From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 15:25:07 -0500

Nancy Mercado wrote:

"There is something so unconventional about her style. Ms. Kerr only puts in the very essential....everything else is left out...and you don't miss it at all."

Thanks for stepping up to the plate, Nancy. You've raised a very interesting point in regard to M.E. Kerr's writing style. There is something very distinctive about it, so that you'd know you're reading one of her books, even if the author's name were hidden from you. For me, it's something in her voice, just on the edge of sarcasm, but grounded in compassion, the voice of an intelligent, thoughtful teenager. There's also frequently a bit of social satire as well that gives her stories added depth. My favorite of her books along this line are "Little Little" and "What I Really Think of You."

As for the publishing history of Dinky Hocker, M.E. Kerr will be joining our discussion some time this month and, no doubt, she'd be able to answer that question.

Kathleen Horning



Kathleen T. Horning (horning at education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608&3930 FAX: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Mon 10 Jun 2002 03:25:07 PM CDT