(person) by junkpile Thu Sep 21 2000 at 4:46:15

Irene Hunt was born May 18, 1907, in Pontiac, Illinois. Her father died when she was very young, and she went to live with her grandfather, whose vivid storytelling would give her the basis for many of the books she would later dream up. His first book may be dedicated to his great-grandchildren, the author says, but the story is his.

She taught French and English in the Oak Park, Illinois, public schools for 39 years. According to her nephew, Wendell Bruce Beem (?), for many years she worked at her kitchen table, pounding the typewriter until late at night, accumulating heaps of rejection slips but, of course, learning with every manuscript she completed. Her first novel (Across Five Aprils) was not published until she was 57, but it won the Newbery honor and a bunch of other awards and was critically acclaimed and stuff.


Books:

Across Five Aprils

Claws of a Young Century (out of print)

The Everlasting Hills (out of print)

Lottery Rose

No Promises in the Wind

Trail of Apple Blossoms (out of print}

Up a Road Slowly (1967 Newbery Award)

William (out of print)


thanks to:
http://www.edupaperback.org/authorbios/huntiren.html
http://www.mcdougallittell.com/lit/guest/hunt/
http://www.sos.state.il.us/depts/library/programs/kids/ia_hunt.html
www.amazon.com

I like it!