Before They Were Authors

May 27, 2019
Using a graphic-novel format and her trademark watercolor stylings, illustrator Haidle makes her authorial debut with this collection of abridged biographies of 10 authors, including Maya Angelou, Roald Dahl, and J.K. Rowling. Chapters open with a quote from and portrait of the featured author; and a timeline of their well-known works is sandwiched between birth and, where applicable, death dates. Brief narratives describe the writers’ often-circuitous journeys toward fame, avoiding controversy but highlighting childhoods marked by hardship or alienation. Angelou experienced trauma during her upbringing (“at the age of seven, a terrible crisis occurred”), C.S. Lewis was born with “a birth defect affecting his thumbs”; and Sandra Cisneros and Gene Luen Yang both drew from their dual cultures as they began to write. Soft blue, gray, orange, and brown shades color the animated panels, which are frequently divided diagonally. The positioning of complementary hues creates a pleasing design aesthetic, and myriad details invite prolonged perusing. Source notes and a bibliography wrap up this visually appealing glimpse into the backstories of a few story writers. Ages 10–up.

June 7, 2019

Gr 4-7-This collective graphic biography celebrates the early lives and journeys of 10 famous authors from a range of publishing eras: Mark Twain, Maya Angelou, Dr. Seuss, Sandra Cisneros, Roald Dahl, J.K. Rowling, Gene Luen Yang, Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle. The title of the book is a bit of a misnomer; abridged biographies describe the authors' childhoods but also include general information about their careers and lives after becoming established. Sourced quotes from the authors' works and about themselves offer a feel for the differences in their styles, and the details often match the tone of the artists' work. Dr. Seuss's section has a panel depicting his imaginary children, and Beatrix Potter's incorporates her scientific research and conservation work. The palette gives the book a cohesive look, and fans will enjoy seeing depictions of their favorite books. VERDICT May need some handselling but could influence aspiring young writers to follow their dreams, too.-Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
Grades 2-5 Comics publisher and author-illustrator Haidle profiles 10 celebrated authors, representing several generations, whose books have been embraced by young people. From Mark Twain and Beatrix Potter to J. K. Rowling and Gene Luen Yang, the featured writers are each given five pages through which their childhoods, paths to publication, and seminal works are introduced. Each chapter begins with a full-page portrait of the subject as an adult, framed by a quotation from one of their books and a short time line. Casual browsers will find appeal in the pastel tones of the watercolor-and-ink illustrations, presented in comics-style panels. Young researchers will benefit from extensive back matter, including source notes and a bibliography, but the brevity of the entries doesn't always leave room for nuanced exploration. For example, the section on Maya Angelou glosses over her childhood trauma, and any mention of racism with regard to Dr. Seuss or Roald Dahl is notably absent. Still, fans of classic children's literature will enjoy this reverential and playful volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)