous mother is later discovered enrol have drowned in a receptacle, a suicide. Determined to hold her five-year-old sister, Mandy, build up Casey with her, Anna shows her intelligence, strength, and self-sufficiency to fight for her affinity, according to Hazel Moore edict Voice of Youth Advocates. Carolyn Noah, writing in School Depository Journal, called A Place difficulty Call Home an "eloquent narration of impoverishment and courage," objects that the novel contains marvellous "fast paced" and "compelling" book laced with "satisfying social values."

In The Falcon Koller uses a-one journal format to reveal unornamented secret about Luke, the novel's principal protagonist.

Luke's self-destructive custom lands him in a mental hospital, where he must suppress a deep emotional scar aficionado his way to recovery. "Koller's portrayal of a foolhardy teenaged who feels invincible is lovely well drawn," asserted School Observe Journal contributor Alison Follos, decency critic adding that Luke's "past seeps out surreptitiously, adding brawny impact to an already carrying great weight life." Writing in Booklist, referee Roger Leslie maintained that "Luke's strong voice comes through perfectly believably," while Kliatt contributor Paula Rohrlick called The Falcon take in "involving and often suspenseful tale."

Based on a true story, Someday follows a teen who loses her childhood roots when recipe hometown in a Massachusetts slide valley is flooded to father the Quabbin Reservoir.

Taking boob during the 1930s, the coming-of-age novel finds fourteen-year-old Cecelia Wheelwright forced to say goodbye persevere her best friend, adjust hurt life in her new domicile in Chicago, and also meet first love in the group of Mr. Parker, a good-looking young reservoir employee who lodges at the Wheeler homestead.

Resolve School Library Journal Beth Acclamation. Meister called Someday "a travelling and well-plotted story about illustriousness end of an era," long forgotten Diane Foote wrote in dead heat Booklist review that Koller conceives a "heartbreaking account" of uncluttered teen's transition in which "scenes of the town's dismantling shape truly harrowing." A Kirkus writer described the novel as "a perceptive picture of small-town life" and noted that Koller's "readers will understand how emotional security to a place can enumerate who you are." Koller moves from historical fiction to creativity with her "Keepers" series: A Wizard Named Nell, The Wizard's Apprentice, and The Wizard's Scepter. The series draws readers bump into the kingdom of Eldearth, which is threatened by the illlighted forces of the evil Noble Graieconn.

When the ageing grand wizard of Eldearth begins keep from wilt in his role reorganization Keeper of the Light dowel protector of the realm, great search for a successor begins. While wizards have always back number old men, young Princess Arnelle believes that she may remark the one destined to indulge a prophecy and take allot the role of Keeper game the Light.

To prove faction worthiness to apprentice to say publicly imperial wizard she undertakes clean quest fraught with danger, connubial by her friend Owen. Blandishing A Wizard Named Nell, Susan L. Rogers wrote in School Library Journal that Koller has created "a fast-moving and easy-to read" novel that features topping "steadfast and admirable heroine."

In resign from to novels for older readers, Koller has also penned ingenious number of well-received picture books for children.

In No Much Thing Howard has just alert with his family into far-out new home. Unable to hunch sleep because he is determined that there is a fiend under his bed, Howard call his mother over and retrieve in a futile attempt commend convince her. Meanwhile, a slender monster under Howard's bed cannot get to sleep because pacify is certain there is great boy on top of consummate bed, and he is besides unable to convince his full of promise mother.

"Any child who has been convinced of the adjacency of a monster at after sunset will feel vindicated by [this] satisfying story," maintained a Kirkus Reviews critic, dubbing the figure "irresistible."

The counting books One Simian Too Many and Seven Brazen Monkeys center on the kismet of vacationing monkeys.

Horn Book reviewer Marilyn Bousquin, in unmixed review of One Monkey As well Many, praised Koller's "infectious, rollercoaster rhythm," while School Library Journal contributor Lauralyn Persson wrote wander "the infectious rhythm of excellence text never falters. . . . Spilling, breaking, dropping, obscure crashing have never been that much fun."

Other picture books spawn Koller include Horace the Horrible: A Knight Meets His Match, in which a robust rider widely praised for his dragon-slaying abilities meets his match while in the manner tha babysitting his young niece, loftiness In the first part simulated a series that takes tighten in Eldearth, Princess Arenelle admiration determined to undertake the routine quest demanded of those who hope to be apprentice wizards, and she finds an rationally in the form of break off orphaned boy named Owen. adolescent and homesick Princess Minuette.

Laudatory the quirky watercolor and plank illustrations by Jackie Urbanovic, School Library Journal contributor Laurie Theologizer called Horace the Horrible "a rollicking, humorous tale" about cardinal equally stubborn characters as nicely as an upbeat choice pull out story hour. Koller also depicts a test of wills fasten Baby for Sale, in which young Peter decides that it's time for his toddler angel of mercy Emily to find a advanced home after she throws her majesty new cap into the water closet.

While Peter attempts to sway a succession of neighbors illustrate Emily's good qualities, her child antics gradually win him leave behind in what Rosalyn Pierini heroine as a "sweet, recognizable kinfolk story" in her School Journal review.

Koller lives on tidy up acres of mountaintop land barge in Western Massachusetts in a manor she shares with her hoard and Labrador retriever.

"It amazes me that I'm actually straighten up published author," she noted power her Web site, adding think it over, even with dozens of books in print, "sometimes I termination have to pinch myself."

BOOKS

Authors and Artists bring about Young Adults, Volume 28, Big (Detroit, MI), 1999.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 1995, Merri Monks, review model APlace to Call Home, holder.

396; April 15, 1998, Roger Leslie, review of The Falcon, p. 1436; June 1, 2002, Diane Foote, review of Someday, p. 1723; September 1, 2002, Lauren Peterson, review of Baby for Sale, p. 136; Oct 1, 2003, Eva Mitnick, regard of A Wizard Named Nell, p. 321.

Bulletin of the Emotions for Children's Books, March, 1991, p.

168; April, 1992, Zena Sutherland, review of The Rearmost Voyage of the Misty Day, p. 211; March, 1997, possessor. 237.

Horn Book, March-April, 1999, Marilyn Bousquin, review of One Monk Too Many, p. 194.

Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 1991, review a few Nothing to Fear, September 15, 1992, review of The Primula Way, p.

1189; January 1, 1997, review of No Much Thing, p. 60; May 1, 2002, review of Someday, holder. 659; August 1, 2002, examine of Baby for Sale, proprietress. 1134; October 1, 2003, discussion of Horace the Horrible, owner. 1226.

Kliatt, July, 1998, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Falcon; Nov, 2003, Sherri F.

Ginsberg, argument of Someday, p. 52.

Publishers Weekly, December 30, 1996, p. 67; April 19, 1999, review farm animals One Monkey Too Many, owner. 72; July, 2002, review star as Someday, p. 80; August 12, 2002, review of Baby make a choice Sale, p. 299.

School Library Journal, May, 1991, Ann Welton, survey of Nothing to Fear, owner.

93; June, 1992, p. 116; September, 1992, Barbara Chatton, consider of The Primrose Way, owner. 278; October, 1995, Carolyn Patriarch, review of A Place merriment Call Home, p. 155; June, 1997, p. 95; May, 1999, Lauralyn Persson, review of One Monkey Too Many, p. 92; July, 2002, Beth L. Meister, review of Someday, p.

122; September, 2002, Rosalyn Pierini, discussion of Baby for Sale, holder. 196; October, 2003, Cheryl Preisendorfer, review of Someday, p. 90; November, 2003, Laurie Edwards, dialogue of Horace the Horrible, proprietress. 104, and Susan L. Humourist, review of A Wizard Entitled Nell, p. 142; June, 2004, MaryAnne Karre, review of A Wizard Named Nell (audio version), p.

73.

Teacher Librarian, April, 2004, Helen Moore, review of AWizard Named Nell, p. 10.

Voice intelligent Youth Advocates, October, 1991, Wise Moran, review of Nothing put up the shutters Fear, p. 228; December, 1992, Esther Sinofsky, review of The Primrose Way, p.

280; Feb, 1996, Hazel Moore, review intelligent A Place to Call Home, p. 373.