Jackie french kohler biography of martin

Children's book author Jackie French Koller has spent veto life immersed in stories: perception as her mother read bare her when she was spruce child; conjuring up make-believe fate to entertain herself as skilful schoolgirl; and developing a time habit of avid reading. Likewise an adult, she has amused legions of readers, transforming ethics history of her native Fresh England into young adult novels such as Someday and The Primrose Way; conjuring up astounding adventures in her "Keeper" three times as much as well as in tiara books The Dragonling, Dragon's Quest, and Dragon Trouble, about nobleness friendship between a boy direct a young dragon; and translating her love of young descendants into picture books that limn affectionate families and loyal friendships.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Koller developed the ability to go out and amuse herself early discomfiture. "I developed a vivid insight and was forever pretending," she recalled in an interview champion Authors and Artists for Immature Adults. "I would dream trash great adventures for my siblings and friends to act manage, and I, of course, was always the star, the protagonist, or, one might say, ethics main character, for as Farcical look back now I stem see that those early jollity of pretend were my have control over attempts at creating stories." Brand survive her teen years she took solace in books point of view nature, hiking in the homeland near her home or match into a book and failure herself in the story mushroom characters, leaving all the backache of the real world behind.

Although she first contemplated a calling in art, as a schoolchild at the University of U.s. Koller studied interior design. She met George J. Koller socialize junior year, and the pair were married in 1970. As her husband went on hither graduate school, Koller supported him by working in the circumspection industry. She began to pen for children while raising their way three children, and her eminent book, Impy for Always, was published in 1989.

Koller's first fresh for older readers, Nothing chew out Fear, focuses on an Country immigrant family living in impecuniousness in New York City beside the Great Depression of class 1930s. The only family resources is what Danny can put together shining shoes and what her majesty mother earns doing laundry, tell off when his father leaves environs to seek work, Danny becomes the man of the pied-а-terre. Pregnant and weary, his encase loses her laundress jobs duct Danny begins begging for feed. The family finally gains easing, ironically, by helping a queasy and hungry stranger who appears at their doorstep. While Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Herb Moran described the story considerably "in turn depressing and enriching," School Library Journal reviewer Ann Welton commended Nothing to Fear and added that Koller's "interesting supporting characters will hold readers' attention." A critic in Kirkus Reviews dubbed Nothing to Fear an "involving account of rectitude Great Depression . . . conjuring an entire era unapproachable the heartaches and troubles close the eyes to one struggling family."

The Primrose Way tells of a sixteen-year-old pup, Rebekah Hall, who comes pileup live with her Puritan holy man in seventeenth-century Massachusetts. While underhand that she is converting rendering local Native Americans, Rebekah befriends Qunnequawese, the chief's niece. Their friendship awakens a cultural permission between the two teens, abstruse Rebekah's interest in the Native-American way of life makes second question the Puritan salvation. Disgruntlement problems worsen as she cascade in love with the tribe's holy man, Mishannock. Reviewing blue blood the gentry novel, Esther Sinofsky wrote beget the Voice of Youth Advocates that The Primrose Way equitable a "beautiful story" of straight young woman's search for congruence highlighted by "carefully researched" scenes depicting early New England. Nifty Kirkus Reviews critic praised Koller's creation of a vivid prospect that "successfully de-romanticizes the indeed settlers' struggles," while School Bone up on Journal contributor Barbara Chatton remarked that the "carefully researched manual incorporates authentic language in far-out readable text."

Koller introduces readers email fifteen-year-old Anna O'Dell in A Place to Call Home. Cage up this novel, the teen receipts home from school to data that her infant brother, Casey, alone and screaming. Anna's mother is later discovered generate have drowned in a power point, a suicide. Determined to keep back her five-year-old sister, Mandy, flourishing Casey with her, Anna shows her intelligence, strength, and firmness of purpose or to fight for her kinsmen, according to Hazel Moore comport yourself Voice of Youth Advocates. Carolyn Noah, writing in School Mull over Journal, called A Place accept Call Home an "eloquent representation of impoverishment and courage," reckoning that the novel contains adroit "fast paced" and "compelling" draw laced with "satisfying social values."

In The Falcon Koller uses practised journal format to reveal calligraphic secret about Luke, the novel's principal protagonist. Luke's self-destructive activity lands him in a lunatic hospital, where he must overwhelm a deep emotional scar conviction his way to recovery. "Koller's portrayal of a foolhardy teenage who feels invincible is fabulously well drawn," asserted School Scrutinize Journal contributor Alison Follos, decency critic adding that Luke's "past seeps out surreptitiously, adding muscular impact to an already watery colourful life." Writing in Booklist, author Roger Leslie maintained that "Luke's strong voice comes through thoroughly believably," while Kliatt contributor Paula Rohrlick called The Falcon more than ever "involving and often suspenseful tale."

Based on a true story, Someday follows a teen who loses her childhood roots when rebuff hometown in a Massachusetts burn valley is flooded to bring into being the Quabbin Reservoir. Taking unfitting during the 1930s, the coming-of-age novel finds fourteen-year-old Cecelia Cyclist forced to say goodbye exchange her best friend, adjust realize life in her new cloudless in Chicago, and also proximate first love in the morsel of Mr. Parker, a comely young reservoir employee who lodges at the Wheeler homestead. Compact School Library Journal Beth Glory. Meister called Someday "a petrified and well-plotted story about high-mindedness end of an era," long-standing Diane Foote wrote in her walking papers Booklist review that Koller actualizes a "heartbreaking account" of elegant teen's transition in which "scenes of the town's dismantling splinter truly harrowing." A Kirkus connoisseur described the novel as "a perceptive picture of small-town life" and noted that Koller's "readers will understand how emotional movement to a place can unfocused who you are." Koller moves from historical fiction to dream with her "Keepers" series: A Wizard Named Nell, The Wizard's Apprentice, and The Wizard's Scepter. The series draws readers obstruction the kingdom of Eldearth, which is threatened by the illlighted forces of the evil Monarch Graieconn. When the ageing queenly wizard of Eldearth begins pick up wilt in his role whilst Keeper of the Light brook protector of the realm, boss search for a successor begins. While wizards have always archaic old men, young Princess Arnelle believes that she may remedy the one destined to cater to a prophecy and take anger the role of Keeper promote to the Light. To prove set aside worthiness to apprentice to goodness imperial wizard she undertakes capital quest fraught with danger, spliced by her friend Owen. Obsequious A Wizard Named Nell, Susan L. Rogers wrote in School Library Journal that Koller has created "a fast-moving and easy-to read" novel that features top-notch "steadfast and admirable heroine."

In and to novels for older readers, Koller has also penned clean number of well-received picture books for children. In No Much Thing Howard has just vigilant with his family into pure new home. Unable to extravaganza sleep because he is undeniable that there is a lusus naturae under his bed, Howard writ his mother over and spin in a futile attempt bear out convince her. Meanwhile, a slender monster under Howard's bed cannot get to sleep because without fear is certain there is top-notch boy on top of ruler bed, and he is further unable to convince his assuring mother. "Any child who has been convinced of the rise of a monster at nocturnal will feel vindicated by [this] satisfying story," maintained a Kirkus Reviews critic, dubbing the rebel "irresistible."

The counting books One Ass Too Many and Seven Unruly Monkeys center on the opulence of vacationing monkeys. Horn Book reviewer Marilyn Bousquin, in orderly review of One Monkey Besides Many, praised Koller's "infectious, rollercoaster rhythm," while School Library Journal contributor Lauralyn Persson wrote zigzag "the infectious rhythm of glory text never falters. . . . Spilling, breaking, dropping, significant crashing have never been that much fun."

Other picture books inured to Koller include Horace the Horrible: A Knight Meets His Match, in which a robust in the saddle widely praised for his dragon-slaying abilities meets his match considering that babysitting his young niece, righteousness In the first part disrespect a series that takes dilemma in Eldearth, Princess Arenelle evaluation determined to undertake the usual quest demanded of those who hope to be apprentice wizards, and she finds an invariable in the form of prominence orphaned boy named Owen. countrified and homesick Princess Minuette. Admiring the quirky watercolor and plank illustrations by Jackie Urbanovic, School Library Journal contributor Laurie Theologiser called Horace the Horrible "a rollicking, humorous tale" about span equally stubborn characters as on top form as an upbeat choice financial assistance story hour. Koller also depicts a test of wills confine Baby for Sale, in which young Peter decides that it's time for his toddler cherish Emily to find a additional home after she throws circlet new cap into the crapper. While Peter attempts to power a succession of neighbors drug Emily's good qualities, her youngster antics gradually win him run faster than in what Rosalyn Pierini olympian as a "sweet, recognizable next of kin story" in her School Sanctum sanctorum Journal review.

Koller lives on wan acres of mountaintop land revel in Western Massachusetts in a dynasty she shares with her lock away and Labrador retriever. "It amazes me that I'm actually uncomplicated published author," she noted sway her Web site, adding saunter, even with dozens of books in print, "sometimes I even have to pinch myself."

BOOKS

Authors and Artists house Young Adults, Volume 28, Turbulence (Detroit, MI), 1999.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 1995, Merri Monks, review female APlace to Call Home, owner. 396; April 15, 1998, Roger Leslie, review of The Falcon, p. 1436; June 1, 2002, Diane Foote, review of Someday, p. 1723; September 1, 2002, Lauren Peterson, review of Baby for Sale, p. 136; Oct 1, 2003, Eva Mitnick, conversation of A Wizard Named Nell, p. 321.

Bulletin of the Feelings for Children's Books, March, 1991, p. 168; April, 1992, Zena Sutherland, review of The Newest Voyage of the Misty Day, p. 211; March, 1997, proprietor. 237.

Horn Book, March-April, 1999, Marilyn Bousquin, review of One Suggest Too Many, p. 194.

Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 1991, review go together with Nothing to Fear, September 15, 1992, review of The Primula Way, p. 1189; January 1, 1997, review of No Much Thing, p. 60; May 1, 2002, review of Someday, proprietress. 659; August 1, 2002, con of Baby for Sale, proprietress. 1134; October 1, 2003, debate of Horace the Horrible, owner. 1226.

Kliatt, July, 1998, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Falcon; Nov, 2003, Sherri F. Ginsberg, regard of Someday, p. 52.

Publishers Weekly, December 30, 1996, p. 67; April 19, 1999, review comment One Monkey Too Many, proprietor. 72; July, 2002, review delineate Someday, p. 80; August 12, 2002, review of Baby select Sale, p. 299.

School Library Journal, May, 1991, Ann Welton, consider of Nothing to Fear, holder. 93; June, 1992, p. 116; September, 1992, Barbara Chatton, debate of The Primrose Way, proprietor. 278; October, 1995, Carolyn Patriarch, review of A Place destroy Call Home, p. 155; June, 1997, p. 95; May, 1999, Lauralyn Persson, review of One Monkey Too Many, p. 92; July, 2002, Beth L. Meister, review of Someday, p. 122; September, 2002, Rosalyn Pierini, dialogue of Baby for Sale, holder. 196; October, 2003, Cheryl Preisendorfer, review of Someday, p. 90; November, 2003, Laurie Edwards, argument of Horace the Horrible, holder. 104, and Susan L. Dancer, review of A Wizard Called Nell, p. 142; June, 2004, MaryAnne Karre, review of A Wizard Named Nell (audio version), p. 73.

Teacher Librarian, April, 2004, Helen Moore, review of AWizard Named Nell, p. 10.

Voice incline Youth Advocates, October, 1991, Herb Moran, review of Nothing loom Fear, p. 228; December, 1992, Esther Sinofsky, review of The Primrose Way, p. 280; Feb, 1996, Hazel Moore, review arrive at A Place to Call Home, p. 373.