Bryant, Jen 1960–

views updated

Bryant, Jen 1960–

(Jennifer Fisher Bryant)

PERSONAL: Born May 13, 1960, in Easton, PA; daughter of Charles Holcombe (a mortician) and Elizabeth (a homemaker) Fisher; married Neil Bryant, June 12, 1982; children: Leigh. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended Rutgers University in Tours, France, 1980; Gettysburg College, B.A., 1982; Arcadia University, M.A., 1999; also attended West Chester University and University of Iowa. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing, bird-watching, travel.

ADDRESSES: Home—Glenmoore, PA. Office—P.O. Box 816, Uwchland, PA 19480. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Educator and writer. Writer, beginning 1989; West Chester University, West Chester, PA, adjunct professor of English, 1999–. Writing instructor for public school gifted education programs; Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, artist-in-residence.

MEMBER: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Philadelphia Children's Reading Round Table, Phi Beta Kappa.

AWARDS, HONORS: Best Books for the Teen Age designation, New York Public Library, 1995, for Louis Braille: Inventor, and 1997, for Thomas Merton: Poet, Prophet, Priest; Young Alumni Achievement Award, Gettysburg College, 1997; first prize, Milton Center Award for Excellence in Poetry, 2001; shared prize from Nova House Press chapbook contest, 2001; poetry fellow, Arts and Letters Conference, Georgia College and State University, 2002; Best Trade Book designation, and Best Books of the Southwest inclusion, both 2005, both for Georgia's Bones; Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice designation, and Bank Street College Children's Book of the Year designation, both 2006, both for Music for the End of Time; Greyhound Press Chapbook Prize, 2006, for The Whole Measure; Voice of Youth Advocates Top Shelf designation, 2006, for Pieces of Georgia.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN; UNDER NAME JENNIFER FISHER BRYANT

Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Voice of the Everglades ("Earth Keepers" nonfiction series), illustrated by Larry Raymond, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 1992.

Margaret Murie: A Wilderness Life ("Earth Keepers" nonfiction series), illustrated by Antonio Castro, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 1993.

Louis Braille: Inventor ("Physically Challenged" nonfiction series), Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1994.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: The Artist Who Was Crippled ("Physically Challenged" nonfiction series), Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1995.

Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light ("Great Achievers" nonfiction series), William B. Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 1996.

Thomas Merton: Poet, Prophet, Priest ("Great Achievers" nonfiction series), William B. Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 1997.

FOR CHILDREN

Into Enchanted Woods (picture book), illustrated by James Browne, Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library (Winterthur, DE), 2001.

The Trial (verse novel), illustrated by Leigh Wells, Knopf (New York, NY), 2004.

Music for the End of Time (nonfiction picture book), illustrated by Beth Peck, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005.

Georgia's Bones (nonfiction picture book), illustrated by Bethanne Andersen, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005.

Pieces of Georgia (middle-grade novel), Knopf (New York, NY), 2006.

Call Me Marianne (picture book), illustrated by David Johnson, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006.

A River of Words (picture book), illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006.

"WORKING MOMS" NONFICTION SERIES; UNDER NAME JENNIFER FISHER BRYANT

Anne Abrams, Engineering Drafter, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

Ubel Velez, Lawyer, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

Sharon Oehler, Pediatrician, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

Zoe McCully, Park Ranger, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

Jane Sayler, Veterinarian, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

Carol Thomas-Weaver, Music Teacher, photographs by Pamela Brown, Twenty-first Century Books (Frederick MD), 1991.

OTHER

Birds of a Feather (adult nature anthology), Peter Pauper Press (White Plains, NY), 1993.

Hand Crafted (poetry chapbook for adults), Nova House Press (Philadelphia, PA), 2001.

The Whole Measure (poetry chapbook for adults), Greyhound Press (West Chester, PA), 2006.

Contributor to periodicals, including American Literary Review, Laurel Review, Paterson Literary Review, Schuykill Valley Journal, Journal of New Jersey Poets, Clackamas Literary Review, Image: Journal of Art and Religion, Pegasus Review, Forum, and Highlights for Children.

SIDELIGHTS: In addition to publishing middle-grade nonfiction under the name Jennifer Fisher Bryant, Jen Bryant is also the author of picture-book biographies and middle-grade verse novels. Praised for their lyrical, evocative texts, her picture-book biographies bring to life such individuals as artist Georgia O'Keeffe and poet Marianne Moore, while her middle-grade novels The Trial and Pieces of Georgia use unrhymed verse to bring to life the world of their young narrators.

Bryant's first verse novel for young adults, The Trial, recounts the famous Lindberg kidnaping trial of 1935, in which German immigrant Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted of the 1932 kidnapping of the young son of famous aviator Charles Lindberg and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindberg. Bryant's story is narrated by a twelve-year-old budding journalist named Kattie Leigh Flynn, who religiously attends each day of the trial, held in her small New Jersey town—Flemington, New Jersey, is also the town Bryant herself grew up in. Recording the legal events as they unfold, Katie also brings to life the transformation of her fellow citizens as they are caught up in the drama and fame the muckraking media brings to their formerly quite lives. In Horn Book, Roger Sutton wrote that the "picture of celebrity and justice" presented in Bryant's Depressionera story "offers contemporary resonance," while Michael Cart added in Booklist that the author "does an extraordinary job" evoking life in the hardscrabble era, all the while presenting the nuances of an historic trial "that may have been a miscarriage of justice." Praising Bryant for presenting the actual events of the crime within her fictional story, a Publishers Weekly writer noted that she "crafts a memorable heroine and unfolds a thought-provoking tale."

Described by School Library Journal contributor Jane Marino as "a poignant story of humanity, creativity, and survival," Music for the End of Time draws readers back to 1940s Europe and a German prisoner-of-war camp as it tells "a story of kindness from the enemy and of the power of music," according to Booklist critic Hazel Rochman. Captured by the Germans, Olivier Messiaen, a French composer, is allowed the use of a small room at the camp after being recognized by one of the German guards. Inspired by the song of a nearby nightingale, his "Quartet for the End of Time" is eventually performed by fellow prisoners, and raises the spirits of the thousands of others interned at Stalag 8A.

In Georgia's Bones readers encounter O'Keeffe early in her life, as she moved from New Mexico to New York City, and through Bryant's spare prose and acrylic paintings by Bethanne Anderson, they follow the future painter's discovery of shape, texture, and color. Described by a Publishers Weekly reviewer as "a tribute to the artist's way of envisioning the world," Georgia's Bones features a "lyrical text" that, according to School Library Journal writer Wendy Lukehart, serves as a gentle introduction to a remarkable artist." Noting that Bryant's "bold, beautiful rendition" of O'Keeffe's artistic development "has a certain nonconformist flair," Booklist reviewer Jennifer Mattson concluded that Georgia's Bones "surely would have earned O'Keeffe's stamp of approval." Featuring illustrations by David A. Johnson, Call Me Marianne focuses on a young boy's fictional encounter with a creative way of living when he meets up with the elderly Moore, a noted poet, during a trip to a New York City zoo. Praising Johnson's watercolor illustrations, a Publishers Weekly reviewer added that Bryant's simple text provides "glimpse of the creative process in language young readers can grasp."

Framed as a series of letters in a journal written by a young teen in an "At Risk" classroom, Pieces of Georgia represents Georgia McCoy's efforts to come to terms with her mother's death and her grieving father's inability to provide a financially or emotionally secure home life. Through her writings, Georgia discovers a love of drawing; then a surprise gift and the support of a caring art teacher allow the thirteen year old to gain a sense of her unique abilities. As she explores her creativity and hones her talent, Georgia discards the insecurities fostered because of her inability to keep up with the material advances of her more-affluent friends at school. Ultimately, noted a Publishers Weekly writer, her "eloquent, spare musings convey both her wisdom and sense of fairness" and "the fragmented pieces of this steely, gentle heroine become an integrated whole." Deeming the book an "affecting work of art," a Kirkus Reviews contributor characterized Georgia's narrative voice as "natural and plainspoken," and in School Library Journal Nancy P. Reeder described Pieces of Georgia as "a universal [tale] … of love, friendship, and loss."

Much of Bryant's nonfiction writing has been included in book series: Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light, part of Eerdmans' "Great Achievers" series, focuses on the women's rights advocate; Louis Braille: Inventor is part of Chelsea House's "Physically Challenged" series; and Margaret Murie: A Wilderness Life, the biography of a noted naturalist, is part of Henry Holt's "Earth Keepers" series. Bryant's biography of Braille was commended by School Library Journal contributor Margaret C. Howell as a "solid reference resource on the history of handicapping conditions as well as a biography of a man who overcame a challenge." Booklist reviewer Karen Simonetti maintained that Bryant "meticulously chronicles Braille's profound optimism, tenacity, and commitment to making the world more accessible for the blind." In a review of Lucretia Mott, Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Joyce Hamilton praised Bryant's study of the abolitionist and women's rights advocate, calling it "informative and highly readable." Another of the author's contributions to the "Great Achievers" series, Thomas Merton: Poet, Prophet, Priest, was similarly cited as a "remarkable biography" by a Kirkus Reviews commentator, the critic adding that young readers "may come away from this book not only with a real sense of the man and his writings, but courage enough for their present and future struggles as well."

In addition to profiling noteworthy individuals, Bryant has also written six volumes about more everyday heroes in her "Working Moms" series. Here she depicts women pursuing various careers—from engineering drafter to veterinarian—while also raising their children. Each volume allows readers to ride along with the featured mom for a day, thereby gaining insight into the rewards and demands of balancing work and family. When needed, Bryant provides additional material, such as information about the training and job specific career fields, its ups and downs, and training requirements. In a review of Sharon Oehler: Pediatrician, a critic in Kirkus Reviews commented: "There's a substantial amount of information here, well-organized and appealingly presented." "As career guidance," noted Denise Wilms in Booklist, "the books give positive examples of how young women might look forward to pursuing careers and motherhood."

Bryant once commented: "Human behavior has always fascinated me. The choices people make, their fears, fantasies, struggles, and achievements provide an endless pool of stories for nonfiction writers and biographers. Researching and writing biographies gives me a chance to explore the lives of unique individuals and to share their stories with young readers. When they read biographies, children inevitably absorb important lessons and concepts from history, science, philosophy, and even religion.

"Most well-written biographies also present positive role models for service and achievement, thereby counteracting some of the negative images presented through the media. Readers also learn that no one leads a charmed life or begins with perfect circumstances, and that all great achievers encounter failure, frustration, and setbacks. Every biography I've written has taught me something new. Each one has given me a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human."

More recently, Bryant added: "Although I try to write something every day, my work hours are determined mostly by the other demands in my life: family, friends, home, and teaching. My favorite place to write is in the car, where I can't walk away and no one can reach me (I turn the cell phone off). If I can find a shady place next to a lake, that's ideal.

"I've recently spent more time reading and writing poetry (for adults) and picture books for young readers. Three forthcoming children's titles are based on the lives of well-known people, but are fictional tales written in a lyrical manner. In this way, I've combined my interest in biography with my affinity for poetry. I also have a full-length poetry manuscript, written for adults, which I hope to have published in the next few years."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Appraisal, autumn, 1992, pp. 48-49.

Booklist, June 15, 1991, Denise Wilms, review of "Working Moms" series, p. 1958; July, 1994, Karen Simonetti, review of Louis Braille: Inventor, p. 1938; May 1, 1996, p. 1496; June 1, 1997, Shelley Townsend-Hudson, review of Thomas Merton: Poet, Prophet, Priest, p. 1671; May 1, 2004, Michael Cart, review of The Trial, p. 1495; February 15, 2005, Jennifer Mattson, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 1080; September 1, 2005, Hazel Rochman, review of Music for the End of Time, p. 126; February 15, 2006, Frances Bradburn, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 90, and Gillian Engberg, review of Call Me Marianne, p. 110.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April, 2004, Elizabeth Bush, review of The Trial, p. 319; March, 2005, Deborah Stevenson, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 283; December, 2005, review of Music for the End of Time, p. 171.

Children's Book Watch, May, 1991, p. 12; February, 1992, p. 7; April, 1992, p. 5.

Horn Book, March-April, 2004, Roger Sutton, review of The Trial, p. 179; March-April, 2006, Vicky Smith, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 181.

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 1991, review of Sharon Oehler: Pediatrician, p. 602; June 1, 1992, p. 726; December 1, 1995, p. 1700; May 1, 1997, review of Thomas Merton: Poet, Prophet, Priest, p. 717; February 1, 2004, review of The Trial, p. 129; January 15, 2005, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 117; August 1, 2005, review of Music for the End of Time, p. 845; December 15, 2005, review of Call Me Marianne, p. 1319; April 1, 2006, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 343.

Kliatt, May, 2004, Claire Rosser, review of The Trial, p. 5; March, 2006, Myrna Marler, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 230.

Main Line Today, January, 1997, pp. 16-17.

MultiCultural Review, March, 1993, p. 28.

Publishers Weekly, January 19, 2004, review of The Trial, p. 77; March 14, 2005, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 67; February 5, 2006, review of Call Me Marianne, p. 69; May 15, 2006, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 73.

School Arts, September, 2005, Ken Marantz, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 58.

School Library Journal, June, 1991, p. 114; July, 1991, p. 77; June, 1992, p. 128; July, 1993, p. 89; August, 1994, Margaret C. Howell, review of Louis Braille, p. 160; June, 1996, Nancy Palmer, review of Lucretia Mott, p. 154; June, 2004, John Peters, review of The Trial, p. 135; April, 2005, Wendy Lukehart, review of Georgia's Bones, p. 94; December, 2005, Jane Marino, review of Music for the End of Time, p. 124; March, 2006, Carol L. MacKay, review of Call Me Marianne, p. 175; April, 2006, Nancy P. Reader, review of Pieces of Georgia, p. 136.

Science Books and Films, May, 1992, p. 116; August/September, 1992, p. 181.

Voice of Youth Advocates, October, 1996, Joyce Hamilton, review of Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light, p. 226.