Tween & Teen Tuesday
Every Tuesday, we review either a juvenile (J) or young adult (YA) book
Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White
Melissa Sweet (Juvenile Biography)
Elwyn Brooks White, known to his friends as Andy and his fans as E. B. White, was a writer for The New Yorker and Harper’s magazine, a poet, essayist, and children’s book author.
Readers who have delighted in the works of White throughout the years will appreciate this accounting of his life. Sweet includes White’s personal photographs, copies of rough manuscripts, journal entries, and correspondence to give us a unique insight into the life of a man who loved animals almost as much as his own privacy. Young readers may grow a little bored when Sweet talks about White’s editing and grammatical style contributions, but the short chapters, as well as Sweet’s mixed media artwork and beautiful illustrations, will keep readers engaged and provide a pleasurable reading experience.
I enjoyed learning more about the author who provided the world with, what I believe to be, one of the most compelling and dramatic opening sentences in children’s literature: “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” After reading this wonderful biography, you too will agree that E. B. White was indeed some writer.
Rating: 5/5
The Dusty Jacket 