A Restless Spirit

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

The first paper edition of the revised and expanded 1991 book is welcome. Bober's retelling of Frost's life is immensely readable. She builds carefully from the first poems and Frost's childhood to give a clear picture not only of the non-conformist dreamer, but also of how his poetry slowly and steadily formed in his mind. Kids should be intrigued by the curious raising that this loving father gave his own children, and by learning that genius does not necessarily beget geniuses. There is also the moral that poverty often accompanies poetry¾a point which makes Frost's pig-headed perseverance all the more impressive and poignant. 1998 orig.

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-- Over the years, the public's perception of Robert Frost has evolved from New England bard to national institution. The image of him, the octogenarian struggling to read his poetry in the bright winter sunlight at John F. Kennedy's inauguration, is forever imprinted on the American mind. Yet Bober successfully portrays the four-time Pulitzer Prize winner as a very human schoolboy, husband, father, farmer, and teacher. She stresses Frost's determination and Yankee spirit, but also gives glimpses of his darker side--the anger, the depression, the suicidal bent. The clear and straightforward text is interwoven with poetry, and readers witness the birth of ``New Hampshire'' and ``Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.'' A revision of Bober's earlier title Atheneum, 1981; o.p., this edition has far more visual appeal. The book originally had 8 photographs; this one has 44 black-and-white illustrations--mostly photographs of Frost and his family--that are generally of good quality. A worthy addition to biography/literature collections. --Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library