Norma Fox Mazer

In preparation for this publication, author Arthea J.S. Reed spent time with Norma Fox Mazer, the widely acclaimed young adult novelist, who works with not only her husband, but her daughter as well. The book explores the facets of Mazer's works which mirror her own life. In Norma Fox Mazer: A Writer's World, Reed chronicles her discovery that, although her husband and his work are thoroughly intertwined with and complimentary to her own, Norma Fox Mazer "is fiercely independent—a feminist." Reed was fortunate enough to be able to include Mazer's voice in this work as a compliment to her own thorough autobiographical and critical articles. Written primarily for those who are looking to garner a true understanding and appreciation of the craftsmanship behind Mazer's work, readers will also discern where the author stands in the context of the history of young adult literature. Reed provides a chronology of Mazer's twenty books and several awards, a selected bibliography, and a helpful index. The seven chapters of the book are titled: The Roots of Realism, Missing Pieces and Outsiders, Star-Crossed Love, Norma and Harry: Relationship, Romance and Writing, Writing for Young Readers, Fantasy and Suspense, and From Excellence to Mastery.

In Norma Fox Mazer: A Writer's World, Reed chronicles her discovery that, although Mazer's husband and his work are thoroughly intertwined with and complimentary to her own, the author _is fiercely independent—a feminist._

VOYA

Writing with an obvious, unabashed admiration for Mazer's fine-honed craft as a writer of young adult fiction, Reed paints the landscape that shaped Mazer's life and thus her style and direction. Books were a passion for Mazer from a very young age. Combined with the strength of family that surrounded her as a child and that followed her into her adult life, she quite naturally yearned to write and found that family was the subject she knew best. Her themes invariably involve family issues—relationships, maturity, truth and lies, love and acceptance, bonding and erosion, and interfamilial estrangement. Reed examines each of Mazer's major works for theme, character development, plot structure (which Mazer calls the spine of the story), and quality. She helps readers follow Mazer's growth as a writer, from her early days when she and husband Harry were churning out pulp fiction for magazines just for the experience—and the money—to her recent works, such as When She Was Good (Scholastic, 1997/VOYA October 1997), which lay bare the reader's heart. It is a journey worth taking, and this book will appeal to those who are doing research on the body of her work as well as to those readers who simply love it. Index. Biblio. Chronology. 2000, Scarecrow, 156p. PLB $29.50. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Leslie Carter SOURCE: VOYA, August 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 3)

Arthea J.S. Reed, Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, taught education, including adolescent literature, from 1978 to 1996. She is coeditor of the Penguin USA teachers' guide series and has written fifteen books, including Presenting Harry Mazer.