Randall, David 1972–

PERSONAL: Born 1972; married. Education: Swarthmore College, B.A.; Columbia University, M.F.A., 1996; Rutgers University, Ph.D., 2005.

ADDRESSES: Home—New York, NY. Agent—Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

CAREER: Writer.

WRITINGS:

Clovermead: In the Shadow of the Bear (young-adult fantasy novel), Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: While still a college student, David Randall wrote Clovermead: In the Shadow of the Bear, a fantasy adventure novel. The story tells of Clovermead, a twelve-year-old tomboy, as she attempts to assist the innkeeper Waxmelt, a man who has been caring for her as if she were his own daughter. Clovermead's journey leads her to a battle between good and evil that allows her to see past the deception of the adults in her life and take the next step toward her own adulthood. Jennifer Mattson, in a review for Booklist, commented on Randall's decision to insinuate darkness into the character's very soul, a choice that "puts an intriguing spin on the otherwise archetypal fantasy plot." In a piece for Kirkus Reviews, a contributor commented that "vivacious, loquacious, precocious Clovermead is a delightful heroine." Jane G. Connor, reviewing the book for School Library Journal, called Clovermead "a challenging high fantasy for those who can keep straight many details and forces, and who don't mind a good bit of violence."

Randall told CA: "I like to think that Clovermead owes a lot to Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" and L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of Clovermead: In the Shadow of the Bear, p. 1834.

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2004, review of Clovermead, p. 580.

Publishers Weekly, August 2, 2004, review of Clovermead, p. 71.

School Library Journal, July, 2004, Jane G. Connor, review of Clovermead, p. 112.

ONLINE

Fables.org, http://www.fables.org/ (April 16, 2005), "David Randall."

NimbleSpirit.com, http://www.nimblespirit.com/ (June 28, 2005), Christy Risser-Milne, review of Clovermead.

WritersWrite.com, http://www.writerswrite.com/ (December, 2004), Claire E. White, review of Clovermead.