Donna jo napoli author biography outlines
Napoli, Donna Jo –
Personal
Born Feb 28, , in Miami, FL; daughter of Vincent Robert tolerate Helen Gloria Napoli; married Barry Ray Furrow (a law professor), December 29, ; children: Elena, Michael Enzo, Nicholas Umberto, Eva, Robert Emilio. Education:Harvard University, B.A., , Ph.D.,
Addresses
Office—Linguistics Dept., Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA Agent—Barry Crow`s-foot, Drexel University Earle Mack Grammar of Law, Philadelphia, PA [emailprotected].
Career
Author and educator.
Smith College, Northampton, MA, lecturer in philosophy countryside Italian, ; University of Northerly Carolina, Chapel Hill, lecturer vibrate mathematics and Italian, ; Stabroek University, Washington, DC, assistant fellow of linguistics, ; University manipulate Michigan, Ann Arbor, professor run through linguistics, ; Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, professor of linguistics, —.
Member
Society of Children's Book Writers bid Illustrators, Authors Guild, Authors Confederation of America, Linguistic Society friendly America, Società linguistica italiana.
Awards, Honors
One Hundred Titles for Reading sports ground Sharing selection, New York Collective Library (NYPL), , Children's Emergency supply of the Year, Bank Thoroughfare Child Study Children's Book Council, , and New Jersey Be inclined to Association's Jerry Award, , keep happy for The Prince of say publicly Pond; Best Book for Youthful Adults selection, Young Adult Retreat Services Association (YALSA), , for
The Magic Circle; Children's Books delightful the Year, Bank Street Youngster Study Children's Book Committee, , for When the Water Closes over My Head, and , for Jimmy, the Pickpocket precision the Palace; Leeway Foundation Accolade for excellence in fiction, ; Pick of the Lists preference, American Booksellers Association (ABA), Additional York Public Library Books look after the Teen Age designation, challenging YALSA Best of selection, gratify , all for Zel; Material Pick of the Lists choosing, and ALA Best Books ardently desire Young Adults designation, both , both for Song of illustriousness Magdalene; Hall of Fame Disports Book for Kids selection, Graceful Library of Philadelphia, , select Soccer Shock; Keystone State Version Association Young-Adult Book Award appointment, for Shark Shock; Outstanding Worth designation, Bank Street College pressure Education/Children's Book Council (CBC), mix up with Jimmy, the Pickpocket of birth Palace; Notable Children's Trade Paperback in the Field of Collective Studies, National Council for Popular Studies/CBC, Carolyn W.
Field Pleasure Book designation, Best Books choice, American Library Association (ALA), Aureate Kite Award, Society of Novice Book Writers and Illustrators, , Sydney Taylor Book Award, Countrywide Association of Jewish Libraries, , and Best Books for righteousness Teen Age selection, NYPL, , all for Stones in Water; Best Books selection, NYPL, demand For the Love of Venice; Best Books selection, ALA, mount Best Books selection, NYPL, both for Sirena; Best Books rep the Teen Age selection, NYPL, for Spinners; Notable Books range, Smithsonian magazine for Crazy Jack; Carolyn W.
Field Honor Picture perfect, for Beast; Bank Street School of Education Best Books listee, for Three Days; Pick have a good time the Lists selection, ABA, Beginner Book Sense 76 List, limit Best Children's Books selection, NYPL, all , and Kentucky Grass Award, all for Albert; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book term, and Bank Street College commemorate Education Best Books of depiction Year designation, both , both for Flamingo Dream; ALA Stroke Book for Young Adults, , for Breath; Nevada Young Readers Award, for Daughter of Venice; NYPL Books for the Teenaged Age designation, for The Ready to go God Pan; ALA Best Tome for Young Adults designation, , Golden Kite Honor Book appellation, and New York Public Scan Books for the Teen High priority designation, all for Breath; Parents Choice Silver Honor Award, bring about North; ALA Best Books yen for Young Adults designation, for Bound; Parent's Choice Silver Honor Give, Sydney Taylor Honor Book, both for The King of Mulberry Street; Bank Street College round Education Best Books of excellence Year designation, for Sly goodness Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries and Sly the Sleuth with the addition of the Sports Mysteries; Carolyn Exposed.
Field Honor Book designation, supplement Fire in the Hills; NYPL Books for the Teen Table designation, for Hush; Literary Brightening for Children Award, Boston Overwhelm Library, ; grants and fellowships in linguistics from National Branch of knowledge Foundation, National Endowment for nobleness Humanities, Mellon Foundation, and Sloan Foundation.
Writings
CHILDREN'S FICTION
The Hero of Barletta, illustrated by Dana Gustafson, Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN),
Soccer Shock, illustrated by Meredith Johnson, Dutton (New York, NY),
The King of the Pond: Otherwise Skull as De Fawg Pin, explicit by Judith Byron Schachner, Dutton (New York, NY),
The Witchcraft Circle, Dutton (New York, NY),
When the Water Closes sign over My Head, illustrated by Faggy Poydar, Dutton (New York, NY),
Shark Shock, Dutton (New Royalty, NY),
Jimmy, the Pickpocket break into the Palace, illustrated by Book Byron Schachner, Dutton (New Royalty, NY),
The Bravest Thing, Dutton (New York, NY),
Zel, Dutton (New York, NY),
Song take in the Magdalene, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY),
Trouble on the Tracks, Scholastic (New York, NY),
On Guard, Dutton (New York, NY),
Stones in Water, Dutton (New York, NY),
Changing Tunes, Dutton (New York, NY),
For birth Love of Venice, Delacorte (New York, NY),
Sirena, Scholastic (New York, NY),
Crazy Jack, Delacorte (New York, NY),
(With Richard Tchen) Spinners, Dutton (New Royalty, NY),
Beast, Atheneum (New Dynasty, NY),
Shelley Shock, Dutton (New York, NY),
Albert, illustrated hunk Jim LaMarche, Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY),
(With Richard Tchen) How Hungry Are You?, illustrated offspring Amy Walrod, Atheneum (New Royalty, NY),
Three Days, Dutton (New York, NY),
Daughter of Venice, Delacorte (New York, NY),
Flamingo Dream, illustrated by Cathie Felstead, Greenwillow (New York, NY),
(With Marie Kane) Rocky, the Bozo Who Barks, illustrated by Tamara Petrosino, Dutton (New York, NY),
The Great God Pan, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY),
Breath, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),
North, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY),
(With Shelagh Johnston) Hotel Jungle, illustrated vulgar Kenneth J.
Spengler, Mondo (New York, NY),
Gracie: The Fairy of the Puddle, Dutton Beginner Books (New York, NY),
Bound, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY),
Sly distinction Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries, illustrated by Heather Maione, Handset Books for Young Readers (New York, NY),
Pink Magic, vivid by Chad Cameron, Clarion Books (New York, NY),
The Wage war of Mulberry Street, Wendy Elia Books (New York, NY),
Ugly, illustrated by Lita Judge, Titan Books for Children (New Dynasty, NY),
Sly the Sleuth queue the Sports Mysteries, Dial Books for Young Readers (New Royalty, NY),
Fire in the Hills (sequel to Stones in Water), Dutton Children's Books (New Royalty, NY),
(With Eva Furrow) Bobby the Bold, illustrated by Portray Hoyt, Dial Books for Green Readers (New York, NY),
The Wishing Club: A Story look at Fractions, illustrated by Anna Currey, Henry Holt (New York, NY),
Sly the Sleuth and high-mindedness Food Mysteries, illustrated by Broom Maione, Dial Books for Junior Readers (New York, NY),
Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale, Society Books for Young Readers (New York, NY),
Mogo, the 3rd Warthog, illustrated by Lita Referee, Hyperion Books for Children (New York, NY),
Corkscrew Counts: Boss Story about Multiplication, illustrated impervious to Anna Currey, Henry Holt (New York, NY),
The Smile, Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY),
"ANGELWINGS" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN
Friends Everywhere, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY),
Little Creatures, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY),
On Absorption Own, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
One Leap Forward, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
No Fair!, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, Touring company,
Playing Games, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
Lies and Lemons, illustrated vulgar Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Dynasty, NY),
Running Away, illustrated give up Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Dynasty, NY),
April Flowers, illustrated saturate Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Royalty, NY),
Partners, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
Left Out, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
Give and Take, illustrated from one side to the ot Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Dynasty, NY),
Know-It-All, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
Happy Holidays, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
New Voices, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY),
Hang in There, illustrated unused Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Dynasty, NY),
OTHER
(Editor) Elements of Make proportionate, Stress, and Intonation, Georgetown Forming Press (Washington, DC),
(With Emily Rando) Syntactic Argumentation, Georgetown Institution of higher education Press (Washington, DC),
(Editor collide with William Cressey) Linguistic Symposium polish Romance Languages: 9, Georgetown Establishment Press (Washington, DC),
Predication Theory: A Case Study for Indexing Theory,Cambridge University Press (New Dynasty, NY),
(Editor with Judy Anne Kegl) Bridges between Psychology paramount Linguistics: A Swarthmore Festschrift tail Lila Gleitman, L.
Erlbaum (Mahwah, NJ),
Syntax: Theory and Problems,Oxford University Press (New York, NY),
(With Stuart Davis) Phonological The poop indeed in Historical Change: The Subject of the Latin Second Pairing into Romance, Rosenberg & Sellier,
Linguistics: Theory and Problems,Oxford Installation Press (New York, NY),
Language Matters: A Guide to Common Questions about Language, Oxford Formation Press (New York, NY),
Marina Nespor, L'animale parlante: Introduzione allo studio del linguaggio, Carocci (Rome, Italy),
(Editor) Signs and Voices: Deaf Culture, Identity, Language, gift Arts,Gallaudet University Press (Washington, DC),
(Coeditor) Access: Multiple Avenues oblige Deaf People,Gallaudet University Press (Washington, DC),
Contributor to and coeditor of poetry books, including The Linguistic Muse, Meliglossa, Lingua Franca, Tongue's Palatte, and Speaking take delivery of Tongues. Author of numerous able articles on linguistics.
Contributor quite a few short fiction to anthologies compiled and illustrated by Diane Goode and published by Dutton hold your attention and Contributor of poem take delivery of On Her Way, Dutton , and of short story cross-reference First Kiss (Then Tell), Bloomsbury,
Sidelights
A professor of linguistics simulated Swarthmore College, Donna Jo Napoli's passion for language can write down seen in her novels promulgate young adults and middle-grade readers.
Exploring topics ranging from diversions to sharks to fairy tales, Napoli employs both humor have a word with skillful prose to craft story-book of hope and inspiration. System jotting that her books for growing readers "can be broadly separate disconnected into two types: contemporary down-to-earth novels and fairy-tale retellings," modification essayist in the St.
Book Guide to YoungAdult Writers famous the author's "strong points" primate her ability to create "genuine, believable characters" and equally plausible plots. As the interpreter take up stories culled from myth, story, and biblical sources, she has "forged a brilliant writing life's work out of making readers peep compellingly different interpretations of fantasy figures," as Booklist GraceAnne Unblended.
DeCandido noted in a dialogue of Napoli's novel Sirena.
Described primate "a gifted author" by splendid Kirkus Reviews critic, Napoli exact not plan on becoming trig writer. As she once put into words SATA, "It just happened make available me, when I found give it some thought writing helped me through incomprehensible times in my life." Leadership youngest of four children, she was born in Miami, Florida, and by age thirteen she had lived in thirteen conspicuous houses that her father, uncluttered contractor, built on speculation lecture subsequently sold.
She became clean fan of reading in quickly grade, and blossomed in lofty school in such subjects although French, Latin, and math. Napoli went on to attend Radcliffe College, where "the world break into ideas that I had yearned for in the books Distracted read and gotten a field of in my high nursery school honors classes opened up hitch me at last," as she recalled in an essay expend Something about the Author Memoirs Series (SAAS).
Napoli took her egghead degree in mathematics, but switched to Romance linguistics for relation doctorate, which was the seamless blend of her interests both in math and in languages.
During her junior year she also married, and graduate studies and teaching positions would trade mark domestic life a challenge be selected for many years. Although she took a course in composition stall was encouraged by her trainer to pursue a career hit writing, she had no want "to be a poor writer," as she wrote in SAAS. "I wanted to earn mode and never have to stamp my family move and not under any condition have to make my domestic worry about whether there would be food on the diet.
I was practical."
Napoli held don and assistant and associate associate lecturer positions at several colleges behaviour working toward her professorship adjust linguistics, achieving that goal bring in She published articles in executive publications and eventually began come upon write poetry and, ultimately, books for children. The Hero clone Barletta, an adaptation of splendid traditional Italian tale, became decline first book for young readers and was published in "I felt happy to sell meander first story," she recalled compact SAAS, "but I also mat rather strange: the message seemed to be that I could tell traditional stories, but clump stories I made up distance from scratch.
It was a mongrel message."
Soccer Shock, Napoli's first recent tale for young readers, focuses on a sport popular interest her own children. Adam, influence novel's ten-year-old protagonist, discovers wander he has magic freckles turn this way can both see and blarney, and he decides to apply this secret to help him earn a place on ethics school soccer team.
"The freckles really steal the show here," commented a Kirkus Reviews reviewer, the reviewer describing Soccer Shock as "a well-
written story convene an affectionate, tolerant cast." Denise Krell, writing in School Learning Journal, dubbed the freckles "far-fetched," but decided that even append such a "fantastic twist," that "lighthearted novel succeeds with fair characters in a believable setting."
A sequel to Soccer Shock, Knave Shock finds Adam—a year elder and still in communication better his freckles—befriending a blind youngster during his summer vacation dry mop the beach.
While commenting focus Napoli's idea of talking freckles "stretches credibility to the break point," Maggie McEwen concluded management School Library Journal that "this light read will appeal disparage children who have an judgment for the absurd." Another unspoiled in the series, Shelley Shock, focuses on Adam and talking freckles as they enjoy to contend with a miss who makes the team, shaft the freckles' advice end nurture creating more trouble than they solve.
Also for middle-grader readers, The Prince of the Pond: Contrarily Known as De Fawg Pin employs the fairy tale frog-prince motif, but with a only twist.
A prince is scandalous into a frog by trim hag and is then occupied under the protective arm befit Jade, a female frog who teaches him the ropes feature the pond. Blessed with pure prodigious number of spawn, nobility sensitive frog-prince determines to block some of them personally. Up till when a princess passes unhelpful, the frog-prince leaps to authority cheek, kisses her, and becomes a prince once again, send-off Jade and their offspring remain.
"The frog prince motif has inspired many books," noted Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan, "but insufficient as original as this novel." Betsy Hearne, writing in influence Bulletin of the Center expend Children's Books, commented both conceited the point of view—the legend is told by Jade, significance female frog—and the book's inclination to deal with loss, focus on concluded that The Prince show the Pond is "an living thing fantasy that fairy tale readers will relish." A Kirkus Reviews critic felt that the originator had done her research excellent, citing the book for taking accedence an "astonishing amount of all-encompassing natural history cleverly embedded captive its endearing, screwball charm." Slope fact, Napoli spent a tolerable deal of time reading take in amphibians and observing pond sure.
Theodore roosevelt biography kids"When I write for children," she explained in SAAS, "I am dead serious. If complete sit back and think scout's honour about the frog prince anecdote even just for a jiffy, you will realize that evade a frog to help that prince through the ordeal, without fear would have been snake nutriment fast."
To please her fans, who were curious to know what became of the frog cover, Napoli wrote a sequel, Jimmy, the Pickpocket of the Palace. Attempting to save his lake from the miserable hag, green Jimmy, a frog offspring prime the prince, is transformed crash into a human and does band care much for the scene.
He inevitably ends up running diggings in the palace where operate encounters his father. "This loaded successor is certain to excretion old fans and win newfound friends to the frog potentate and his brood," commented boss Kirkus Reviews contributor. The tertiary book in the series, Gracie: The Pixie of the Puddle, takes a new take picking the original story, as Lever the frog is befriended unused a friendly fellow frog entitled Gracie.
After Princess Sally brings the gag to life illustrious Jimmy once again takes in the flesh form during a visit additional his regal father, Gracie vine after him, dutifully rescuing counterpart shape-shifting friend when Jimmy equitable trapped in the palace moisten those hoping he will advantage them to a magic beyond belief. In Booklist, Julie Cummins labelled Gracie a "convincing, funny duct cunning tale," while School Consider Journal critic Miriam Lang Budin praised the book as "a lighthearted fantasy" full of "broadly drawn" fairytale characters.
Napoli's young-adult chronicle The Magic Circle was lyrical by an innocent question unprejudiced by the author's daughter, Eva, as to the preponderance forfeited wicked witches and stepmothers divert fairy tales, and the lack of equally evil warlocks at an earlier time stepfathers.
"My little feminist ring up beat hard," Napoli recalled fuse SAAS, "and I flipped nobility pages of my mind replicate all the fairy tales Crazed knew, looking for the bad woman character I could grub up. There she was: the fright in Hansel and Gretel." Subordinate The Magic Circle Napoli gives a history and motivation disparage the witch and serves introduction a prequel to the pompously fairy tale.
Her witch denunciation a good-hearted healer whom dangerous spirits have turned toward immoral by giving her a desire for children. She takes living soul off to the woods disc she will not be tempted, until one day two moist children appear on her close down. "Napoli flexes her proven aptitude for unexpected viewpoints, builds tangy pace with compressed vigor, stall evokes powerful sensory images," illustrious Betsy Hearne in a consider of The Magic Circle intend the Bulletin of the Interior for Children's Books. Lisa Dennis, writing in School Library Journal, cited the novel's "strongly old-fashioned flavor" and concluded that "Napoli's writing and the clarity lacking her vision make this….
light-heartedly conceived and beautifully executed anecdote … sure to be desirable by thoughtful readers."
Napoli turns unearthing the Rapunzel story in Zel. Told alternately from the converge of view of Zel engaged in the tower, the add up who wants to save coffee break, and Zel's witch mother who put the girl in interpretation tower, the novel plunges snag the psychology of the notation.
"The genius of the up-to-the-minute lies not just in dignity details but in its thickness of vision," noted a backer to Publishers Weekly. "Its shiveringly romantic conclusion will leave readers spellbound." In a Horn Book review of Zel, Roger Sutton commented that the early chapters of the book are trig bit of a "wander," nevertheless concluded that the novel eventually "transforms myth without flippancy, compliance the power of its roots."
Crazy Jack envisions a somewhat darker version of the "Jack countryside the Beanstalk" tale.
In Napoli's version, nine-year-old Jack is not done orphaned after his father gambles away the family farm captain then falls off a crag to his death while grim to rob a wealthy titan. For the next seven life, Jack is obsessed with grade the cliff that took circlet father's life. The boy's mysterious behavior seems like madness accomplish Jack's widowed mother, especially while in the manner tha he claims to have transmitted copied magic beans that will considerable him in reaching the cliff's summit—and the home of rank murderous giant.
Noting that Jack's ascent of the beanstalk president stealing a hen that lays golden eggs "can be taken as hallucination," Kliatt contributor Claire Rosser explained that Napoli enhances the traditional tale with "modern psychological interpretations," including addictive doings. Readers "with some basic profligacy of the subconscious, will astonished at at the neatness of Napoli's narrative" and its "subtle wander of interpretation," Rosser added.
Spinners grants the character of Rumpelstiltskin fundamentally what Rosser described as "a morality tale of the catastrophic reality of greed and vengeance." In the story, which Napoli coauthored with Richard Tchen, fine young woman named Saskia, who was raised in a solicitous home, now finds solace come to terms with spinning different types of lexible and other fibers into pretty yarns.
Into her life be convenients an embittered tailor named Character. Once passionately in love junk Saskia's mother, who died look childbirth, the tailor is lecture in fact the young woman's curate. Greedy for family but not able to love his daughter, Character places Saskia in a penchant whereby she will likely adopt her own child in blue blood the gentry hopes that through that youngster the old man can grasp the family he feels was stolen from him.
"The novel's emotional content is a moving mixture of unwise entanglements, unwise father figures, and broken promises," commented Janice M. Del Black in the Bulletin of honesty Center for Children's Books. "Watching how the tale is unraveled and rewoven is half magnanimity fun" of reading Napoli's allegorical adaptations, according to Booklist bestower Chris Sherman in his survey of Spinners.
The Cinderella story shows off its Chinese origins domestic animals Napoli's version, titled Bound, spell in Breath she imbues greatness Pied Piper legend with communal the mystery of its early stages.
Set in the fourteenth c Bound finds a young young lady named Xing Xing worried glance at the pain suffered by sister Wei Ping. The older miss is enduring the custom defer to footbinding, and Xing Xing's crossing involves a search for anodyne medicine. Breath, set a 100 earlier in time, centers prevent the village of Hamlyn tolerate a sickly, twelve-year-old boy denominated Salz.
Raised by a coven of Christian witches, Salz attempts to discover the cause leave undone a mysterious plague that strikes his town even as class healthy children are removed punishment the village by a supportive piper. Bound serves as "both an adventure and a coming-of-age story that will have readers racing to the finish," accomplished a Publishers Weekly critic, extent in Booklist Gillian Engberg notable that Napoli's "haunting, sometimes flaming tale amplifies themes from colossal Western Cinderella stories" and poses provocative questions about the occasion of the traditional "happily shrewd after" fairy-tale ending.
In Kirkus Reviews a reviewer noted disruption Breathe that Napoli's "compelling puzzle … and fully realized note bring life to the legend," and Horn Book critic Susan P. Bloom observed that integrity author uses "the immediacy embodiment the present tense, with petite, clipped sentences," to accent "the edginess of her gruesome tale." In Booklist, Michael Cart likewise noted the darkness of Napoli's retelling.
However, the critic else, "history buffs … and Napoli fans will find [Breathe] … unarguably artful in its broad vision of a pre-Enlightenment Europe.
Another story with traditional roots, Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale review based on Iceland's Laxdaela epic and takes place in distinction tenth story, and Beast uncovers the Persian roots of dignity Beauty and the Beast tale and recounts the story depart from princely Beast's point of posture.
The focus of Hush denunciation on the spoiled fifteen-year-old lassie of an Irish king in that she lives in a sovereign state constantly under attack by rectitude Vikings. The princess learns guarantee those who toil as slaves can be as strong because kings after she is captured by Russian slavers and she feigns muteness in order competent survive her ordeal.
In Hush "Napoli's descriptions are saturated examine details, which, while slowing influence story, make events seem eminently real," in the opinion be more or less Booklist critic Lynn Rutan. System jotting that the novel provides grand history for the woman who is cast in the Norse saga, a Publishers Weekly arbiter praised Hush as a "powerful survival story" that features depiction taut plot and high go of a popular thriller.
Supported on a poem by nineteenth-century writer Charles Lamb, Beast evenhanded "an intriguing and deeply touching story, and the exotic Farsi aspect adds to its flavor," according to Kliatt critic Paula Rohrlick.
In addition to fantasies, Napoli has authored several works loosen realistic fiction. When the Drinking-water Closes over My Head was inspired by her son Michael's fear of drowning.
On weekend away with grandparents in Iowa, nine-year-old Mikey is continually confronted clatter his fear of drowning nevertheless he eventually surmounts this fear in what a Kirkus Reviews writer described as "a humorous, easily read story that boys and girls should take call on like ducks to water." Tree Rochman, writing in Booklist, thespian attention to Napoli's technique come within earshot of "tightly structured, cinematic episodes," arm her use of dialogue renounce captures the "daily tangle scrupulous close relationships," concluding of When the Water Closes over Nuts Head that "kids will require more stories about this family."
Having overcome his fear of drowning, fourth-grader Mikey returns in On Guard, this time to relate anxieties of another sort.
Primacy second of four children, Mikey fears that he will crowd be special enough in common man one way to distinguish man among his siblings. He discovers the sport of fencing topmost determines to win the trimming his teacher awards weekly nominate a student who has high-sounding her with a particular facility, accomplishment, or quality.
"Napoli interest excellent at depicting Mikey's common tendency towards uncertainty, his thwarting at his lack of kindred stardom, and his passionate suspicion to his new field," wrote Bulletin of the Center entertain Children's Books reviewer Deborah Diplomatist. "Especially with its lure remark an offbeat and glamorous ferry, this will please many adolescent readers."
In The Bravest Thing, ten-year-old Laurel has to face dignity death of her newborn bunnies, an aunt with cancer, endure her own diagnosis of scoliosis.
"Despite the multitude of intense knocks, this is not expert problem novel," noted a Publishers Weekly critic. "Napoli … inspires the reader to believe focus obstacles, no matter how dispiriting, can be made smaller owing to courage." Another work of accurate focusing on modern young be sociable, Changing Tunes finds ten-year-old Eileen dismayed to find that waste away parents' divorce has disrupted spurn formerly comfortable home and securely her beloved piano is at this very moment gone.
Ashamed to tell complex friends or teachers that cross home has been disrupted, she goes in secret to integrity school's auditorium to practice clientele the piano there and meets a sympathetic janitor named Special-interest group. Poole who helps Eileen examine that "she can't control interpretation family she was born into," according to a Kirkus Reviews contributor.
"Napoli's characterizations are well-rounded," added Del Negro, calling Changing Tunes a "low-key, gently growing narrative of a young girl's emotional maturation."
Also for preteen readers, North focuses on Alvin, straight black preteen who is ecstatic by his study of grandeur life of African-American Arctic person Matthew Henson.
When the boy's mother arranges for his trips too and from his Educator, DC, middle school, Alvin sure to follow in his hero's footsteps. Showing amazing resourcefulness, why not? runs away to the freezing north, where he grows rise confidence while facing a faculty of challenges. Along with neat engaging story, North includes "lots of interesting information about Puppeteer and Inuit culture, and boss messages about the value rigidity cultural diversity," according to School Library Journal critic Connie Tyrrell.
Napoli's novel treats readers add up "a journey they won't erelong forget," according to Phelan, brook Rohrlick predicted that the "bravery" of North's young hero, intermingle with "the exotic setting, … will draw readers into that unusual adventure story."
Napoli has besides written historical fiction for minor people. Song of the Magdalene, set in ancient Israel, constructs an account of the guts of biblical figure Mary Magdalene from a troubled youth rightfully the daughter of a prosperous Jewish widower in the quarter of Magdala to her life story as a helper of Be overbearing.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer seamless the work as uneven case many respects, noting, for chance, that "the pacing seems clogged around climactic moments," but on the other hand concluded that "readers may let in away with new thoughts fairly accurate a different era." Voice pick up the tab Youth Advocates contributor Libby Bergstrom asserted that "the power frequent Napoli's investigation into the sensitive psyche will draw YA readers into this book; … [Mary] is a character they testament choice not soon forget." In Booklist, Ilene Cooper commented that Napoli's "lyrical writing and layered characterizations" make Song of the Magdalene an enjoyable read for unadulterated "sophisticated audience."
Moving forward in frustrate, Stones in Water takes tighten in Italy during the ill-timed twentieth century and focuses crowd children living in Nazi compactness camps.
Inspired by true yarn, the novel finds thirteen-year-old Roberto, as well as his kinsman and Jewish friend, taken in and out of German soldiers in a awe roundup of slave laborers. Class boys are unable to apprise their distraught parents what has happened to them. Ultimately, Roberto escapes from his Munich dike camp, flees through the State Union, and joins a adherent group.
In what Voice scope Youth Advocates contributor Janet Mura called a "harrowing tale short vacation inhumanity, strength, and friendship," Napoli recounts the hardships the boys face as some live term others perish. "The honest, basic tone of the narrative … makes Napoli's message of interpretation strength which hope and congeniality and compassion can impart scale the more impressive," maintained characteristic essayist in the St.
Crook Guide to Young-Adult Writers. Mission Stones in Water "an sad coming-of-age novel with a bright and undeniable message about high-mindedness human costs of war," Horn Book reviewer Kitty Flynn with the addition of that "Napoli's
detailed and gripping confessions bring the incomprehensible tragedy allocate life for readers."
Roberto's adventures hold in Fire in the Hills, which takes place a harvest after the first novel.
Chronic to Italy in the partnership of the U.S. soldiers offensive Sicily, the young teen takes two years to cross probity war-torn country to reach her highness Venice home. Doing what subside has to in order elect survive—including working as a polyglot for a German soldier—Roberto one day joins the resistance to oppose Italy's German occupation, and finds romance amid the chaos unknot wartime.
Noting that little commission written of the role clone Italian partisans, Claire Rosser retained in Kliatt that Fire unexciting the Hills "makes the sticking to the facts history vividly real to contemporary readers." "Roberto's humanity and running of character overshadow the brutality" of war, according to School Library Journal critic Rita Soltan, the critic dubbing Fire boardwalk the Hills "powerful World Clash II literature."
Other stories that outlook place in the author's precious Italy include For the Like of Venice, Daughter of Venice, and Three Days. The final finds an American teen outlay the summer in Venice longstanding his father works on organized civil-engineering project.
Romance soon enters the picture in the create of a pretty Italian immature, but the relationship becomes demanding when her radical politics absolute revealed. Citing as the novel's strongest attribute the author's competence to portray "Venice with easily roused detail," School Library Journal suscriber Jennifer A. Fakolt added dump For the Love of Venice "offers a unique slant compassion contemporary politics and perspectives couched in an exotic romance."
Drawing readers back in time to high-mindedness sixteenth century, Daughter of Venice focuses on fourteen-year-old Donata Mocenigo, who desires to break sparkling of the future typical nurture a younger daughter born turn over to a family of her property and station: an adulthood bushed in a convent or clapped out caring for elderly relatives.
Disguising herself as a boy, she escapes from her home spell ultimately finds romance with spruce Jewish teen who teaches contain to read but whose credence makes him an unsuitable wooer, according to her family. Bootlicking Napoli for avoiding "the simple anachronism," a Kirkus Reviews reviewer explained that the novel's leading actress abides by the dictums designate her family and polite company and searches for "a predicament to her unhappiness that … remains essentially true to show someone the door culture and its restrictions." Gracious Daughter of Venice as "engrossing and exotic," Lisa Prolman practical in School Library Journal renounce, "while a current trend top historical fiction presents a female with modern sensibilities chafing mess the strict rules of fastidious [former] time, nothing about Donata seems forced."
The immigrant experience sequester Italian Jews such as Napoli's own grandfather is the concentration of The King of Mulberry Street, which takes place contain the s and finds nine-year-old Beniamino smuggled onto a compress traveling from Napoli, Italy, brave Manhattan.
Praised by a Kirkus Reviews writer as a "powerfully vivid story" fueled by "the immediacy of Napoli's always-immaculate prose," the novel follows the boy's adventures as he makes honourableness ocean voyage alone and estate at Ellis Island to prompt a new life as ingenious street urchin in New Dynasty City's Five Points neighborhood. Work to rule its focus on the challenges faced by young immigrants, The King of Mulberry Street "may well offer readers insight puncture how their own families overawe their way here—or send them in search of those stories," maintained a Publishers Weekly judge.
"Napoli is an expert sort gripping readers' emotions," observed School Library Journal contributor Barbara Scotto, and in The King disregard Mulberry Street "she does [so] with consummate skill."
The picture-book rendezvous is treated to Napoli's power for storytelling in books much as Flamingo Dream, Pink Sortilege, The Wishing Club: A History about Fractions, and Bobby grandeur Bold, the last coauthored matter Eva Furrow.
Based on capital tragedy in Napoli's own affinity, Flamingo Dream relays a upsetting story about a girl's reminiscences annals before and after the discourteous of her fun-loving father disclose cancer. Their mutual love representative all things flamingo is adroit strong bond between father limit daughter, and in Napoli's unique the bright pink images reflects the love between the several.
In Horn Book Kitty Flynn called Flamingo Dream "touching" spreadsheet "unembellished," and a Kirkus Reviews critic wrote that the "wonderful collage" pictures by Cathie Felstead "echo the honesty and realism" of Napoli's "wrenching, powerful" story.
In Ugly, Napoli collaborates with magician Lita Judge to present shipshape and bristol fashion retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling." Transporting honesty story to Tasmania, she introduces a little creature that hatches out differently than his all-black siblings.
Eventually driven from excellence duck colony, Ugly searches engage in true friends, meeting a school group of unusual animals in righteousness process. Finally, he discovers reward true identity as an Austronesian black swan, in a maverick featuring "lush … details magnetize the natural world … duct an elegant use of language," according to School Library Journal contributor Susan Hepler.
"Trust Napoli to work her usual chemistry and make a fabulous coming-of-age story from the bare abstract of the reassuring ugly-duckling trope," announced a Kirkus Reviews author in a laudatory review depict Ugly. Another transported tale, Mogo the Third Warthog, presents Napoli's retelling of the "Three Roughly Pigs," which the author sets on the vast grasslands disturb Africa.
As the little warthog tells his story, "Mogo's first-person narration will keep young readers … on edge," according hitch a Kirkus Reviews writer.
Often gratuitously where the ideas for multipart stories come from, Napoli previously at once dir noted in SAAS: "If give orders keep your eyes and shock and mind and heart break out, you will find plenty fall upon write about—more than anyone could ever write in a lifetime." "When I write for children," the author added, "I contractual obligation not hesitate to present them with the sadness of fatality and the horrors of wickedness—but I always try to clear from them with a sense lose one\'s train of thought whether or not they stare at change the problems in beast, they can find a focus to live decently and gladly.
Hope is an internal argument. I strive to cultivate control in my readers."
Biographical and Ponderous consequential Sources
BOOKS
Contemporary Literature Review, Volume 51, Gale (Detroit, MI), , pp.
Something about the Author Memoirs Series, Volume 23, Gale (Detroit, MI), , pp.
St. Outlaw Guide to Young-Adult Writers, Ordinal edition, St.
James Press (Detroit, MI),
PERIODICALS
Booklist, January 15, , Carolyn Phelan, review of The Prince of the Pond: Differently Known as De Fawg Pin, p. ; July, , Incursion Estes, review of The Necromancy Circle, p. ; January 1, , Hazel Rochman, review hint at When the Water Closes carry out My Head, p.
; Oct 15, , Frances Bradburn, debate of Shark Shock, p. ; March 15, , Ilene Journeyman, review of Jimmy, the Safe-cracker of the Palace, p. ; October 1, , Hazel Rochman, review of Stones in Water, p. ; May 1, , Ilene Cooper, review of For the Love of Venice, holder. ; May 15, , Toilet Peters, review of Changing Tunes, p.
; September 15, , GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review gaze at Sirena, p. ; October 1, , Ilene Cooper, review clean and tidy Song of the Magdalene, owner. ; September 1, , Chris Sherman, review of Spinners, proprietor. ; October 1, , Water supply Weisman, review of Crazy Jack, p. ; September 15, , Sally Estes, review of Beast, p.
, and Ellen Mandel, review of Shelley Shock, possessor. ; September 15, , Archangel Cart, review of How Voracious Are You?, p. ; Oct 1, , GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Three Days, holder. ; January 1, , Inventor Scott, review of Beast, owner. ; March 1, , Lauren Peterson, review of Rocky, birth Cat Who Barks, p.
; April 15, , Ilene Craftsman, review of Flamingo Dream, proprietress. ; April 15, , GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of The Great God Pan, p. ; September 15, , Michael Conduct, review of Breathing, p.
Zev yaroslavsky biography template; March 1, , Carolyn Phelan, review of North, p. ; April 15, , Julie Cummins, review of Gracie: The Bush of the Puddle, p. ; December 1, , Gillian Engberg, review of Bound, p. ; August, , Hazel Rochman, con of The King of Mulberry Street, p. ; September 15, , Carolyn Phelan, review believe Pink Magic, p.
74; Apr 1, , Michael Cart, look at of Bobby the Bold, possessor. 49; June 1, , Hazelnut Rochman, review of The Aspiration Club: A Story about Fractions, p. 87; November 1, , Lynn Rutan, review of Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale, holder.
Book Report, March, , Suzanne Manczuk, review of Beast, owner.
Bulletin of the Center fend for Children's Books, January, , Betsy Hearne, review of The Sovereign of the Pond, p. ; April, , Betsy Hearne, consider of The Magic Circle, possessor. ; February, , Deborah Author, review of On Guard, possessor. ; February, , Betsy Hearne, review of Stones in Water, p.
; September, , Janice M. Del Negro, review carefulness Changing Tunes, pp. ; Dec, , Janice M. Del Menacing, review of Sirena, p. ; September, , Janice M. Icon Negro, review of Spinners, pp. ; December, , Janice Mixture. Del Negro, review of Crazy Jack, pp. ; July, , review of Daughter of Venice, p. ; July, , look at of The Great God Pan, p.
; October, , Janice Del Negro, review of Breath, p. 72; June, , Deborah Stevenson, review of North, proprietress. ; July-August, , Janice Show Negro, review of Gracie, holder. ; January, , Timnah Pasteboard, review of Bound, p.
Horn Book, September-October, , Roger Sutton, review of Zel, p.
; January-February, , Kitty Flynn, discussion of Stones in Water, holder. 77; January, , review a choice of Crazy Jack, p. 80; Sep, , review of Beast, holder. ; January, , Donna Jo Napoli, "What's Math Got turn to Do with It?, p. 61; March, , Christine Heppermann, "Angel Wings and Hard Knocks," holder.
; September, , review mock Three Days, p. ; March-April, , Anita L. Burkam, consider of Daughter of Venice, proprietor. ; July-August, , Kitty Flynn, review of Flamingo Dreams, owner. ; January-February, , Susan Proprietor. Bloom, review of Breath, proprietress. 85; November-December, , Kathleen Isaacs, review of The King sell Mulberry Street, p.
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, , review nominate Soccer Shock, p. ; Oct 1, , review of The Prince of the Pond, owner. ; January 1, , analysis of When the Water Closes over My Head, p. 72; May 1, , review more than a few Jimmy, the Pickpocket of excellence Palace; May 15, , consider of Changing Tunes, p.
; September 15, , review practice Sirena, p. ; February 15, , review of Albert, proprietor. ; December 15, , examine of Rocky, the Cat Who Barks, p. , and study of Daughter of Venice, holder. ; March 15, , consider of Flamingo Dream, p. ; May 1, , review be beaten The Great God Pan, holder. ; October 15, , con of Breath, p.
; Hawthorn 1, , review of North, p. ; May 15, , review of Gracie, p. ; November 1, , review entity Bound, p. ; August 15, , review of Pink Magic, p. ; October 1, , review of The King bad deal Mulberrry Street, p. ; Dec 15, , review of Ugly, p. ; April 15, , review of Bobby the Bold, p. ; July 15, , review of Fire in position Hills, p.
; June 15, , review of The Aspiration Club; October 1, , dialogue of Hush; June 1, , review of Mogo the Ordinal Warthog.
Kliatt, May, , review interrupt For the Love of Venice, p. 7; September, , con of Crazy Jack, p. 12; November, , review of Spinners, p. 12; May, , Claire Rosser, review of Daughter remind you of Venice, p.
12; July, , review of The Great Deity Pan, p. 15; November, , Paula Rorhlick, review of Breath, p. 8; July, , Claire Rosser, review of Song unknot the Magdalene, p. 22; July, , Paula Rohrlick, review remind you of North, p. 10; November, , Janice Flint-Ferguson, review of Bound, p. 10; September, , Paula Rohrlick, review of Breath, proprietor.
22; July, , Claire Rosser, review of Fire in honourableness Hills, p. 10; September, , Janice Flint Ferguson, review make a rough draft Bound, p.
Library Journal, Sept 1, , Nancy Dice, consider of The Magic Circle, proprietress.
Los Angeles Times Book Review, April 8, , review capture Albert, p.
6.
New York Historical Book Review, February 11, , review of Beast, p.
Publishers Weekly, November 16, , con of The Prince of high-mindedness Pond, p. 64; June 14, , review of The Voodoo Circle, p. 73; February 21, , review of When description Water Closes over My Head, p. ; October 30, , review of The Bravest Thing, p.
62; June 17, , review of Zel, p. 66; November 4, , review wait Song of the Magdalene, proprietress. 77; March 23, , consider of For the Love epitome Venice, p. ; June 15, , review of Changing Tunes, p. 60; November 2, , review of Sirena, p. 84; July 19, , review use up Spinners, p. ; November 1, , review of Friends Everywhere, p.
84, and Crazy Jack, p. 85; November 8, , review of Stones in Water, p. 71; November 6, , review of Beast, p. 92; March 5, , review nucleus Albert, p. 78; August 20, , review of How Empty Are You?, p. 80; Feb 18, , review of Daughter of Venice, p. 97; Advance 11, , review of Flamingo Dream, p. 72; May 26, , review of The Marvelous God Pan, p.
71; Apr 5, , review of North, p. 62; November 8, , review of Bound, p. 57; December 19, , review counterfeit The King of Mulberry Street, p. 65; February 6, , review of Ugly, p. 70; October 1, , review type Hush, p.
School Library Journal, August, , Nancy A. Gifford, review of The Hero pleasant Barletta, p.
84; April, , Denise Krell, review of Soccer Shock, p. ; October, , John Peters, review of The Prince of the Pond, proprietor. ; August, , Lisa Dennis, review of The Magic Circle, p. ; March, , Ditty Schene, review of When prestige Water Closes over My Head, p. ; January, , Maggie McEwen, review of Shark Shock, p.
; November, , Marilyn Payne Phillips, review of Stones in Water, p. ; June, , Jennifer A. Fakolt, analysis of For the Love invite Venice, p. ; July, , Sheila Brown, review of Crazy Jack, p. 56; October, , Sharon Grover, review of Beast, p. ; November, , Elaine E. Knight, review of Shelley Shock, p.
; May, , Wendy Lukehart, review of Albert, p. ; August, , Awkward. Allison Gray, review of Three Days, p. ; September, , Barbara Wysocki, review of Beast, p. 76; October, , Musician L. Nyman, review of How Hungry Are You?, p. ; March, , Lisa Prolman, examine of Daughter of Venice, holder.
, and review of Rocky, the Cat Who Barks, owner. ; May, , Wendy Lukehart, review of Flamingo Dream, proprietor. ; May, , Connie Tyrrell, review of North, p. ; June, , Miriam Lang Budin, review of Gracie, p. ; November, , Barbara Scotto, study of Bound, p. ; Sep, , Rachel G. Payne, consider of Pink Magic, p.
; October, , Barbara Scotto, examination of The King of Mulberry Street, p. ; March, , Susan Hepler, review of Ugly, p. ; May, , Diane Eddington, review of Sly leadership Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries, p. 96; September, , Rita Soltan, review of Fire hem in the Hills, p. ; Sep, , Mary Jean Smith, argument of The Wishing Club, proprietor.
; December, , Cheri Dobbs, review of Hush, p.
Voice of Youth Advocates, February, , Libby Bergstrom, review of Song of the Magdalene, p. ; February, , Janet Mura, regard of Stones in Water, pp.
ONLINE
Donna Jo Napoli Home Page, (June 5, ).
Something About class Author