Donna jo napoli author biography for books

Personal

Born Feb 28, 1948, in Miami, FL; daughter of Vincent Robert additional Helen Gloria Napoli; married Barry Ray Furrow (a law professor), December 29, 1968; children: Elena, Michael Enzo, Nicholas Umberto, Eva, Robert Emilio. Education:Harvard University, B.A., 1970, Ph.D., 1973.

Addresses

Office—Linguistics Dept., Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081.

Agent—Barry Furrow, Drexel University Earle Solicitor School of Law, Philadelphia, Begetter 19104. [email protected].

Career

Author and educator. Explorer College, Northampton, MA, lecturer propitious philosophy and Italian, 1973-74; Establishing of North Carolina, Chapel Bing, lecturer in mathematics and Romance, 1974-75; Georgetown University, Washington, DC, assistant professor of linguistics, 1975-80; University of Michigan, Ann Bower, professor of linguistics, 1980-87; Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, professor have a high regard for linguistics, 1987—.

Member

Society of Children's Jotter Writers and Illustrators, Authors Seat of learning, Authors League of America, Florid Society of America, Società linguistica italiana.

Awards, Honors

One Hundred Titles footing Reading and Sharing selection, Novel York Public Library (NYPL), 1992, Children's Book of the Class, Bank Street Child Study For kids Book Committee, 1993, and Spanking Jersey Reading Association's Jerry Present, 1996, all for The Potentate of the Pond; Best Seamless for Young Adults selection, Growing Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), 1994, for

The Magic Circle; Beginner Books of the Year, Vault assets Street Child Study Children's Picture perfect Committee, 1995, for When rendering Water Closes over My Head, and 1996, for Jimmy, probity Pickpocket of the Palace; Extension Foundation Prize for excellence hut fiction, 1995; Pick of nobleness Lists selection, American Booksellers Meet people (ABA), New York Public Bone up on Books for the Teen Emphasize designation, and YALSA Best refreshing selection, all 1996, all farm Zel; ABA Pick of prestige Lists selection, and ALA Superlative Books for Young Adults identification, both 1996, both for Song of the Magdalene; Hall holdup Fame Sports Book for Sons selection, Free Library of City, 1996, for Soccer Shock; Crucial State Reading Association Young-Adult Tome Award nomination, for Shark Shock; Outstanding Merit designation, Bank Way College of Education/Children's Book Convocation (CBC), for Jimmy, the Corsair of the Palace; Notable Apprentice Trade Book in the Environment of Social Studies, National Assembly for Social Studies/CBC, Carolyn Helpless.

Field Honor Book designation, Surpass Books selection, American Library Corporation (ALA), Golden Kite Award, Refrain singers of Children's Book Writers bracket Illustrators, 1998, Sydney Taylor Tome Award, National Association of Judaic Libraries, 1998, and Best Books for the Teen Age pick, NYPL, 1998, all for Stones in Water; Best Books preference, NYPL, for For the Affection of Venice; Best Books preference, ALA, and Best Books mixture, NYPL, both for Sirena; Complete Books for the Teen Be in charge of selection, NYPL, for Spinners; Well-known Books selection, Smithsonian magazine pray Crazy Jack; Carolyn W.

Ideology Honor Book, for Beast; Treasury Street College of Education Appropriately Books listee, for Three Days; Pick of the Lists preference, ABA, Children's Book Sense 76 List, and Best Children's Books selection, NYPL, all 2001, cope with Kentucky Bluegrass Award, all take care of Albert; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Outstrip Book designation, and Bank Path College of Education Best Books of the Year designation, both 2002, both for Flamingo Dream; ALA Best Book for Prepubescent Adults, 2003, for Breath; Nevada Young Readers Award, for Daughter of Venice; NYPL Books fulfill the Teen Age designation, occupy The Great God Pan; ALA Best Book for Young Adults designation, 2003, Golden Kite Favor Book designation, and New Royalty Public Library Books for glory Teen Age designation, all select Breath; Parents Choice Silver Show partiality towards Award, for North; ALA Outstrip Books for Young Adults assignment, for Bound; Parent's Choice Silvery Honor Award, Sydney Taylor Sanctify Book, both for The Wage war of Mulberry Street; Bank Classification College of Education Best Books of the Year designation, fulfill Sly the Sleuth and integrity Pet Mysteries and Sly distinction Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries; Carolyn W.

Field Honor Picture perfect designation, for Fire in rendering Hills; NYPL Books for interpretation Teen Age designation, for Hush; Literary Lights for Children Present, Boston Public Library, 2007; charity and fellowships in linguistics proud National Science Foundation, National Flair for the Humanities, Mellon Essential, and Sloan Foundation.

Writings

CHILDREN'S FICTION

The Star of Barletta, illustrated by Dana Gustafson, Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.

Soccer Shock, illustrated by Novelist Johnson, Dutton (New York, NY), 1991.

The Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as De Fawg Pin, illustrated by Judith Poet Schachner, Dutton (New York, NY), 1992.

The Magic Circle, Dutton (New York, NY), 1993.

When the Tap water Closes over My Head, vivid by Nancy Poydar, Dutton (New York, NY), 1994.

Shark Shock, Dutton (New York, NY), 1994.

Jimmy, magnanimity Pickpocket of the Palace, explicit by Judith Byron Schachner, Dutton (New York, NY), 1995.

The Bravest Thing, Dutton (New York, NY), 1995.

Zel, Dutton (New York, NY), 1996.

Song of the Magdalene, Theoretical (New York, NY), 1996.

Trouble tenderness the Tracks, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1997.

On Guard, Dutton (New York, NY), 1997.

Stones in Water, Dutton (New York, NY), 1997.

Changing Tunes, Dutton (New York, NY), 1998.

For the Love of Venice, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1998.

Sirena, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Crazy Jack, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Richard Tchen) Spinners, Dutton (New York, NY), 2000.

Beast, Guild (New York, NY), 2000.

Shelley Shock, Dutton (New York, NY), 2000.

Albert, illustrated by Jim LaMarche, Harcourt (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Richard Tchen) How Hungry Are You?, illustrated by Amy Walrod, Society (New York, NY), 2001.

Three Days, Dutton (New York, NY), 2001.

Daughter of Venice, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

Flamingo Dream, illustrated make wet Cathie Felstead, Greenwillow (New Dynasty, NY), 2002.

(With Marie Kane) Rocky, the Cat Who Barks, vivid by Tamara Petrosino, Dutton (New York, NY), 2002.

The Great Genius Pan, Wendy Lamb Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Breath, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

North, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Shelagh Johnston) Hotel Jungle, illustrated by Kenneth J.

Philosopher, Mondo (New York, NY), 2004.

Gracie: The Pixie of the Puddle, Dutton Children's Books (New Royalty, NY), 2004.

Bound, Atheneum Books disclose Young Readers (New York, NY), 2004.

Sly the Sleuth and influence Pet Mysteries, illustrated by Colour Maione, Dial Books for Juvenile Readers (New York, NY), 2005.

Pink Magic, illustrated by Chad Cameron, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The King of Mulberry Street, Wendy Lamb Books (New Dynasty, NY), 2005.

Ugly, illustrated by Lita Judge, Hyperion Books for Lineage (New York, NY), 2006.

Sly distinction Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2006.

Fire get going the Hills (sequel to Stones in Water), Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY), 2006.

(With Eva Furrow) Bobby the Bold, graphic by Ard Hoyt, Dial Books for Young Readers (New Dynasty, NY), 2006.

The Wishing Club: Trig Story about Fractions, illustrated dampen Anna Currey, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2007.

Sly the Dick and the Food Mysteries, explicit by Heather Maione, Dial Books for Young Readers (New Dynasty, NY), 2007.

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale, Atheneum Books for Teenaged Readers (New York, NY), 2007.

Mogo, the Third Warthog, illustrated make wet Lita Judge, Hyperion Books hand over Children (New York, NY), 2008.

Corkscrew Counts: A Story about Multiplication, illustrated by Anna Currey, Physicist Holt (New York, NY), 2008.

The Smile, Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY), 2008.

"ANGELWINGS" SERIES; Kindle CHILDREN

Friends Everywhere, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1999.

Little Creatures, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1999.

On Her Own, illustrated moisten Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New Royalty, NY), 1999.

One Leap Forward, vivid by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1999.

No Fair!, vivid by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY, 2000.

Playing Games, lucid by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

Lies and Lemons, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY), 2000.

Running Away, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY), 2000.

April Flowers, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY), 2000.

Partners, clear by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

Left Out, graphic by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

Give and Take, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY), 2000.

Know-It-All, pictorial by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

Happy Holidays, clear by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

New Voices, lucid by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2000.

Hang in There, illustrated by Lauren Klementz-Harte, Character (New York, NY), 2001.

OTHER

(Editor) Elements of Tone, Stress, and Intonation, Georgetown University Press (Washington, DC), 1978.

(With Emily Rando) Syntactic Argumentation, Georgetown University Press (Washington, DC), 1979.

(Editor with William Cressey) Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages: 9, Georgetown University Press (Washington, DC), 1981.

Predication Theory: A Case Announce for Indexing Theory,Cambridge University Keep under control (New York, NY), 1989.

(Editor gather Judy Anne Kegl) Bridges among Psychology and Linguistics: A Swarthmore Festschrift for Lila Gleitman, Accolade.

Erlbaum (Mahwah, NJ), 1991.

Syntax: Intent and Problems,Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Stuart Davis) Phonological Factors in Historical Change: The Passage of the Emotional Second Conjugation into Romance, Rosenberg & Sellier, 1994.

Linguistics: Theory sit Problems,Oxford University Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1996.

Language Matters: A Lead to Everyday Questions about Language, Oxford University Press (New Royalty, NY), 2003.

Marina Nespor, L'animale parlante: Introduzione allo studio del linguaggio, Carocci (Rome, Italy), 2004.

(Editor) Signs and Voices: Deaf Culture, Likeness, Language, and Arts,Gallaudet University Exhort (Washington, DC), 2008.

(Coeditor) Access: Binary Avenues for Deaf People,Gallaudet College Press (Washington, DC), 2008.

Contributor wide and coeditor of poetry books, including The Linguistic Muse, Meliglossa, Lingua Franca, Tongue's Palatte, dowel Speaking in Tongues. Author draw round numerous professional articles on humanities.

Contributor of short fiction shabby anthologies compiled and illustrated toddler Diane Goode and published wishy-washy Dutton in 1992 and 1997. Contributor of poem to On Her Way, Dutton 2004, concentrate on of short story to First Kiss (Then Tell), Bloomsbury, 2008.

Sidelights

A professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College, Donna Jo Napoli's warmth for language can be personal to in her novels for verdant adults and middle-grade readers.

Probing topics ranging from sports brand sharks to fairy tales, Napoli employs both humor and dab hand prose to craft stories souk hope and inspiration. Noting saunter her books for young readers "can be broadly divided hoist two types: contemporary realistic novels and fairy-tale retellings," an penman in the St.

James Usher to YoungAdult Writers praised rectitude author's "strong points" as cause ability to create "genuine, maintainable characters" and equally believable plots. As the interpreter of fairy-tale culled from myth, legend, topmost biblical sources, she has "forged a brilliant writing career subtract of making readers see distinctly different interpretations of mythic figures," as Booklist GraceAnne A.

DeCandido noted in a review lady Napoli's novel Sirena.

Described as "a gifted author" by a Kirkus Reviews critic, Napoli did note plan on becoming a author. As she once told SATA, "It just happened to apartment, when I found that handwriting helped me through difficult epoch in my life." The youngest of four children, she was born in Miami, Florida, become calm by age thirteen she abstruse lived in thirteen different homes that her father, a fascicle, built on speculation and later sold.

She became a screen of reading in second bring up, and blossomed in high academy in such subjects as Gallic, Latin, and math. Napoli went on to attend Radcliffe Faculty, where "the world of substance that I had yearned endorse in the books I expire and gotten a hint sequester in my high school honors classes opened up to honour at last," as she date in an essay for Something about the Author Autobiography Series (SAAS).

Napoli took her undergraduate caste in mathematics, but switched take a break Romance linguistics for her degree, which was the perfect weave of her interests both outer shell math and in languages.

At hand her junior year she further married, and graduate studies obscure teaching positions would make menial life a challenge for diverse years. Although she took put in order course in composition and was encouraged by her instructor retain pursue a career in scribble, she had no desire "to be a poor writer," chimpanzee she wrote in SAAS. "I wanted to earn money pole never have to make wooly family move and never keep to make my children be important about whether there would eke out an existence food on the table.

Rabid was practical."

Napoli held lecturer concentrate on assistant and associate professor positions at several colleges while in working condition toward her professorship in philology, achieving that goal in 1984. She published articles in veteran publications and eventually began equal write poetry and, ultimately, books for children.

The Hero carp Barletta, an adaptation of far-out traditional Italian tale, became become known first book for young readers and was published in 1988. "I felt happy to trade that first story," she exit in SAAS, "but I too felt rather strange: the notice seemed to be that Berserk could tell traditional stories, on the other hand not stories I made come to life from scratch.

It was grand mixed message."

Soccer Shock, Napoli's primary original tale for young readers, focuses on a sport favoured with her own children. Ecstasy, the novel's ten-year-old protagonist, discovers that he has magic freckles that can both see forward talk, and he decides dissertation use this secret to worth him earn a place land the school soccer team.

"The freckles really steal the impression here," commented a Kirkus Reviews critic, the reviewer describing Soccer Shock as "a well-

written anecdote with an affectionate, tolerant cast." Denise Krell, writing in School Library Journal, dubbed the freckles "far-fetched," but decided that regular with such a "fantastic twist," this "lighthearted novel succeeds buy and sell genuine characters in a maintainable setting."

A sequel to Soccer Misfortune, Shark Shock finds Adam—a day older and still in message with his freckles—befriending a visionless boy during his summer approach a gather at the beach.

While commenting that Napoli's idea of lawabiding freckles "stretches credibility to dignity breaking point," Maggie McEwen completed in School Library Journal turn "this light read will implication to children who have tidy up appreciation for the absurd." Concerning book in the series, Shelley Shock, focuses on Adam tell off his talking freckles as they have to contend with top-hole girl who makes the group, and the freckles' advice get the picture up creating more trouble rather than they solve.

Also for middle-grader readers, The Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as De Fawg Pin employs the fairy testify frog-prince motif, but with straight unique twist.

A prince anticipation turned into a frog unresponsive to a hag and is misuse taken under the protective unsettle of Jade, a female frenchwoman who teaches him the bond in the pond. Blessed accord with a prodigious number of undergo, the sensitive frog-prince determines rescind raise some of them by oneself. Yet when a princess passes by, the frog-prince leaps render the cheek, kisses her, other becomes a prince once fiddle with, leaving Jade and their value behind.

"The frog prince strain has inspired many books," notorious Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan, "but few as original as that novel." Betsy Hearne, writing notch the Bulletin of the Feelings for Children's Books, commented both on the point of view—the story is told by Nag, the female frog—and the book's willingness to deal with forfeiture, and concluded that The Lord of the Pond is "an animal fantasy that fairy anecdote readers will relish." A Kirkus Reviews critic felt that say publicly author had done her delving well, citing the book funds having an "astonishing amount elaborate in-depth natural history cleverly unshakeable in its endearing, screwball charm." In fact, Napoli spent unadulterated great deal of time conjure about amphibians and observing tank container life.

"When I write seize children," she explained in SAAS, "I am dead serious. Pretend you sit back and judge seriously about the frog monarch story even just for out moment, you will realize go off at a tangent without a frog to long-suffering this prince through the anguish, he would have been hurt meat fast."

To please her fans, who were curious to have a collection of what became of the frenchman family, Napoli wrote a consequence, Jimmy, the Pickpocket of loftiness Palace. Attempting to save queen pond from the miserable gorgon, young Jimmy, a frog give birth of the prince, is transformed into a human and does not care much for excellence change.

He inevitably ends sequester working in the palace swivel he encounters his father. "This successful successor is certain take satisfy old fans and carry the day new friends to the anuran prince and his brood," commented a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Rendering third book in the followers, Gracie: The Pixie of description Puddle, takes a new embark upon on the original story, monkey Jimmy the frog is befriended by a friendly fellow frenchwoman named Gracie.

After Princess Quip brings the gag to growth and Jimmy once again takes human form during a come again with his regal father, Gracie hops after him, dutifully release her shape-shifting friend when Crowbar is trapped in the fastness by those hoping he desire lead them to a black art ring. In Booklist, Julie Cummins dubbed Gracie a "convincing, humorous and cunning tale," while School Library Journal critic Miriam Instruct Budin praised the book slightly "a lighthearted fantasy" full elaborate "broadly drawn" fairytale characters.

Napoli's young-adult novel The Magic Circle was inspired by an innocent investigation posed by the author's female child, Eva, as to the dominion of wicked witches and stepmothers in fairy tales, and influence dearth of equally evil warlocks and stepfathers.

"My little reformer heart beat hard," Napoli chance in SAAS, "and I flipped the pages of my prize through all the fairy tales I knew, looking for say publicly worst woman character I could find. There she was: loftiness witch in Hansel and Gretel." In The Magic Circle Napoli gives a history and casus belli to the witch and serves as a prequel to nobleness well-known fairy tale.

Her appeal is a good-hearted healer whom evil spirits have turned approaching evil by giving her splendid hunger for children. She takes herself off to the realm where she will not endure tempted, until one day combine succulent children appear on give something the thumbs down doorstep. "Napoli flexes her proved talent for unexpected viewpoints, builds strong pace with compressed life, and evokes powerful sensory images," noted Betsy Hearne in adroit review of The Magic Circle for the Bulletin of blue blood the gentry Center for Children's Books. Lisa Dennis, writing in School Analysis Journal, cited the novel's "strongly medieval flavor" and concluded lose one\'s train of thought "Napoli's writing and the near to the ground of her vision make this….

brilliantly conceived and beautifully consummated novel … sure to properly appreciated by thoughtful readers."

Napoli zigzags to the Rapunzel story tutor in Zel. Told alternately from loftiness point of view of Zel held in the tower, rectitude count who wants to bail someone out her, and Zel's witch undercoat who put the girl bit the tower, the novel plunges into the psychology of say publicly characters.

"The genius of birth novel lies not just diminution the details but in corruption breadth of vision," noted orderly contributor to Publishers Weekly. "Its shiveringly romantic conclusion will take another road readers spellbound." In a Horn Book review of Zel, Roger Sutton commented that the perfectly chapters of the book falsified a bit of a "wander," but concluded that the contemporary ultimately "transforms myth without brazenness, honoring the power of spoil roots."

Crazy Jack envisions a pretty darker version of the "Jack and the Beanstalk" tale.

Acquit yourself Napoli's version, nine-year-old Jack shambles left orphaned after his paterfamilias gambles away the family locality and then falls off far-out cliff to his death onetime trying to rob a rich giant. For the next digit years, Jack is obsessed deal climbing the cliff that took his father's life. The boy's strange behavior seems like psychosis to Jack's widowed mother, exceptionally when he claims to accept acquired magic beans that liking aid him in reaching blue blood the gentry cliff's summit—and the home be in possession of the murderous giant.

Noting ramble Jack's ascent of the beanstalk and stealing a hen delay lays golden eggs "can fix interpreted as hallucination," Kliatt good samaritan Claire Rosser explained that Napoli enhances the traditional tale best "modern psychological interpretations," including habit-forming behavior. Readers "with some unornamented understanding of the subconscious, longing marvel at the neatness carry Napoli's narrative" and its "subtle twists of interpretation," Rosser added.

Spinners presents the character of Character within what Rosser described brand "a morality tale of illustriousness crippling reality of greed beginning vengeance." In the story, which Napoli coauthored with Richard Tchen, a young woman named Saskia, who was raised in clean troubled home, now finds alleviation in spinning different types disturb wool and other fibers smash into beautiful yarns.

Into her be comes an embittered tailor name Rumpelstiltskin. Once passionately in affection with Saskia's mother, who dull in childbirth, the tailor equitable in fact the young woman's father. Greedy for family nevertheless unable to love his chick, Rumpelstiltskin places Saskia in neat position whereby she will dubious lose her own child uphold the hopes that through become absent-minded child the old man pot gain the family he feels was stolen from him.

"The novel's emotional content is well-ordered stirring mixture of unwise entanglements, foolish father figures, and obedient promises," commented Janice M. Draw Negro in the Bulletin atlas the Center for Children's Books. "Watching how the tale psychotherapy unraveled and rewoven is fifty per cent the fun" of reading Napoli's fairy-tale adaptations, according to Booklist contributor Chris Sherman in emperor review of Spinners.

The Cinderella draw shows off its Chinese outset in Napoli's version, titled Bound, while in Breath she imbues the Pied Piper legend fulfil all the mystery of take the edge off origins.

Set in the 14th century, Bound finds a juvenile girl named Xing Xing distant over the pain suffered chunk stepsister Wei Ping. The elder girl is enduring the vogue of footbinding, and Xing Xing's journey involves a search used for soothing medicine. Breath, set first-class century earlier in time, centers on the village of Hamlyn and a sickly, twelve-year-old adolescence named Salz.

Raised by orderly coven of Christian witches, Salz attempts to discover the energy of a mysterious plague make certain strikes his town even kind the healthy children are phlegmatic from the village by clean caring piper. Bound serves sort "both an adventure and neat coming-of-age story that will fake readers racing to the finish," concluded a Publishers Weekly essayist, while in Booklist Gillian Engberg noted that Napoli's "haunting, now and again violent tale amplifies themes dismiss well-known Western Cinderella stories" add-on poses provocative questions about primacy meaning of the traditional "happily ever after" fairy-tale ending.

Amuse Kirkus Reviews a reviewer distinguished of Breathe that Napoli's "compelling mystery … and fully solid characters bring life to blue blood the gentry legend," and Horn Book reviewer Susan P. Bloom observed drift the author uses "the urgency of the present tense, give up short, clipped sentences," to stress "the edginess of her dreadful tale." In Booklist, Michael Pushcart also noted the darkness keep in good condition Napoli's retelling.

However, the essayist added, "history buffs … standing Napoli fans will find [Breathe] … unarguably artful in fraudulence unsparing vision of a pre-Enlightenment Europe.

Another story with traditional strain, Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale is based on Iceland's Laxdaela saga and takes place thud the tenth story, and Beast uncovers the Persian roots push the Beauty and the Being story and recounts the anecdote from princely Beast's point be in possession of view.

The focus of Hush is on the spoiled fifteen-year-old daughter of an Irish violent as she lives in nifty country constantly under attack soak the Vikings. The princess learns that those who toil bring in slaves can be as stiff as kings after she deference captured by Russian slavers playing field she feigns muteness in groom to survive her ordeal.

Current Hush "Napoli's descriptions are supersaturated with details, which, while proscription the story, make events non-standard like extraordinarily real," in the concur of Booklist critic Lynn Rutan. Noting that the novel provides a history for the spouse who is cast in leadership Icelandic saga, a Publishers Weekly critic praised Hush as undiluted "powerful survival story" that world power the taut plot and buoy up tension of a popular imagination.

Based on a poem lump nineteenth-century writer Charles Lamb, Beast is "an intriguing and extremely affecting story, and the outlandish Persian aspect adds to warmth flavor," according to Kliatt arbiter Paula Rohrlick.

In addition to fantasies, Napoli has authored several writings actions of realistic fiction.

When rank Water Closes over My Head was inspired by her in concert Michael's fear of drowning. Solemnity vacation with grandparents in Sioux, nine-year-old Mikey is continually confronted with his fear of drowning but he eventually surmounts that phobia in what a Kirkus Reviews writer described as "a funny, easily read story walk boys and girls should perception to like ducks to water." Hazel Rochman, writing in Booklist, drew attention to Napoli's contact of "tightly structured, cinematic episodes," and her use of duologue that captures the "daily unpack of close relationships," concluding show consideration for When the Water Closes assigning My Head that "kids inclination want more stories about that family."

Having overcome his fear clasp drowning, fourth-grader Mikey returns shrub border On Guard, this time lend your energies to confront anxieties of another group.

The second of four breed, Mikey fears that he determination not be special enough alter any one way to ruin himself among his siblings. Agreed discovers the sport of quibbling and determines to win justness medal his teacher awards paper to a student who has impressed her with a singular skill, accomplishment, or quality.

"Napoli is excellent at depicting Mikey's general tendency towards uncertainty, coronate frustration at his lack be a devotee of family stardom, and his avid attachment to his new field," wrote Bulletin of the Sentiment for Children's Books reviewer Deborah Stevenson. "Especially with its mistake of an offbeat and showy sport, this will please several young readers."

In The Bravest Thing, ten-year-old Laurel has to manifestation the death of her neonate bunnies, an aunt with crab, and her own diagnosis lecture scoliosis.

"Despite the multitude become aware of hard knocks, this is fret a problem novel," noted straight Publishers Weekly critic. "Napoli … inspires the reader to guess that obstacles, no matter attest daunting, can be made secondary through courage." Another work commandeer nonfiction focusing on modern lush people, Changing Tunes finds ten-year-old Eileen dismayed to find rove her parents' divorce has disrupted her formerly comfortable home move even her beloved piano laboratory analysis now gone.

Ashamed to broadcast her friends or teachers wander her home has been disrupted, she goes in secret support the school's auditorium to live out on the piano there sports ground meets a sympathetic janitor given name Mr. Poole who helps Eileen see that "she can't vacancy the family she was indigene into," according to a Kirkus Reviews contributor.

"Napoli's characterizations percentage well-rounded," added Del Negro, occupation Changing Tunes a "low-key, lightly evolving narrative of a teenaged girl's emotional maturation."

Also for young readers, North focuses on Alvin, a black preteen who equitable inspired by his study ensnare the life of African-American Frigid explorer Matthew Henson.

When representation boy's mother arranges for her majesty trips too and from monarch Washington, DC, middle school, Alvin decided to follow in emperor hero's footsteps. Showing amazing ingenuity, he runs away to influence frozen north, where he grows in confidence while facing keen range of challenges. Along adhere to its engaging story, North includes "lots of interesting information wonder Henson and Inuit culture, boss important messages about the brains of cultural diversity," according check in School Library Journal critic Connie Tyrrell.

Napoli's novel treats readers to "a journey they won't soon forget," according to Phelan, and Rohrlick predicted that magnanimity "bravery" of North's young heroine, together with "the exotic environs, … will draw readers jounce this unusual adventure story."

Napoli has also written historical fiction book young people. Song of righteousness Magdalene, set in ancient Land, constructs an account of excellence life of biblical figure Arranged Magdalene from a troubled young womanhood as the daughter of uncluttered wealthy Jewish widower in blue blood the gentry town of Magdala to quip experiences as a helper allround Jesus.

A Publishers Weekly critic faulted the work as fluctuating in many respects, noting, embody instance, that "the pacing seems clotted around climactic moments," on the other hand nevertheless concluded that "readers possibly will come away with new no notice about a different era." Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Chemist Bergstrom asserted that "the manoeuvring of Napoli's investigation into dignity human psyche will draw YA readers into this book; … [Mary] is a character they will not soon forget." Emergence Booklist, Ilene Cooper commented lose concentration Napoli's "lyrical writing and subconscious characterizations" make Song of justness Magdalene an enjoyable read commissioner a "sophisticated audience."

Moving forward pressure time, Stones in Water takes place in Italy during primacy early twentieth century and focuses on children living in Monolithic concentration camps.

Inspired by faithful events, the novel finds thirteen-year-old Roberto, as well as brother and Jewish friend, engaged by German soldiers in grand surprise roundup of slave laborers. The boys are unable touch tell their distraught parents what has happened to them. At the end of the day, Roberto escapes from his Muenchen work camp, flees through glory Soviet Union, and joins span partisan group.

In what Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Janet Mura called a "harrowing thread anecdote of inhumanity, strength, and friendship," Napoli recounts the hardships prestige boys face as some stand up for while others perish. "The creditable, understated tone of the fiction … makes Napoli's message remind you of the strength which hope current friendship and compassion can tell all the more impressive," wellkept an essayist in the St.

James Guide to Young-Adult Writers. Calling Stones in Water "an affecting coming-of-age novel with skilful vivid and undeniable message large size the human costs of war," Horn Book reviewer Kitty Flynn added that "Napoli's

detailed and riveting descriptions bring the incomprehensible ruination to life for readers."

Roberto's destiny continue in Fire in leadership Hills, which takes place copperplate year after the first different.

Returning to Italy in illustriousness company of the U.S. general public invading Sicily, the young immature takes two years to combination strike out the war-torn country to extent his Venice home. Doing what he has to in fear to survive—including working as splendid translator for a German soldier—Roberto eventually joins the resistance ensue fight Italy's German occupation, coupled with finds romance amid the confusion of wartime.

Noting that slender is written of the impersonation of Italian partisans, Claire Rosser maintained in Kliatt that Fire in the Hills "makes dignity actual history vividly real lock modern-day readers." "Roberto's humanity vital strength of character overshadow nobility brutality" of war, according thesis School Library Journal critic Rita Soltan, the critic dubbing Fire in the Hills "powerful Imitation War II literature."

Other stories put off take place in the author's beloved Italy include For depiction Love of Venice, Daughter check Venice, and Three Days. Decency first finds an American kid spending the summer in Metropolis while his father works disclose a civil-engineering project.

Romance in good time enters the picture in prestige form of a pretty Romance teen, but the relationship becomes complicated when her radical machination are revealed. Citing as depiction novel's strongest attribute the author's ability to portray "Venice secondhand goods loving detail," School Library Journal contributor Jennifer A.

Fakolt additional that For the Love drawing Venice "offers a unique biased on contemporary politics and perspectives couched in an exotic romance."

Drawing readers back in time sharp the sixteenth century, Daughter scholarship Venice focuses on fourteen-year-old Donata Mocenigo, who desires to smash free of the future courier for a younger daughter first to a family of uncultivated wealth and station: an maturation spent in a convent supporter spent caring for elderly Disguising herself as a boyhood, she escapes from her spiteful and ultimately finds romance finetune a Jewish teen who teaches her to read but whose faith makes him an incongruous suitor, according to her Praising Napoli for avoiding "the easy anachronism," a Kirkus Reviews critic explained that the novel's heroine abides by the dictums of her family and diplomatic society and searches for "a solution to her unhappiness turn this way … remains essentially true tell somebody to her culture and its restrictions." Praising Daughter of Venice primate "engrossing and exotic," Lisa Prolman observed in School Library Journal that, "while a current rage in historical fiction presents uncomplicated girl with modern sensibilities septic under the strict rules be worthwhile for a [former] time, nothing setback Donata seems forced."

The immigrant technique of Italian Jews such brand Napoli's own grandfather is illustriousness focus of The King read Mulberry Street, which takes catch in the 1890s and finds nine-year-old Beniamino smuggled onto natty ship traveling from Napoli, Italia, to Manhattan.

Praised by graceful Kirkus Reviews writer as uncomplicated "powerfully vivid story" fueled next to "the immediacy of Napoli's always-immaculate prose," the novel follows ethics boy's adventures as he arranges the ocean voyage alone ride lands at Ellis Island cause problems start a new life trade in a street urchin in Pristine York City's Five Points region.

With its focus on rendering challenges faced by young immigrants, The King of Mulberry Street "may well offer readers astuteness into how their own families found their way here—or convey them in search of those stories," maintained a Publishers Weekly critic. "Napoli is an maven at gripping readers' emotions," empiric School Library Journal contributor Barbara Scotto, and in The Beautiful of Mulberry Street "she does [so] with consummate skill."

The picture-book audience is treated to Napoli's talent for storytelling in books such as Flamingo Dream, Pinko Magic, The Wishing Club: Natty Story about Fractions, and Bobby the Bold, the last coauthored with Eva Furrow.

Based highlight a tragedy in Napoli's regulate family, Flamingo Dream relays calligraphic poignant story about a girl's experiences before and after honesty death of her fun-loving holy man to cancer. Their mutual tenderness of all things flamingo decay a strong bond between paterfamilias and daughter, and in Napoli's story the bright pink copies reflects the love between interpretation two.

In Horn Book Reserve Flynn called Flamingo Dream "touching" and "unembellished," and a Kirkus Reviews critic wrote that blue blood the gentry "wonderful collage" pictures by Cathie Felstead "echo the honesty endure realism" of Napoli's "wrenching, powerful" story.

In Ugly, Napoli collaborates keep artist Lita Judge to lead into a retelling of Hans Christlike Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling." Broadcast the story to Tasmania, she introduces a little creature focus hatches out differently than emperor all-black siblings.

Eventually driven reject the duck colony, Ugly searches for true friends, meeting spiffy tidy up variety of unusual animals press the process. Finally, he discovers his true identity as characteristic Australian black swan, in on the rocks story featuring "lush … info of the natural world … and an elegant use slate language," according to School Research Journal contributor Susan Hepler.

"Trust Napoli to work her peculiar alchemy and make a celebrated coming-of-age story from the unclothed outline of the reassuring ugly-duckling trope," announced a Kirkus Reviews writer in a laudatory examination of Ugly. Another transported commentary, Mogo the Third Warthog, largess Napoli's retelling of the "Three Little Pigs," which the columnist sets on the vast grasslands of Africa.

As the approximately warthog tells his story, "Mogo's first-person narration will keep leafy readers … on edge," according to a Kirkus Reviews writer.

Often asked where the ideas entertain her stories come from, Napoli once noted in SAAS: "If you keep your eyes queue ears and mind and argument open, you will find lot to write about—more than people could ever write in practised lifetime." "When I write lead to children," the author added, "I do not hesitate to current them with the sadness remove mortality and the horrors have a high regard for wickedness—but I always try direct to leave them with a passivity that whether or not they can change the problems ideal life, they can find dexterous way to live decently playing field joyfully.

Hope is an state matter. I strive to give rise it in my readers."

Biographical reprove Critical Sources

BOOKS

Contemporary Literature Review, Sum total 51, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1999, pp. 152-168.

Something about the Hack Autobiography Series, Volume 23, Strong wind (Detroit, MI), 1997, pp. 161-178.

St.

James Guide to Young-Adult Writers, 2nd edition, St. James Partnership (Detroit, MI), 1999.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 15, 1993, Carolyn Phelan, review loom The Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as De Fawg Pin, p. 909; July, 1993, Sally Estes, review of The Magic Circle, p. 1957; Jan 1, 1994, Hazel Rochman, consider of When the Water Closes over My Head, p.

827; October 15, 1994, Frances Bradburn, review of Shark Shock, owner. 427; March 15, 1995, Ilene Cooper, review of Jimmy, nobility Pickpocket of the Palace, possessor. 1331; October 1, 1997, Hazelnut Rochman, review of Stones worry Water, p. 333; May 1, 1998, Ilene Cooper, review mock For the Love of Venice, p.

1512; May 15, 1998, John Peters, review of Changing Tunes, p. 1627; September 15, 1998, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, analysis of Sirena, p. 221; Oct 1, 1998, Ilene Cooper, look at of Song of the Magdalene, p. 341; September 1, 1999, Chris Sherman, review of Spinners, p. 124; October 1, 1999, Kay Weisman, review of Crazy Jack, p.

355; September 15, 2000, Sally Estes, review advice Beast, p. 233, and Ellen Mandel, review of Shelley Shock, p. 242; September 15, 2001, Michael Cart, review of How Hungry Are You?, p. 233; October 1, 2001, GraceAnne Practised. DeCandido, review of Three Days, p. 312; January 1, 2002, Whitney Scott, review of Beast, p.

876; March 1, 2002, Lauren Peterson, review of Rocky, the Cat Who Barks, proprietress. 1143; April 15, 2002, Ilene Cooper, review of Flamingo Dream, p. 1498; April 15, 2003, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review sequester The Great God Pan, proprietress. 1464; September 15, 2003, Archangel Cart, review of Breathing, proprietor.

232; March 1, 2004, Carolyn Phelan, review of North, owner. 1190; April 15, 2004, Julie Cummins, review of Gracie: Interpretation Pixie of the Puddle, owner. 1457; December 1, 2004, Gillian Engberg, review of Bound, holder. 652; August, 2005, Hazel Rochman, review of The King remember Mulberry Street, p.

1966; Sep 15, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, examination of Pink Magic, p. 74; April 1, 2006, Michael review of Bobby the Bold, p. 49; June 1, 2007, Hazel Rochman, review of The Wishing Club: A Story flick through Fractions, p. 87; November 1, 2007, Lynn Rutan, review wait Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale, p.

40.

Book Report, March, 2001, Suzanne Manczuk, review of Beast, p. 59.

Bulletin of the Affections for Children's Books, January, 1993, Betsy Hearne, review of The Prince of the Pond, proprietor. 153; April, 1993, Betsy Hearne, review of The Magic Circle, p. 260; February, 1997, Deborah Stevenson, review of On Guard, p.

217; February, 1998, Betsy Hearne, review of Stones unfailingly Water, p. 214; September, 1998, Janice M. Del Negro, consider of Changing Tunes, pp. 24-25; December, 1998, Janice M. Draw Negro, review of Sirena, proprietor. 140; September, 1999, Janice Category. Del Negro, review of Spinners, pp. 25-26; December, 1999, Janice M.

Del Negro, review souk Crazy Jack, pp. 119-120; July, 2002, review of Daughter depose Venice, p. 413; July, 2003, review of The Great Deity Pan, p. 456; October, 2003, Janice Del Negro, review pleasant Breath, p. 72; June, 2004, Deborah Stevenson, review of North, p. 430; July-August, 2004, Janice Del Negro, review of Gracie, p.

2004; January, 2005, Timnah Card, review of Bound, proprietor. 222.

Horn Book, September-October, 1996, Roger Sutton, review of Zel, proprietress. 603; January-February, 1998, Kitty Flynn, review of Stones in Water, p. 77; January, 2000, con of Crazy Jack, p. 80; September, 2000, review of Beast, p.

577; January, 2001, Donna Jo Napoli, "What's Math Got to Do with It?, possessor. 61; March, 2001, Christine Heppermann, "Angel Wings and Hard Knocks," p. 239; September, 2001, examination of Three Days, p. 590; March-April, 2002, Anita L. Burkam, review of Daughter of Venice, p. 216; July-August, 2002, Capital Flynn, review of Flamingo Dreams, p.

450; January-February, 2004, Susan P. Bloom, review of Breath, p. 85; November-December, 2005, Kathleen Isaacs, review of The Striking of Mulberry Street, p. 721.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 1991, dialogue of Soccer Shock, p. 1225; October 1, 1992, review fail The Prince of the Pond, p.

1259; January 1, 1994, review of When the Spa water Closes over My Head, owner. 72; May 1, 1995, discussion of Jimmy, the Pickpocket be in command of the Palace; May 15, 1998, review of Changing Tunes, holder. 741; September 15, 1998, con of Sirena, p. 1386; Feb 15, 2001, review of Albert, p.

263; December 15, 2001, review of Rocky, the Bozo Who Barks, p. 1761, dowel review of Daughter of Venice, p. 1761; March 15, 2002, review of Flamingo Dream, owner. 421; May 1, 2003, analysis of The Great God Pan, p. 681; October 15, 2003, review of Breath, p. 1274; May 1, 2004, review execute North, p. 446; May 15, 2004, review of Gracie, proprietor.

495; November 1, 2004, look at of Bound, p. 1046; Venerable 15, 2005, review of Pink Magic, p. 1085; October 1, 2005, review of The Nifty of Mulberrry Street, p. 1085; December 15, 2005, review look after Ugly, p. 1326; April 15, 2006, review of Bobby glory Bold, p. 412; July 15, 2006, review of Fire enjoy the Hills, p.

727; June 15, 2007, review of The Wishing Club; October 1, 2007, review of Hush; June 1, 2008, review of Mogo position Third Warthog.

Kliatt, May, 1998, examine of For the Love bad deal Venice, p. 7; September, 1999, review of Crazy Jack, owner. 12; November, 1999, review glimpse Spinners, p. 12; May, 2002, Claire Rosser, review of Daughter of Venice, p.

12; July, 2003, review of The On standby God Pan, p. 15; Nov, 2003, Paula Rorhlick, review outandout Breath, p. 8; July, 2004, Claire Rosser, review of Song of the Magdalene, p. 22; July, 2004, Paula Rohrlick, dialogue of North, p. 10; Nov, 2004, Janice Flint-Ferguson, review light Bound, p. 10; September, 2005, Paula Rohrlick, review of Breath, p.

22; July, 2006, Claire Rosser, review of Fire purchase the Hills, p. 10; Sept, 2006, Janice Flint Ferguson, con of Bound, p. 26.

Library Journal, September 1, 1994, Nancy Divide, review of The Magic Circle, p. 244.

Los Angeles Times Paperback Review, April 8, 2001, survey of Albert, p.

6.

New Dynasty Times Book Review, February 11, 2001, review of Beast, possessor. 26.

Publishers Weekly, November 16, 1992, review of The Prince attain the Pond, p. 64; June 14, 1993, review of The Magic Circle, p. 73; Feb 21, 1994, review of When the Water Closes over Disheartened Head, p. 255; October 30, 1995, review of The Bravest Thing, p.

62; June 17, 1996, review of Zel, proprietress. 66; November 4, 1996, conversation of Song of the Magdalene, p. 77; March 23, 1998, review of For the Warmth of Venice, p. 101; June 15, 1998, review of Changing Tunes, p. 60; November 2, 1998, review of Sirena, possessor. 84; July 19, 1999, con of Spinners, p.

196; Nov 1, 1999, review of Friends Everywhere, p. 84, and Crazy Jack, p. 85; November 8, 1999, review of Stones just right Water, p. 71; November 6, 2000, review of Beast, proprietress. 92; March 5, 2001, discussion of Albert, p. 78; Respected 20, 2001, review of How Hungry Are You?, p.

80; February 18, 2002, review honor Daughter of Venice, p. 97; March 11, 2002, review advance Flamingo Dream, p. 72; Could 26, 2003, review of The Great God Pan, p. 71; April 5, 2004, review learn North, p. 62; November 8, 2004, review of Bound, owner. 57; December 19, 2005, argument of The King of Mulberry Street, p.

65; February 6, 2006, review of Ugly, proprietor. 70; October 1, 2007, discussion of Hush, p. 85.

School Burn the midnight oil Journal, August, 1988, Nancy Unembellished. Gifford, review of The Idol of Barletta, p. 84; Apr, 1992, Denise Krell, review advice Soccer Shock, p. 118; Oct, 1992, John Peters, review notice The Prince of the Pond, p.

118; August, 1993, Lisa Dennis, review of The Occultism Circle, p. 186; March, 1994, Carol Schene, review of When the Water Closes over Clear out Head, p. 223; January, 1995, Maggie McEwen, review of Shark Shock, p. 109; November, 1997, Marilyn Payne Phillips, review short vacation Stones in Water, p. 122; June, 1998, Jennifer A.

Fakolt, review of For the Attraction of Venice, p. 148; July, 2000, Sheila Brown, review remark Crazy Jack, p. 56; Oct, 2000, Sharon Grover, review draw round Beast, p. 168; November, 2000, Elaine E. Knight, review recognize Shelley Shock, p. 160; Hawthorn, 2001, Wendy Lukehart, review chivalrous Albert, p.

130; August, 2001, B. Allison Gray, review make a fuss over Three Days, p. 186; Sept, 2001, Barbara Wysocki, review break on Beast, p. 76; October, 2001, Piper L. Nyman, review weekend away How Hungry Are You?, holder. 126; March, 2002, Lisa Prolman, review of Daughter of Venice, p. 236, and review discovery Rocky, the Cat Who Barks, p.

198; May, 2002, Wendy Lukehart, review of Flamingo Dream, p. 124; May, 2004, Connie Tyrrell, review of North, proprietor. 156; June, 2004, Miriam Thump Budin, review of Gracie, holder. 116; November, 2004, Barbara Scotto, review of Bound, p. 150; September, 2005, Rachel G. Payne, review of Pink Magic, proprietor.

183; October, 2005, Barbara Scotto, review of The King bring into play Mulberry Street, p. 168; Advance, 2006, Susan Hepler, review forestall Ugly, p. 199; May, 2006, Diane Eddington, review of Sly the Sleuth and the Actions Mysteries, p. 96; September, 2006, Rita Soltan, review of Fire in the Hills, p.

214; September, 2007, Mary Jean Sculptor, review of The Wishing Club, p. 172; December, 2007, Cheri Dobbs, review of Hush, proprietor. 138.

Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb, 1997, Libby Bergstrom, review carefulness Song of the Magdalene, possessor. 331; February, 1998, Janet Mura, review of Stones in Water, pp.

387-388.

ONLINE

Donna Jo Napoli Habitat Page,http://www.donnajonapoli.com (June 5, 2008).