Women Authors - American (U.S.) - Literary Criticism, U.S. Authors - 20th Century - Literary Biography, Literary Criticism - U.S. Fiction & Prose Literature - General & Miscellaneous, Children's & Young Adult Literature - Literary Criticism

Sharon Creech

Name: Sharon Creech
Author: Mary Ann Tighe
ISBN: 9780810850866

by Tighe, Mary Ann

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Overview

Sharon Creech is the only author to receive both the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medal. Sharon Creech: The Words We Choose to Say is a biocritical text focusing on the young adult novels of this author. The text provides background on Creech's family, education, and careers—all of which have impacted her role as a prize-winning author—and summarizes her talent as a storyteller and skill as an author. It then goes on to discuss her novels, which are separated into three categories. The first group category consists of novels set in the real world where the protagonists face the typical challenges of growing up (i.e. dating, rivalries, school problems, and family dilemmas), and eventually learn to cope successfully and emerge as mature young adults. The second group features heroines, who must complete a literal journey that is paralleled by an interior journey of self-discovery as they learn to accept their past and to face the future with courage. The last group tackles Creech's novels that include subtle hints of the world of fantasy, in which the protagonists cannot rely on magic to solve their problems, but instead must learn to accept responsibility for their actions. There is also a section devoted to Creech's other writings: two picture books, four books for young readers, two novels marketed for an adult audience, and her drama, The Center of the Universe: Waiting for the Girl, which was performed off-Broadway. These works possess many of the same themes that appear in Creech's young adult novels: the importance of family, becoming independent, and the power of language to heal and enlighten. A list of all Creech's awards, a complete bibliography, and an index are also included.

About the Author, Mary Ann Tighe

Mary Ann Tighe is a professor of English and directs the graduate and undergraduate programs in English Language Arts Education at Troy University in Alabama.

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Editorials

VOYA - Debbie Clifford

Tighe bills her resource as a "biocritical volume" on Sharon Creech, beginning with a chronology of her life before continuing with a more complete look, as well as the influence of her life experiences on her writing. Tighe moves on to Creech's writing process, quoting the author who says that she begins with a person or place and continues with her listening to her characters' voices. Creech's young adult novels are grouped into chapters by theme. "A Reflection of Reality" covers Absolutely Normal Chaos (HarperCollins, 1995/VOYA June 1996) and Bloomability (1998/VOYA February 1999). The young girls at the center of each book face real issues of family and self-awareness in lifelike settings. Walk Two Moons (1994/VOYA February 1995) and The Wanderer (2000/VOYA December 2000) are discussed in a chapter aptly named "The Journey." The main character in each story is not only on a literal journey but also one of self-discovery. Chasing Redbird (1997) and Ruby Holler (2002) are found in "A Touch of Fantasy." The fantasy theme stretches credibility a bit, and even Tighe admits that the fantasy elements are subtle. Within the chapters, each novel is examined by plot, character, and differing themes. At the conclusion, Tighe brings the books together under the single theme. Negative reviews of Creech's work are mentioned and then countered with positive ones. Another chapter is devoted to Creech's versatility in which her picture books, books for young readers, as well as her earlier works for adults-including a play-are highlighted. The concluding chapter offers a discussion of Creech's stories, the issues about which she writes, and the author herself. An appendix lists awards given toSharon Creech's writing. Tighe does an admirable and complete job of examining Creech's body of work. Anyone involved in teaching young adult literature or organizing a book club would find this book, which is part of the Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature, a most readable, useful resource.