|
|
 |
|
"...a gentle but powerful novel, combining a story of bittersweet love with a poignant
account of the journey toward self-realization..." -- Book Page, July 2001
"...blends historical
richness and a fine sense of place...a satisfying emotional depth...a light, precisely written novel." -- Kirkus
May 15, 2001
"The Magic of Ordinary Days" is a simple tale, well-told, featuring some lively and
believable characters and gorgeous, stark landscapes. -- Boulder Daily Camera, July 22, 2001
This is the first adult novel by an author who has written two well-received
YA books. Livvy Dunne is a thoughtful 24-year-old with yearnings toward archeology, who in a rash moment in WWII Colorado
becomes pregnant by a dashing officer and is forced into a marriage of convenience by her sternly puritanical minister father.
She goes off to Ray Singleton's remote farm knowing nothing about him except that he is lonely, utterly inexperienced
around women and touchingly devoted to her. The relationship between the two, graced by some delicate, perceptive and fine-boned
writing, is at the heart of the book, and Creel gets it all just right. She is also skilled at evoking the peculiar remoteness
from the war of the high plains country, where farmers were regarded as an integral part of the war effort and even got enough
gas to drive around for pleasure, a rare privilege in 1944.
-- Publisher's
Weekly |
|
|
6 UP-Echo Song's love of birdcalls earned her her name, but her first
name was Born of the Stand Still Moon, for the rare lunar position at the time of her birth. ... This spare and lyrical tale
offers readers a peek into what life must have been like for the "Ancient Ones," who lived in the Southwest United
States over 1000 years ago. Creel awakens their daily life through archaeological records and the development of her characters
to create a rich story of a peaceful farming community and the young woman who sacrifices all she loves to save it.
This
would be a great book to enhance curriculum, but will also be enjoyed by anyone who likes historical fiction.-Anna M.
Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, Fl.
--
School Library Journal, November, 2005
"UNDER A STAND
STILL MOON could easily be this generation's ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. It was a real page-turner for me, at 192 pages;
I was sorry it was over so soon. It is intriguing historical fiction, set in the Southwestern United States around 900AD..."
-- New England Children's
Booksellers Assoc, September 24, 2005
"Under A Stand
Still Moon is an incredible journey back into the time and place of the great Anasazi civilization. Ann Howard Creel deftly
brings these ancient people to life. I became the girl Echo, lived her joys, sorrows and triumphs."
-- Sue Harrison, prize-winning author of Call Down the Stars
"A great book for kids and adults who want to know more
about the daily lives of the people who lived in one of the great archaeological sites of the United States."
--
Steven A. LeBlanc, Archaeologist, Harvard Peabody Museum
"A valuable teaching tool for
history, culture studies, family studies, as well as Native American studies. It would serve as an excellent collaborative
text between the social sciences and language arts."
-- James Burch,
Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Creel's powerful, understated narrative voice and exquisite eye for
detail make this novel an accessible and satisfying read. -- Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) August 2005
|
|
|
Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old
Laney is about to get the surprise of her life. Her corporate parents trade their office jobs in civilized Tampa Bay, FL,
to be alpaca ranchers on the desolate Colorado prairie. She is definitely not ready to be uprooted again-especially since
her father had assured her that Tampa Bay was the final move for the family. As soon as school ends, they head west armed
only with book knowledge of the animals they are about to care for. Once in Colorado, Laney's parents and "perfect"
older sister swoon over the wide-open spaces and new opportunities open to the family. Laney is not so enchanted, and even
refuses to unpack her things in her new room. As the summer rolls on, she eventually befriends the "county weirdo,"
M. J. the Birdhouse Lady, and learns to accept the changes the move has brought. The protagonist's emotions have a realistic
ring as she struggles to adapt in this unfamiliar world. The alpacas' fear of their new environment parallels the girl's
lost sense of place and home, which is a nice touch. A believable portrait of a family in transition.-- Elaine Baran Black,
Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GACopyright
2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. for School Library Journal
Gr. 5-7. Twelve-year-old Laney is furious
with her parents' decision to simplify their lives by moving from their ocean-front home in Florida to the arid plains
of Colorado, where they plan to raise alpacas. Since conditions are dismal, work is backbreaking, and the initial encounter
with the alpacas confirms how little they know, Laney is certain her parents will move back to Florida before the end of summer.
It's no real surprise when Laney has a change of heart, but Creel ably and gradually shows her transformation--from an
irritating preteen to a concerned young woman who learns to see the beauty of the plains, works to save some of its animals,
and begins to accept her parents' decision for the adventure it is. A comforting, satisfying story sure to appeal to middle-graders,
especially those who have endured a move. -- Chris Sherman, Booklist.
|
|
|
Creel has created a poignant and positive first person account of a twelve-year-old girl's successful
struggle to find her mother, reconcile herself to her father's untimely death, while making herself a life on the streets
of a large city. From June 20 to November 2, readers share Vivien's diary that includes letters to an aunt and grandmother.
Without ignoring sadness and opportunistic cruelty, Creel makes clear the value of seeing life half full, and being hopeful.
Her account details the kindness and mental illness of the street people, the caring competence of the social workers, and
leaves no doubt that a successful outcome demands good sense, spirit, and the guidance of both these groups.
-- Children's Literature
Madolen's life has been narrow, hard and lonely since her
mother died. Seeing no one but her father in a remote part of Utah at the end of the 19th century, the surprising offer of
a Mormon family (the Olsens) to adopt her means not just other women for friends, but a chance to learn to read and see something
of the world. Her father's determination that if she goes, she will no longer be kin is painful, but the pull to be part
of society is too strong. The Olsen mother and daughter give Madolen a taste for female companionship as well as some book-learning,
but when tragedy strikes, Madolen is truly on her own. Struggling to survive in the canyons of Utah requires all her skills
and knowledge from both parts of her life. A young wealthy Easterner arrives to arouse her interest and love with his outsider's
appreciation for the flora, fauna and natural beauty around them. A bittersweet romance grounded in an unusual place and time,
with the added bonus of an introduction to early Mormon daily life and beliefs. (Fiction. YA)
-- Kirkus Review, November 1, 2006
...It
is an amazing love story, and Madolen is a character to admire and cherish. It's excellent historical fiction.
-- Sherri Forgash Ginsberg, Librarian, Pasadena CA, KLIATT, November
2006
...The allure of gold, the backdrop of the wilderness,
and trials of personal faith combine in this captivating and emotional story.
--The
Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch: November 2006
|
|
Grade 4-6. In 1854, 12-year-old Wren Taylor and her parents travel from
Boston to her father's new medical post, Fort Massachusetts, in New Mexico territory. Unsure around other children, Wren
gradually befriends Luther, a blind Ute sent to the fort's school to learn English. Together, the friends explore the
territory, learning about one another's culture in the process. When tensions between the settlers and the Utes arise,
the courageous Wren must decide where her true loyalties lie. The author provides an accurate, fair portrayal of white and
Native American characters. A few historical facts have been rearranged for storytelling purposes, but the author has poured
a lot of research into a simple telling. Prejudices of the time are incorporated, including the military caste system, but
no characters are seen as right or wrong. Wren often seems older than her years, frequently foreshadowing events with her
dire predictions. The Ute culture is sympathetically portrayed, although some readers may question the abilities shown by
Luther. An easy, worthwhile read that's sure to start discussions of loyalty and the obligations of friendship. -- Mary
B. McCarthy, Windsor Severance Library District, CO for School Library Journal
|
|
|
|
|
|
