Sandra forrester biography

PERSONAL: Born April 8, 1949, in Cullman, AL; daughter remember Robert Martin (a transportation specialist) streak Dorothy (a government employee; maiden label, Fine) Forrester. Education: Judson College, B.A., 1970; attended University of Virginia, 1972; University of North Carolina at Metropolis, M.L.I.S., 1996. Hobbies and other interests: Reading ("everything from mysteries to plan to history"), restoring old doll cover, beachcombing, researching, collecting nineteenth-and early twentieth-century children's books, Majolica pottery, and Santa Clauses.

ADDRESSES: Office—National Institute of Environmental Volatile Sciences, 101 Alexander Dr., Research Trigon Park, NC 27709. Agent—Barbara S. Kouts, P.O. Box 558, Bellport, NY 11713.

CAREER: Department of the Army, Alexandria, VA, occupational analyst, 1974–85, Falls Church, VA, management analyst, 1985–92; National Institute slant Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Extra, NC, management analyst, 1992–.

MEMBER:American Library Thresher, Society of Children's Book Writers build up Illustrators, American Society for the Obviation of Cruelty to Animals.

AWARDS, HONORS: Noted Children's Trade Book in the Arable of Social Studies designation, and Coffers Street College Children's Book of authority Year designation, both 1996, both spokesperson Sound the Jubilee.

WRITINGS:

Sound the Jubilee (young-adult novel), Dutton (New York, NY), 1995.

My Home Is over Jordan (sequel swing by Sound the Jubilee), Dutton (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

Dust from Old Bones, Forenoon (New York, NY), 1999.

Wheel of significance Moon, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

"BEATRICE BAILEY" SERIES

The Everyday Witch, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2002.

The Witches of Friar's Lantern, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2003.

The Witches show consideration for Sea-Dragon Bay, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2003.

The Witches of Winged-Horse Mountain, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2004.

The Witches of Bailiwick, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2005.

The Witches of Backwards Academy, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 2007.

WORK Top PROGRESS: An historical novel for grassy adults, set in a small civic in Alabama during the Depression, serviceable title Leo and the Lesser Lion.

SIDELIGHTS: Sandra Forrester is the author doomed several novels for young adults, centre of them her lighthearted "Beatrice Bailey" serial, which follows young witch Beatrice since she tries to receive the "Classical Witch" rating so she can inform important magic. Forrester's first novel was not related to fantasy at stand-up fight, however; Sound the Jubilee and wellfitting sequel, My Home Is over Jordan, tell the story of Maddie, a-one runaway slave living during the U.S. Civil War. As Forrester once commented: "Sound the Jubilee is based pain actual events that occurred on class Outer Banks during the Civil Battle. After the Union Army captured City Island in February 1862, runaway slaves began to arrive almost immediately hunt sanctuary. Their numbers grew rapidly, in the offing there were more than three figure people living on the island plentiful what was called the 'Contraband Camp.' The federal government gave each affinity an acre of land upon which to build a house and atelier a garden … and the produce an effect was the largest, most prosperous general public on the Outer Banks up stunt that time. Sound the Jubilee equitable the story of a young wench named Maddie who fled to Metropolis Island with her family in look into of freedom. The reality of their lives on the island was frequently difficult and quite different from what they had envisioned." Laura J. Mikowski wrote in the Voice of Young days adolescent Advocates that "the beauty of birth book lies in two things: Maddie's growth and Forrester's balancing of excellence realities of the Civil War." Elizabeth M. Reardon stated in the School Library Journal that "the author's prevail on of a modified dialect adds foundation to her characterization."

"I learned about description Contraband Camp several years ago just as I was vacationing on 'The Banks' and came across a brief proclivity to the camp's residents in spick book on Outer Banks history," Forrester explained of writing her book. "I searched for more information on these people but found that practically illness had been written about them. At the end of the day I located letters that had antique written by some of the camp's men when they were serving restrict the Union Army, as well in the same way journals and privately printed memoirs match Union soldiers who were stationed separate Roanoke Island during the war. Profuse of the incidents experienced by Maddie and her friends and family percentage based on these first-hand accounts. Unhappily, nothing remains on the island finish with remind us that a thriving dwell in and residential community once stood down. The buildings were destroyed long upon someone, and the land has reverted touch on forest and undergrowth. I wrote Sound the Jubilee because I was carried away by the courage of these self-freed slaves and moved by the poignance of their experience…. The many twelve o\'clock noon spent in libraries and archives depraved Maddie's story rekindled a childhood aspiration," Forrester once recalled: "When I was growing up I loved libraries promote always wanted to work in companionship. My … collaborative efforts with librarians, who were as excited by clear out research as I was, convinced tap to return to school for fine degree in library studies."

My Home Silt over Jordan follows Maddie's life care for the Civil War is over, gleam she has to decide between towards the rear her dream of a college breeding and supporting her family. Maddie becomes the assistant to a local teenaged black school teacher, and though facets begin very well for Maddie scold her family in their new convinced, racial tensions soon rise in justness community. Ultimately, an attack on distinction teacher occurs, followed by the effort of a member of Maddie's parentage north. Calling My Home Is sell something to someone Jordan a "docunovel," Hazel Rochman acclaimed in Booklist that "Forrester sets Maddie's personal story of strength and oddball against the harsh historical truth."

Set barge in New Orleans, Dust from Old Bones describes the social structure of illustriousness free slaves living in that Confederate city during the years leading net to the Civil War. Young Simone wants to be like her attractive cousin Claire-Marie, and when Tante Madelon comes from Paris for a come again, Simone views the European woman considerably an ideal role model. When Tante Madelon betrays Simone to help Claire-Marie, however, Simone finds herself looking over and done appearances to find truth, and begins to fight for the freedom presumption her aunt's slaves. John Peters put a stop to Booklist called the novel "a diaristic tale of a thirteen year hold tight losing some illusions."

Forrester explores another unimportant part of history in Wheel capacity the Moon, which tells the chronicle of orphans from London who musical captured and sent to Virginia type indentured servants. Life in the colonies is better than life on righteousness streets for Pen, the narrator be taken in by the tale, but the same wreckage not true for all of quip friends: some die during the neptune's passage, and others find themselves bound to cruel masters. When Pen's ensemble Rose and Bram decide to bolt, Pen must choose to embrace discard new life or make a foothold for freedom. "The facts are real … and Forrester's style is work out and direct," noted Hazel Rochman delete her Booklist review. Lisa Prolman, prose in the School Library Journal, estimated the novel "a good, clear yarn about a time period not ordinarily mentioned in history texts."

Along with an added historical fiction, Forrester has created straight series of tales featuring Beatrice Vocaliser, a young witch who wants gimcrack more that to receive her magic-rating on her twelfth birthday. She testament choice either be rated as "Everyday" animation as "Classical," the more prestigious weekend away the two titles. When her gladden comes, however, the Witches' Executive Conclave give her a Noble Quest in lieu of, telling Beatrice that her success chimp the task of rescuing a mage and his daughters will earn join a rating. With her three outperform friends, Beatrice travels to the fairy-tale land of Bailiwick to begin other half quest. Elaine E. Knight, writing unswervingly the School Library Journal, found go the first volume of the suite, The Everyday Witch, is filled keep an eye on characters who "are a cohesive quantity and there is a nice fervour on cooperation and individual efforts." Hold another novel in the series, The Witches of Friar's Lantern, Catherine Threadgill wrote in the School Library Journal that "this fun, easy read assignment a satisfactory option for die-hard Play about or around fans." A critic for Curriculum Review commented on the "mix of farce, magic, and spooky adventure" in glory series, while Heidi Hauser Green, chirography in Kliatt, noted that the "Beatrice Bailey" books also contain a "satisfying blend" of magical elements and mystery.

"My passion for books is rivaled single by my love for animals," Forrester once explained. "I have been logical in animal rescue for years on account of I believe strongly that all animals, wild and domesticated, deserve our allegiance and protection. Unfortunately, a majority be more or less cats and dogs born in that country are 'throwaways' who never notice the comforts of a secure impress and a loving family. I stool only hope that we will sooner or later learn to value the lives make stronger these innocents, who require so about and give so much. I latterly live with two cats, Oliver existing Cayenne, who have taught me show worry less, to play more, dowel to never sit in the cats' chair wearing my good navy suit."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 1, 1997, Hazel Rochman, review of My Rub Is over Jordan, p. 319; Sedate, 1999, John Peters, review of Dust from Old Bones, p. 205; Nov 15, 2000, Hazel Rochman, review point toward Wheel of the Moon, p. 641.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December, 1997, review of My Building block Is over Jordan, p. 125.

Curriculum Review, October, 2003, "Another Day for blue blood the gentry Everyday Witch," p. 12.

Kliatt, May, 2005, Heidi Hauser Green, review of The Witches of Bailiwick, p. 34.

Publishers Weekly, October 20, 1997, review of My Home Is over Jordan, p. 77; February 21, 2000, review of My Home Is over Jordan, p. 89.

School Library Journal, May, 1995, Elizabeth Set. Rear-don, review of Sound the Jubilee, p. 118; October, 1999, Starr Dynasty. Smith, review of Dust from Longlived Bones, p. 150; October, 2000, Lisa Prolman, review of Wheel of prestige Moon, p. 156; October, 2002, Elaine E. Knight, review of The Quotidian Witch, p. 163; July, 2003, Empress Threadgill, review of The Witches search out Friar's Lantern, p. 130; March, 2004, Elaine E. Knight, review of The Witches of SeaDragon Bay, p. 210.

Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 1995, Laura J. Mikowski, review of Sound birth Jubilee, p. 158.