Eve Bunting

Eve Bunting is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works and continues to write.

Biography

Eve Bunting was born on December 19, 1928 in Maghera, Northern Ireland [ [http://www.friend.ly.net/users/jorban/biographies/buntingeve/index.html | Eve Bunting ] ] . She went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen [ [http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp | Author Bio Eve Bunting ] ] .” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course [ [http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp | Author Bio Eve Bunting ] ] . She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting’s first published story, "Two Giants", focused an Irish folktale about Finn McCool who out smarted Culcullan, a terrible Scottish giant [ [http://www.friend.ly.net/users/jorban/biographies/buntingeve/index.html | Eve Bunting ] ] . The first published work gave Bunting confidence and passion to pursue a writing career.

Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena and has four grandchildren [ [http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp | Author Bio Eve Bunting ] ] .

Awards

During her writing career, Bunting has won several awards for her books. She received the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 1976 for "One More Flight" [ [http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp | Author Bio Eve Bunting ] ] . Other honors include the Southern California council on Literature for Children and Young People Award, PEN Los Angeles Center Literacy Award for Special Achievement in Children’s Literature, and Southern California council on Literature for Children and Young People Award Excellence is a Series Award. "Coffin on a Case" won Mystery Writers of America in 1993 [ [http://www.friend.ly.net/users/jorban/biographies/buntingeve/index.html | Eve Bunting ] ] .

Eve Bunting has also received the Heal the World award from a school.

A young reader wrote Bunting to notify her of the achievement. She said, “It is among of the most cherished honors I have ever received and the plaque hangs proudly above my desk [ [http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bunting-eve.asp | Author Bio Eve Bunting ] ] .” Bunting is proud of her writing and how it affects children of all ages.

Works

Bunting's best-known writings include:

* "Someone is Hiding on Alcatraz Island"

*"Fly Away Home" Award Winning NovelA father and son are homeless and they sleep at the airport. The son watches the planes fly away and hopes one day he will be able to leave.

*"The Summer of Riley"

*"Smoky Night"A young boy wakes up in the middle of the night and his family is forced to leave their house due to riots. Despite hatred in the city, two families are bonded by the events.

*"One More Flight" (1976, Warne). Awarded Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

*"Coffin on a Case!" (1992) Received the 1993 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery

*"Is Anybody There?" (1988). Edgar nominee.

*"Spying on Miss Muller" (1995). Edgar nominee

*"Moon Stick"

*"Dandelions"

*"The Memory String" A young girl remembers her family, including her mother, by a string full of buttons. Each button belongs to a certain family member and memory. She is dealing with change as her stepmother and father paint the house. This story focuses on how the young girl copes with the pain of losing her mother and gaining a stepmother.

*"How Many Days to America?"This book describes a family secretly leaving their country and boarding a boat to America. When they reach America, they celebrate and have Thanksgiving. This is a very powerful Thanksgiving story.

*"Night Tree"A family travels through a forest and decorates a Christmas tree with oranges and popcorn. They sing and drink hot chocolate with the animals. The family leaves the tree for the animals to celebrate Christmas.

*"S.O.S Titanic"The same theme as "Titanic" but a different story board.

*"A Sudden Silence"Jesse Harmon searches for the hit-and-run driver who killed his brother Bry.

Diversity

With over 250 titles, Eve Bunting has included diversity in her work. Every title focuses on a different issue. "Smoky Night" discusses racism and the Los Angeles riots with colorful illustrations. "Fly Away Home" illustrates a homeless father and son who live in an airport. Bunting has also discussed topics, such as death, war, and troubled family life. Her writing speaks about important social issues with clarity and empowerment.

External links

* [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/eve-bunting/ Complete Listing of Works by Eve Bunting]

* [http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2210 Eve Bunting Biography]

* [http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/flyawayhome.html Teaching Resources for "Fly Away Home"]

* [http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/bunting Video Interview with Eve Bunting]

* [http://www.mysterywriters.org/ Mystery Writers of America]

Footnotes