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Overview
Ann Rinaldi, the author of many young adult historical novels, has found her niche and run with it. This historical novelist started as a columnist for The Trentonian in 1970 and has evolved into a prolific and insightful fiction writer who introduces history to young adults through engaging and universal stories. McGlinn explores the life and works of this inspirational author, illustrating the level of historical detail captured in each of Rinaldi's novels and highlighting the themes that she interweaves with American history and the personal development of her characters. Covering everything from America's colonial beginnings through the nineteenth century, Ms. Rinaldi's novels will interest everyone from librarians and teachers to students. Included is a discussion of the recent controversy that has flared over her portrayal of Native American boarding school experiences in My Heart is on the Ground.
Synopsis
Ann Rinaldi, the author of many young adult historical novels, has found her niche and run with it. This historical novelist started as a columnist for The Trentonian in 1976 and has evolved into a prolific and insightful fiction writer who introduces history to young adults through engaging and universal stories.
VOYA
"Reenactment experiences have been Rinaldi's school of history," McGlinn writes, tracing Ann Rinaldi's career from journalist to writer of realistic novels to popular writer of historical novels for teens. McGlinn focuses on how Rinaldi's novels bring history alive for teens through the way she integrates the development of her adolescent female protagonists with the social and political changes of the times in which they are situated. Plots are described and discussed in relation to the themes of coming of age, making moral choices, and finding one's identity. McGlinn points out that in The Secret of Sarah Revere (Harcourt Brace, 1995/VOYA December 1995) and Time Enough for Drums (Holiday House, 1986), Rinaldi creates parallels between the female protagonist's move toward independence and her ability to think for herself and the representation of these themes in the American Revolution. McGlinn describes Rinaldi's research methods in detail, particularly when she addresses the censure of My Heart Is On the Ground (Scholastic, 1999/VOYA October 1999). McGlinn documents much of the harshest criticism of this book made on the Child_Lit listserv and published on the Oyate Web site and in Multicultural Review (September 1999). She omits, however, some of the more detailed criticisms about the lack of cultural authenticity. McGlinn also records Scholastic's defense of the novel. In answer to the criticisms about Rinaldi's use of stereotypical language made by Native American reviewers, McGlinn quotes from two positive reviews published in Booklist (April 1, 1999) and Kirkus (February 1, 1999). McGlinn writes that Rinaldi "faced several technical and artistic puzzles with this novel," and thatthe controversy over the novel is an example of "issues facing writers of historical fiction, especially when they come from a different cultural orientation than the people they are depicting." McGlinn provides insights into Rinaldi's approach to her writing, identifying values inscribed into the novels through choices made by female protagonists. Her analysis, however, is descriptive rather than evaluative. There is little in-depth consideration of writing style, narrative voice, settings, and other literary elements to show how these contribute to Rinaldi's construct of history. An analysis of reviews and articles also would have broadened McGlinn's perspective. Nevertheless, youth librarians, Rinaldi fans, and students of youth literature will find this work useful. Index. Biblio. Source Notes. 2000, Scarecrow Press, 112p, $23.50. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Hilary Crew
SOURCE: VOYA, December 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 5)
Editorials
VOYA
"Reenactment experiences have been Rinaldi's school of history," McGlinn writes, tracing Ann Rinaldi's career from journalist to writer of realistic novels to popular writer of historical novels for teens. McGlinn focuses on how Rinaldi's novels bring history alive for teens through the way she integrates the development of her adolescent female protagonists with the social and political changes of the times in which they are situated. Plots are described and discussed in relation to the themes of coming of age, making moral choices, and finding one's identity. McGlinn points out that in The Secret of Sarah Revere (Harcourt Brace, 1995/VOYA December 1995) and Time Enough for Drums (Holiday House, 1986), Rinaldi creates parallels between the female protagonist's move toward independence and her ability to think for herself and the representation of these themes in the American Revolution. McGlinn describes Rinaldi's research methods in detail, particularly when she addresses the censure of My Heart Is On the Ground (Scholastic, 1999/VOYA October 1999). McGlinn documents much of the harshest criticism of this book made on the Child_Lit listserv and published on the Oyate Web site and in Multicultural Review (September 1999). She omits, however, some of the more detailed criticisms about the lack of cultural authenticity. McGlinn also records Scholastic's defense of the novel. In answer to the criticisms about Rinaldi's use of stereotypical language made by Native American reviewers, McGlinn quotes from two positive reviews published in Booklist (April 1, 1999) and Kirkus (February 1, 1999). McGlinn writes that Rinaldi "faced several technical and artistic puzzles with this novel," and thatthe controversy over the novel is an example of "issues facing writers of historical fiction, especially when they come from a different cultural orientation than the people they are depicting." McGlinn provides insights into Rinaldi's approach to her writing, identifying values inscribed into the novels through choices made by female protagonists. Her analysis, however, is descriptive rather than evaluative. There is little in-depth consideration of writing style, narrative voice, settings, and other literary elements to show how these contribute to Rinaldi's construct of history. An analysis of reviews and articles also would have broadened McGlinn's perspective. Nevertheless, youth librarians, Rinaldi fans, and students of youth literature will find this work useful. Index. Biblio. Source Notes. 2000, Scarecrow Press, 112p, $23.50. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Hilary CrewSOURCE: VOYA, December 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 5)