From: sully at sully-writer.com <sully>
Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 09:40:12 -0700

  I know Kerry so I can't say I am surprised at how gracious and generous she has been in sharing so much insight into her research and creative processes. This kind of information is a treasure for librarians and teachers like myself who will use the book with classes and reading groups and encourage colleagues to do the same.
  Since To Kill a Mockingbird is an autobiographical novel, it is a great asset to have a biography as well done as Kerry's. When I read the novel with a group of 8th graders last year, we also read Charles Shields' I Am Scout (Henry Holt) which is supposed to be a young people's version of his Lee biography, Mockingbird. While I was very impressed with Mockingbird, I Am Scout was a disappointment because it turned out to be little more than a cut and paste version of the adult biography. The book is choppy and Shields makes no attempt to speak directly to young readers. That is what I like so much more about Kerry's portrait of Lee. She does a superb job of speaking to the audience to whom she is writing. I hope teachers will embrace this book and use it as a companion for To Kill a Mockingbird. Reading the two together will make for a rich and rewarding experience.
  Ed Sullivan, Rogue Librarian www.sully-writer.com
 
 
Received on Thu 28 May 2009 11:40:12 AM CDT