My Left Foot

An Offprint from

BEACHAM�S

GUIDE TO

LITERATURE

FOR

YOUNG

ADULTS

My Left Foot

Mark W. Scott, Publisher, Literature Product Scot Peacock, Managing Editor, Literature Product

Frank Castronova, Senior Editor; Katy Balcer, Kristen A. Dorsch, Lisa Kumar, Marie Lazzari, Thomas McMahon, Colleen Laine Tavor, Editors; Alana Foster, Shayla Hawkins, Motoko Fujishiro

Huthwaite, Arlene M. Johnson, Thomas Wiloch, Associate Editors; Jennifer Kilian, Anita Sundaresan, Assistant Editors; Anna Marie Dahn, Administrative Assistant; Joshua Kondek, Technical

Training Specialist

Alan Hedblad, Managing Editor Susan M. Trosky, Content Director

Maria Franklin, Permissions Manager

Edna Hedblad, Permissions Specialist

Lori Hines, Permissions Associate

Mary Beth Trimper, Production Director

Stacy L. Melson, Buyer

Barbara J. Yarrow, Manager, Imaging and Multimedia Content

Randy Bassett, Imaging Supervisor

Robert Duncan and Dan Newel], Imaging Specialists

Pamela A. Reed, Imaging Coordinator

Robyn V, Young, Project Manager, Imaging and Multimedia Content

Dean Dauphinais, Senior Editor, Imaging and Multimedia Content

Kelly A. Quin, Editor, Imaging and Multimedia Content

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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 89-18048

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Printed in the United States of America 10987654321

Introduction

♦

Since the first three volumes of Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults were published in 1989, selecting which literary works to cover has been a long and difficult process. The series editors originally began with a list of over four thousand titles; we then pared this list to about one thousand titles. In paring this second list even further, we had five main considerations: 1) Is the title a popular one that young people like to read? 2) Does the work possess literary merits or social themes that warrant calling it to the attention of young readers, their parents and teachers? 3) Is the work a classic that had over time won a permanent place in young adult literature? 4) Is the title a critically acclaimed work that had won awards, such as the Newbery Medal? 5) Is the book appropriate for a junior high or high school audience?

Scholars, teachers, and librarians offered practical advice about what books were of particular interest to young adults, and each of the titles included in this series meets at least three of the criteria mentioned above. The titles included in the series represent a cross-section of the complex world of young adult literature. Volumes 1-3 cover mainstream novels and short story collections, historical novels, classics, biographies, autobiographies, and nonfiction. Volume 4 covers science fiction, adventure novels, myths, epics, and mysteries. Volume 5 covers fantasy and gothic novels. Volumes 6-8 include novels, biographies, autobiographies, and other nonfiction published since 1980. Volume 9 continued the focus on contemporary fiction and nonfiction.

Beginning with Volume 10, the series returned to its basic tenet of covering works of fiction and nonfiction�both contemporary and classic�that have been widely recognized as important books for young adult readers. The titles we have included vary in reading difficulty and maturity of subject matter, so that there are many titles appropriate for junior high, as well as high school students. We have included titles that have been widely recognized and reviewed, including Newbery Award and Honor Book recipients, but have also included some authors who have been overlooked in the review process. We hope that by including them here, they will begin to gain the recognition they deserve.

Since the publication of the first volumes of Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, we have discovered that the audience for the series is large and diverse. It includes involved readers who want to know more about their favorite books and authors; students who are researching term papers and book reports; teachers preparing classes; librarians building collections and selecting books for their patrons; parents seeking appropriate reading material for their children; and college students and professors developing ideas for curriculum designs. An easy-to-follow format had to be devised that provides the clarity

in

that younger readers require, while providing detailed information and depth of thought to satisfy the interests of more experienced readers. Especially useful to teachers planning thematic segments, and to students writing papers and reports, is the appendix that groups titles by themes. There are thematic appendices at the end of Volume 3, in Volumes 4 and 5, and at the end of Volumes 8 and 9. The cumulative index in the current volume provides easy access to authors and titles for the entire series. Each formatted article is divided into the following sections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The basics of the author's life are laid out here, with particular attention to the events that shaped the writer's work or sensibilities. This section also discusses the author's critical and popular success.

OVERVIEW

This section, which provides a snapshot of the plot and characters, is intended to generate student interest in reading the book, and to give teachers and librarians a quick guide to the subject matter.

SETTING

Many books for young adults are intended to acquaint them with places they have never been and cultures they have never experienced. Novels about faraway lands, futuristic worlds, historical times, the inner city, and the farm all serve to transport readers into the unfamiliar, helping them to broaden their outlook and to understand similarities and differences of other cultures. The "Setting" section acquaints readers with the special aspects of the setting (including additional historical background to explain the merits or weaknesses of a historical novel), as well as showing how the author uses place and time to develop themes and characterizations.

THEMES AND CHARACTERS

This section explains how the themes and characters are woven together to create a unified work of art, and it establishes the groundwork for understanding the characters' motivation and actions. Because some books are more thematically complex than others, the length of the "Themes and Characters" section varies accordingly. The object of this section is to give insight into a work's literary merits by taking an in-depth look at how well rounded the characters are, how plausible they are, and how well they fit into the work's themes. This section is intended to provide serious critical treatment, thereby enriching a reader's appreciation of the literary work.

LITERARY QUALITIES

The "Literary Qualities" section analyzes the techniques authors use to communicate with their readers. It also introduces students to literary devices such as foreshadowing and

IV

archetypes. In explaining the skill behind the artistry, this section shows the reader how to become a more thoughtful critic.

SOCIAL SENSITIVITY

Often books for young adults are controversial. For instance, some old classics for young readers contain racist undercurrents that were overlooked in less enlightened times. On the other hand, since the 1960s the subjects that books for young adults treat have broadened to include topics that were once thought to be strictly for adults, such as sex, drug addiction, and hatred toward one's parents. Some young adult books are very violent, others are intensely frightening, and still others express doubts about the morals and ethics of religion, science, or society. The "Social Sensitivity" section analyzes the social context and explains how the sensitive aspects of the book fit in with its setting, themes, characters, and plot. The "Social Sensitivity" section may alert adults to sensitive issues, but it does not attempt to judge or censor material, including "reality" topics like nuclear war, sexuality, broken homes, racism, religious faith, and a host of other "real world" issues.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

This section provides a list of topics and questions designed to stimulate classroom discussion. For students conducting research on their own, these questions serve to guide the reader toward the most important elements of theme and character.

IDEAS FOR REPORTS AND PAPERS

This section is designed to lead readers toward ideas for additional reading assignments, writing assignments, and in-class presentations. Its purpose is to help students think about their topics and to offer them some guidance as to what approaches to the book could be effective. It provides suggestions for simple reports as well as complex term papers. Librarians will find this section useful in guiding students who are searching for report topics.

RELATED TITLES/ADAPTATIONS

This section discusses books by the same author that share similarities with the main title, or by other authors dealing with the same themes or characters. Often these books form part of a series, such as the Tillerman cycle by Cynthia Voigt. This section is useful to students who are writing a comparative analysis paper, or who are seeking another title by an author they liked. If a title has been adapted to stage, radio, television, or film, this section compares the adaptation to the original title,

FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

In some cases, there is a wealth of published material on a particular author or a particular title; in those cases, the "Further Reference" section guides the reader to the most helpful sources. On the other hand, some of the titles have not been widely reviewed, which limits the bibliography.

v

RELATED WEBSITES

This section lists websites that contain information about a particular author or title. Each citation includes a brief summary of the website's contents. In some cases, the date that the site was last known to be active is provided.

It is heartening that Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults provides much new material that cannot be found elsewhere, but it also serves as an indication of how very much more work needs to be done in studying the many meritorious works in young adult literature.

VI

Acknowledgments

♦

RUDOLFO ANAYA. From a cover of Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya. Arte Publico Press Archives, University of Houston. Reproduced by permission of Houston: Arte Publico Press�University of Houston./ Anaya, Rudolfo, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

T. A. BARRON. Sweet, Darrell K., illustrator. From a cover of The Ancient One, by T. A. Barron. Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, 1992. Reproduced by permission of St. Martin's Press, Inc./ Barron, T. A,, photograph by Currie C. Barron. Reproduced by permission of T. A. Barron.

MICHAEL CADNUM. Cadnum, Michael, photograph by Dave Thomas. Reproduced by permission of Michael Cadnum.

LEWIS CARROLL. Morris, Phyllis (center) as the Duchess and Roma Beaumont (right) as Alice, in a scene from the stage production of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, photograph. Hulton Getty /Archive Photos, Inc. Reproduced by permission./ Lewis Carroll, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

ARTHUR C. CLARKE. Clarke, Arthur C, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

CAROLINE B. COONEY. O'Brien, Tim, illustrator. From a jacket of The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney. Published by Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. Illustration copyright © 1997 by Tim O'Brien. Reproduced by permission. All rights reserved.

CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS. Norcia, Ernie, illustrator. From a cover of Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis. Delacorte Press, 1999. Cover illustration © 1999 by Ernie Norcia. Reproduced by permission of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc./ Christopher Paul Curtis on the set of the Today show. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

KAREN CUSHMAN. Hyman, Trina Schart, illustrator. From a jacket of The Midwife's Apprentice, by Karen Cushman. Clarion Books, 1995. Jacket illustration copyright © 1995 by Trina Schart Hyman. Reproduced by permission of Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin

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Company. All rights reserved./ Cushman, Karen, photograph by Fred Mertz. Reproduced by permission of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

EDWARD FENTON. Fenton, Edward, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

BARBARA HARRISON. Wisniewski, David, illustrator. From a jacket of Theo, by Barbara Harrison. Photographed by Studio One. Clarion Books/Hough ton MifflLn Company, 1999. Illustration copyright © 1999 by David Wisniewski. Reproduced by permission. All rights

reserved.

ROBERT A. HEINLEIN. Heinlein, Robert A., photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY. From a cover of The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories, by Ernest Hemingway. Scribner Classic/Collier Books, 1986. Cover design by Fred Marcellino. Reproduced by permission of Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc./ Lancaster, Burt, and Ava Gardner in the film The Killers, 1946, photograph. The Kobal Collection. Reproduced by permission./ Hemingway, Ernest, photograph. Corbis-Bettmann. Reproduced by permission.

DIANA WYNNE JONES. Jones, Diana Wynne, photograph. Reproduced by permission of the author.

JAMES JOYCE. Kennedy, Paul E., illustrator. From a cover of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce. Dover Publications, Inc., 1994. Reproduced by permission./ Joyce, James, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

MARGARET LAURENCE. Sucher, Laurie, illustrator. From a cover of The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence. The University of Chicago Press, 1993. Reproduced by permission./ Laurence, Margaret, photograph. © David Laurence Photo. Reproduced by permission of the photographer.

JACK LONDON. London, Jack, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

GLORIA D. MIKLOWITZ. Miklowitz, Gloria D., photograph by Arthur Montes de Oca. Reproduced by permission of Gloria D. Miklowitz.

KYOKO MORI. Mazzella, Mary Jo, illustrator. From a jacket of Shizuko's Daughter, by Kyoko Mori. Holt, 1993. Jacket illustration © 1993 by Mary Jo Mazzella. Reproduced by permission of the illustrator./ Cover of The Dream of Water: A Memoir, by Kyoko Mori. One World/Fawcett Columbine Books, 1996. Reproduced by permission of Random House, Inc./ Mori, Kyoko, photograph by Katherine McCabe. Reproduced by permission of Kyoko Mori.

ZIBBY ONEAL. Oneal, Zibby, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

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PHILIP PULLMAN. Prom a cover of The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. Del Rey Books, 1997. Copyright © 1997 by Philip Pullman. Reproduced by permission of Random House, Inc./ Pullman, Philip, photograph by James Pullman. Reproduced by permission of Philip Pullman.

HARRIETTE GILLEM ROBINET. Ransome, James, illustrator. From a jacket of Children of the Fire, by Harriette Gillem Robinet. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1991. Jacket illustration copyright © 1991 by James Ransome. Reproduced by permission of the author. / Alder, Kelynn, illustrator. From the jacket of If You Please, President Lincoln, by Harriette Gillem Robinet. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1995. Jacket illustration copyright © 1995 by Kelynn Alder. Reproduced by permission./ White, Keinyo, illustrator. From a jacket of The Twins, the Pirates, and the Battle of New Orleans, by Harriette Gillem Robinet. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1997. Jacket illustration copyright © 1997 by Keinyo White. Reproduced by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc./ Robinet, Harriette Gillem, photograph by McLouis Robinet. Reproduced by permission of Harriette Gillem Robinet.

J. K. ROWLING. GrandPre, Mary, illustrator. From a cover of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press, 1999. Jacket art © 1999 by Mary GrandPre. Harry Potter characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. © 2001. Reproduced by permission of Warner Bros./ Rowling, J. K., photograph by Suzanne Mapes. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

JOHN STEINBECK. Steinbeck, John, photograph. Archive Photos. Reproduced by permission.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. Stevenson, Robert Louis, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

FRANK R. STOCKTON. Stockton, Frank R., photograph. Corbis-Bettmann. Reproduced by permission.

ROB THOMAS. Raschka, Chris, illustrator. From a jacket of Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 1996. Jacket illustration copyright © 1996 Simon & Schuster. Reproduced by permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division./ Thomas, Rob, photograph by Stanley W. Hensley. Reproduced by permission of Rob Thomas.

BARBARA WERSBA. Robbins, Ken, illustrator. From a jacket of Whistle Me Home, by Barbara Wersba. Henry Holt and Company, 1997. Jacket art © 1997 by Ken Robbins. Reproduced by permission of Henry Holt and Company, LLC. / Wersba, Barbara, photograph. Reproduced by permission of Barbara Wersba.

IX

Contributors

Without the expertise and generosity of the hundreds of contributors to this series, the depth of criticism now available to young adult readers, their teachers, librarians, and parents would not have been possible. To all of our contributors, past, present, and future, we gratefully acknowledge your contributions.

Contributors whose analyses appear in this volume are:

Emily Alward

Tamra Andrews

Karl E. Avery

Kirk H. Beetz

Janice M. Bogstad

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Allison DeFrees

Janet Hilbun

Paula Johanson

Patrick Jones

Veda Boyd Jones

Catherine K. March

Brian Patton

King's College

London, Ontario, Canada

Marilyn A. Perlberg

Michelle Prebilic

Dominique Sandis

Elizabeth D. Schafer

Peter D. Sieruta

Susan Swords Steffen Elmhurst College

A. Winn

Northeastern State University

XI

MY LEFT FOOT

Autobiography

1954

Author: Christy Brown

--------------♦--------------

Major Books for Young Adults

My Left Foot, 1954                                               Collected Poems, 1982

Down All the Days, 1970                                     A Promising Career, 1982

The Poems of Christy Brown, 1971                        Wild Grow the Lilies, 1989

A Shadow on Summer, 1974                                 Are You Looking at Me, Jimmy? 1995

Of Snails and Skylarks, 1977 (poetry)

Copyright © 2001 by The Gale Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.