Jean
Fritz's 89th birthday is cause enough to celebrate, but we also celebrate
her latest book, The Lost Colony, about the settlement at Roanoke
in the late 1500s. The School Library Journal named it book of
the week when it came out last May and after noting that “clever touches
of humor abound,” it ended its glowing review with: “Fritz has scored
again, making history breathe while showing both historians and archaeologists
at their reconstructive best.”
Those who've read Fritz’s memoir Homesick, a Newbery Medal Honor Book, know that she was born to missionary parents in China and spent her early childhood years there, longing for the homeland she’d never seen. She's been making up for those years abroad ever since by bringing American history to life for young people in over two dozen books.
Two other reasons to celebrate: 1) a year ago at this same time Jean Fritz received a National Humanities Medal, and 2) we've had her teaching a children’s literature class for us for the past two years. How glad we are that she lives nearby in Dobbs Ferry!
All readings include a question & answer period and a reception with books by the author(s) for sale.
Admission Free
The readings at the HVWC are made possible in part by a grant from the Bydale Foundation; the David G. Taft Foundation; the Orchard Foundation; and the Thendara Foundation; with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; and by Westchester Arts Council with funds from Westchester County Government, corporations and individuals.