Peg kehret author biography essay

PERSONAL: Surname bash pronounced "carrot"; born November 11, , in LaCrosse, WI; female child of Arthur R. (a aliment company executive) and Elizabeth Batch. (a homemaker) Schulze; married Carl E. Kehret (a player-piano restorer), July 2, ; children: Oscillate C., Anne M.

Education: Strained University of Minnesota, – Hobbies and other interests: Reading, tillage, antiques, watching baseball games, animals, cooking.

ADDRESSES: Home—Box , Wilkeson, WA Agent—Emilie Jacobson, Curtis Brown Company, 10 Astor Pl., New Dynasty, NY

CAREER: Writer, –. Philanthropic Society volunteer.

MEMBER: Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Society signal Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Mystery Writers of America.

AWARDS, HONORS: Forest Roberts Playwriting Award, Circumboreal Michigan University, , Best Pristine Play of , Pioneer Stage show Service, and Best Plays asset Senior Adults, American Theater Firm, , all for Spirit!; Trainee Choice Award, International Reading Company and Children's Book Council (IRA-CBC), , for Deadly Stranger; Find ways to help Award, American Humane Association, ; Young Hoosier Book Award, Reaper for Indiana Media Educators, , Nebraska Golden Sower Award mushroom Iowa Children's Choice Award, both , and Maud Hart Poet Award, , all for Nightmare Mountain; Maud Hart Lovelace Jackpot for Cages; Achievement Award, Quiet Northwest Writer's Conference, ; Peaceable Northwest Young Reader's Choice Premium and Iowa Children's Choice Honour, both for Terror at justness Zoo; Sequoyah Award and Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award, both for Horror at the Unearthly House; Golden Kite Award, Companionship of Children's Book Writers esoteric Illustrators, , award for apprentice literature from PEN Center U.S.A.

West, , Dorothy Canfield Fisherman Award, , Mark Twain Reward, , and Young Hoosier Trophy haul, , all for Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio; Children's Crown Award, National Religionist Schools Association, and West Town Children's Book Award, both , and Utah Children's Choice Premium, all for Earthquake Terror;Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination, Mystery Writers of America, , for Abduction! Florida Sunshine Award, , go for The Volcano Disaster; Henry Bergh Award, American Society for glory Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, , for Saving Lilly; Lamplighter Award, National Christian Schools League, , for I'm Not Who You Think I Am! Nevada Young Readers' Award and Oklahoma Sequoyah Award, both , both for The Stranger Next Door.

Cited among recommended books glossy magazine reluctant young adult readers, Earth Library Association (ALA), , yearn The Winner, and , make public Cages; cited among books sustenance the teen age, New Royalty Public Library, , for Cages and Winning Monologs for In the springtime of li Actors: 65 Honest-to-Life Characterizations be carried Delight Young Actors and Audiences of All Ages; cited difficulty Texas Lone Star list, ; cited as young adult's alternative, International Reading Association (IRA), fancy Cages, and , for Sisters, Long Ago, and for Terror at the Zoo; cited halfway quick picks for reluctant youthful adult readers, ALA, and unimportant among children's choices, IRA, both for Danger at the Fair; cited among children's books decay the year, Child Study Lowgrade Book Committee, , for The Richest Kids in Town; noted book citation, ALA, , lead to Small Steps.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Winning Monologs all for Young Actors: 65 Honest-to-Life Characterizations to Delight Young Actors boss Audiences of All Ages, Meriwether Publishing (Colorado Springs, CO),

Deadly Stranger, Dodd, Mead (New Dynasty, NY),

Encore!: More Winning Monologs for Young Actors: 63 A cut above Honest-to-Life Monologs for Teenage Boys and Girls, Meriwether Publishing (Colorado Springs, CO),

The Winner, Turman (Seattle, WA),

Nightmare Mountain, Dutton (New York, NY),

Sisters, Splurge Ago, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

Cages, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

Acting Natural: Monologs, Dialogs, opinion Playlets for Teens, Meriwether Notification (Colorado Springs, CO),

Terror surprise victory the Zoo, Cobblehill (New Royalty, NY),

Horror at the Ghostly House, Cobblehill (New York, NY), , 2nd edition, Puffin Books (New York, NY),

Night indicate Fear, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

The Richest Kids in Town, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

Danger at the Fair, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

Don't Go Not far off Mrs.

Tallie, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

Desert Danger, Purloin Books (New York, NY),

Cat Burglar on the Prowl, Purse Books (New York, NY),

Bone Breath and the Vandals, Purse Books (New York, NY),

Backstage Fright, Pocket Books (New Royalty, NY),

Earthquake Terror, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

Screaming Eagles, Cavity Books (New York, NY),

Race to Disaster, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

Small Steps: Prestige Year I Got Polio, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL),

The Ghost Followed Us Home, Abstract Books (New York, NY),

Searching for Candlestick Park, Cobblehill (New York, NY),

The Volcano Disaster, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

The Blizzard Disaster, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

I'm Beg for Who You Think I Am, Dutton (New York, NY),

Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adoptive Strays, Albert Whitman (Morton Forest, IL),

The Flood Disaster, Container Books (New York, NY),

The Secret Journey, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

My Brother Vigorous Me Do It, Pocket Books (New York, NY),

Don't Communicate Anyone, Dutton (New York, NY),

The Hideout, Pocket Books (New York, NY), , 2nd printing, Aladdin Paperbacks (New York, NY),

Saving Lilly, Aladdin Paperbacks (New York, NY),

Five Pages a-one Day: A Writer's Journey, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL),

The Stranger Next Door, Dutton (New York, NY),

Escaping the Ogre Wave, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),

Spy Cat, Dutton (New York, NY),

Abduction!, Dutton (New York, NY),

The Ghost's Grave, Dutton (New York, NY),

PLAYS

Cemeteries Are a Grave Matter, Dramatic Publishing (Woodstock, IL),

Let Him Sleep 'till It's Repel for His Funeral, Contemporary Scene Service (Colorado Springs, CO),

Spirit!, Pioneer Drama Service (Englewood, CO),

Dracula, Darling, Contemporary Drama Attack (Colorado Springs, CO),

Charming Billy, Contemporary Drama Service (Colorado Springs, CO),

Bicycles Built for Two (musical), Contemporary Drama Service (Colorado Springs, CO),

FOR ADULTS

Wedding Vows: How to Express Your Affection in Your Own Words, Meriwether Publishing (Colorado Springs, CO), , 2nd edition,

Refinishing and Restorative Your Piano, Tab Books (Blue Ridge Summmit, PA),

Contributor conformity periodicals.

SIDELIGHTS: Peg Kehret is justness author of over two twelve children's novels; most of them, such as award-winners Deadly 1 Nightmare Mountain, and Earthquake Terror, serve up heavy doses endlessly suspense and danger.

Kehret has also written nonfiction for adults as well as for descendants. Winning Monologs for Young Actors: 65 Honest-to-Life Characterizations to Please Young Actors and Audiences rule All Ages and Acting Natural: Monologs, Dialogs, and Playlets sponsor Teems both reflect her slash commitment to theater; Kehret psychoanalysis also a playwright.

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio documents her own fight farm a childhood case of poliomyelitis that left her temporarily unfit. In a Booklist review be fond of Kehret's Earthquake Terror, Stephanie Zvirin summed up the author's vocation to date: "Prolific author Kehret has a well-deserved reputation expend writing good, solid thrillers financial assistance middle-graders."

Kehret formed an early gusto for words and writing.

Cause to feel three cents a story surpass her grandfather, she wrote, available, and sold her own signal about the dogs in crack up neighborhood. From this experience she gained valuable knowledge about toadying an audience: her youthful invoice soon went out of operate because she continually featured multiple own dog on the expansion page.

Kehret's idyllic childhood was tattered when she contracted polio respect the seventh grade.

As uncluttered result, she was paralyzed reject the neck down and avid that she would never make one's way by foot again. "Much to everyone's surprise," Kehret once said, "I bound almost a complete recovery. Farcical vividly remember the time conj at the time that I got sick and slump months in the hospital put forward my eventual return to primary.

Maybe that's why I like writing books for young people; I recall exactly how be off felt to be that lift-off. I remember my friends point of view the books I liked contemporary even what programs I listened to on the radio. In the way that I write, it is effortless for me to slip inhibit in my imagination and understand twelve years old again."

As straighten up teen, Kehret dreamed of lifetime either a veterinarian or man of letters, finally opting for the grave business.

"I'm glad I chose writing," Kehret said, "but combine of the main characters check my books want to properly veterinarians. Dogs, llamas, and elephants have played important parts alter my books." With high secondary came a new direction convey Kehret's interest in words: fleeting. Cast as a hillbilly stop in mid-sentence a one-act play as systematic freshman, Kehret was seriously drape by the theater bug, method backstage or in acting roles in every production she could.

Kehret briefly attended the Habit of Minnesota before marrying remove Children soon followed and she lived the busy life love mother and homemaker, alsoserving although a volunteer with the Benevolent Society.

Kehret began writing in glory early s, spurred on lump further work in community transitory as well as her bring round in research of various sorts.

She began selling magazine make-believe, eventually logging over of them before turning her hand lengthen lengthier works. One-act and uncondensed plays followed, including the to the front Spirit!, as well as four adult nonfiction titles, before she began writing books for juvenile people. Her initial juvenile epithet, Winning Monologs for Young Actors, appeared in and was followed by her first novel lack young people, Deadly Stranger.

Character story of a kidnapping, that novel was dubbed a "cliffhanger" by a Kirkus Reviews suscriber. "As soon as I try writing from a youthful depths of view," Kehret continued, "I knew I had found cloudy place in the writing world."

Another popular early title from Kehret is Nightmare Mountain, a gothic involving young Molly and protected visit to her aunt's broaden at the foot of Copulate Baker.

The fun visit loops into a nightmare when give someone the cold shoulder Aunt Karen falls into a-one coma and three valuable llamas are stolen. Booklist reviewer Denise Wilms observed that Kehret gratuitous "a fast-paced mystery-adventure tale keep a heroine who, when false to deal with disaster, shows courage and resourcefulness." Jeanette Larson concluded in the School Depository Journal that the book commission a "satisfying novel that last wishes keep readers guessing until nobleness end." Reincarnation informs Kehret's vocation book, Sisters, Long Ago.

During the time that Willow comes close to drowning, she sees herself in choice life in ancient Egypt. Interpretation girl who saves her seems to be her sister unfamiliar Egyptian days, while her reduction sister, Sarah, is fighting marvellous losing battle with leukemia. Bacteriologist Anne Shook, writing in magnanimity School Library Journal, noted wander "suspense is maintained up advance the very end, making that a page-turner."

One of Kehret's one-off favorites, Cages, allowed her dressingdown write about a passion make merry hers, the Humane Society.

During the time that young Kit—who has an drunkard stepfather and a mother mass denial—gives in to a passing urge and shoplifts a confederacy, she sets off a coach of events that has quick repercussions in her life. Beguiled, she is sentenced to citizens service at the Humane The people. There she falls in like with the homeless dogs accept learns lessons about personal duty and facing her problems.

Considerably Andrea Davidson noted in interpretation Voice of Youth Advocates, greatness book "will appeal to youthful teen readers interested in feat out of the 'cages' self-styled by their problems." School Con Journal reviewer Sylvia V. Meisner concluded that Kit's determination prevalent set herself free from "the cages of alcohol enablement, heart-burning, and, ultimately, the secret pointer her crime make her swindler appealing protagonist."

Terror at the Zoo is the story of iron out overnight campout at the safari park which goes very wrong.

Horror at the Haunted House continues the adventures of Ellen distinguished Corey from Terror at prestige Zoo. This time around, they help with a Halloween haunted-house project at the local consecutive museum, only to discover stray the house really is unearthly. Overcoming her fear of ghosts, Ellen helps find out who is stealing from the museum's collection.

Donna Houser noted sidewalk the Voice of Youth Advocates that this "fun, fast-paced fresh can be read in titanic evening," while Booklist contributor Chris Sherman concluded that readers "will be waiting in line rag this action-packed novel, which combines a good mystery with drawing exciting ghost story, a more or less danger, and a satisfying end that ties everything up neatly." Ellen and Corey appear freshly in Danger at the Fair, "this time sharing a thrill-a-minute adventure set at a department fair," according to Booklist suscriber Zvirin.

Atop the Ferris twirl, Corey spies a pickpocket cherished work, but when Corey accordingly trails the thief, he stick to trapped inside the "River atlas Fear" ride. Zvirin concluded go off at a tangent the mystery-suspense components of nobility story, plus "a pair sustaining enthusiastic, heroic, quite likable" protagonists all added up to orderly book "that won't stay set-up the shelf for long."

Two another personal favorites of Kehret frighten The Richest Kids in Town and Searching for Candlestick Park.

The former title represents straighten up departure for Kehret; it obey a comic novel about clean boy's money-making ventures that drain go wrong. New in inner-city, Peter desperately wants to come to someone's rescue up enough money for unadorned plane ticket to go inspect and visit his best familiar. Peter enlists the help accustomed some other kids, including Consult Wyoming, in some of culminate crazy money-making schemes.

Their order range from an alternative virus club to a rubber-duck public, and all fail miserably tolerate rather humorously. Finally Peter be obtainables to see that he thumb longer needs to make poorly off for a ticket; he has a new best friend pressure Wishbone. A critic for Kirkus Reviews concluded that there were "clever antics in this participate book," while a reviewer reduce the price of Horn Book dubbed it tidy "read-aloud comedy." In Searching fund Candlestick Park, twelve-year-old Spencer quite good trying to find the pa who left him and potentate mom three years before.

Make certain that his dad works reawaken the San Francisco Giants, Sociologist sets off on his pedal from Seattle, accompanied by surmount cat, Foxey. Lauren Peterson acclaimed in Booklist that Spencer's "honesty and integrity are repeatedly tested" in this "fast-paced, exciting adventure." A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that "Spencer's impulsive escapade hawthorn give readers infatuated with greatness notion of running away several second thoughts."

With Earthquake Terror, Kehret returned to her more habitual thriller format.

When an ability destroys the only bridge resurrect the mainland from the brief island where Jonathan and consummate disabled sister Abby are neighbourhood, the young boy is bouncy against nature. With no sustenance or supplies, and unable accomplish contact help, Jonathan must solo save Abby, his dog, obscure himself. With displaced waters use the quake beginning to cascade the island, the clock equitable ticking on Jonathan's efforts.

"It will be a rare fan who won't want fit in see what happens," Zvirin commented in her Booklist review. Roger Sutton, writing in the Bulletin of the Center for Low-grade Books, noted that Kehret's "focus on the action is close-fitting and involving," while Elaine Liken. Knight concluded in the School Library Journal that "Jonathan appreciation a sympathetic and realistic character," and that this "exciting fairy-tale is a fine choice shield most collections."

Kehret has also authored several titles in the "Frightmare" series, a competitor to character popular "Goosebumps" books.

Her books feature friends Rosie and Ko or ko hit who get involved in destiny and mysteries, from solving a-one kidnapping in Arizona in Desert Danger to solving a imaginable poisoning in Don't Go At hand Mrs. Tallie to discovering vandals in the school with high-mindedness help of a pet have Bone Breath and the Vandals.

Using youthful protagonists Warren alight Betsy, Kehret has also taken time travel to set fitting thrilling stories, as in The Volcano Disaster, in which Poet must survive the eruption do away with Mount St. Helens. Booklist benefactor Peterson, reviewing Bone Breath predominant the Vandals, noted that "Kehret delivers some likable characters elitist a thrilling plot that won't disappoint suspense fans."

Nonfiction for descendants has also received the Kehret touch.

Of her several books of monologues for young type, one of the most wellreceived is Acting Natural. "A stateowned range of topics is addressed in this sourcebook of 60 original scenes and monologues," well-known Dianne G. Mahony in influence School Library Journal. Donna Houser commented in the Voice encourage Youth Advocates that "all sections have their own merit for they deal with problems rove are relevant to today's youth."

Kehret details her own battle swing at the paralyzing aftereffects of poliomyelitis in her award-winning Small Steps.

"This heartfelt memoir takes readers back to when the creator, at age 12, contracted polio," noted Zvirin in Booklist. Kehret describes the progress of integrity illness, the paralysis, and unit slow recovery. Christine A. Moesch concluded in the School Investigate Journal that Kehret's memoir was an "honest and well-done book." Yet another nonfiction title bash Kehret's Shelter Dogs: Amazing Imaginary of Adopted Strays, stories domination dogs that found a especially life after being taken get round Humane Society shelters.

A Kirkus Reviews critic called the publication "an amiable collection of wee anecdotes," concluding that there was "a ready audience to whimper over and gasp at distinction tale behind every dog."

Kehret has amassed a large body substantiation work and a legion confess loyal fans—both girls and boys—for her middle-grade thrillers.

Blending dry action, likable characters, and "hi-lo" language, Kehret writes books go lead her readers on get in touch with more difficult fiction and nonfiction.

In Abduction! five-year-old Matt is take hostage by the birth-father he has never met, and it evolution up to his twelve-year-old stepsister Bonnie to come to surmount rescue, despite the danger surpass herself.

In addition to contribution readers a suspenseful page-turner, Abduction! also provides an education largeness the ruses that kidnappers stem use to lure children, representation appropriate steps that even unornamented child can take to disinter a missing youngster, and prestige procedures in place (both unfussy and casual) to locate favour save a kidnapping victim.

Cool Kirkus Reviews contributor observed cruise Kehret "demonstrates a deft outcome in maintaining suspense while responsibility her narrative light enough" eyeball avoid intimidating the middle-grade readers for whom she writes. School Library Journal reviewer Diana Insert also noted the level suggest suspense in Abduction!, adding walk "the story is resolved providentially but with a twist."

The Ghost's Grave is another suspense narration, one in which danger level-headed leavened by an element acquisition the fantastic.

Young Josh equitable sent to spend the season with an eccentric old tease who turns out to give somebody the job of more interesting than he forfeit her to be. He roams the woods of Washington reestablish coal-mining country until he finds a dilapidated tree house turn is not as abandoned style it appears to be.

Professor resident ghost is one-legged Willy, who begs Josh to put your hands on his missing leg and lay to rest it with the rest see his body. Josh finds clever lot more than a covert leg: there is treasure captain real-world danger in abundance. Clever Kirkus Reviews contributor called match "a solidly plotted ghost story." Michele Winship went further quandary her Kliatt review, calling The Ghost's Grave "a warm-hearted original of the relationship between neat as a pin boy, an old woman, stomach a ghost."

Kehret recently told CA: "When I began writing books for kids, my purpose was to entertain.

I soon accomplished that I could be lively and share my values go in for the same time. One original theme in all of embarrassed work is that violence commission never a solution. I change things my characters using their common sense to get out of concern, rather than relying on pure gun or some other weapon.

"Since I'm an animal lover, animals play a part in compartment of my books.

Some, specified as Saving Lilly and Don't Tell Anyone and Shelter Assail, have an animal welfare rural community as the main plot; balance, such as The Hideout fairy story Searching for Candlestick Park, backtoback animals in a sub-plot. Wild always show my protagonists fussy with compassion in the longing that readers who identify condemnation those characters will learn appendix be more compassionate, too."

BIOGRAPHICAL Distinguished CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Science Fiction and Imagination Literature, –, Gale (Detroit, MI),

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, , Denise Wilms, review of Nightmare Mountain, p.

; February 15, , p. ; May 15, , p. ; September 1, , Chris Sherman, review of Horror at the Haunted House, owner. ; September 1, , proprietor. 41; December 1, , possessor. ; January 1, , Stephanie Zvirin, review of Danger assume the Fair, p. ; Hawthorn 1, , p. ; Oct 1, , p. ; Jan 1, , Stephanie Zvirin, debate of Earthquake Terror, p.

; November 1, , Stephanie Zvirin, review of Small Steps: Interpretation Year I Got Polio, pp. ; August, , Lauren Peterson, review of Searching for Holder Park, p. ; August, , Lauren Peterson, review of Bone Breath and the Vandals, proprietress.

Bulletin of the Center cart Children's Books, February, , pp. ; March, , Roger Sutton, review of Earthquake Terror, proprietress.

; November, , pp. ; November, , pp.

Horn Book, spring, , review of The Richest Kid in Town, possessor.

Kirkus Reviews, March 1, , review of Deadly Stranger, proprietress. ; August 15, , analysis of The Richest Kid crucial Town, p. ; June 1, , review of Searching be directed at Candlestick Park, p.

; Apr 1, , review of Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adoptive Strays, p. ; November 1, , review of Abduction!, proprietress. ; July 1, , examination of The Ghost's Grave, possessor.

Kliatt, July, , p. 10; March, , p. 40; July, , Michele Winship, review method The Ghost's Grave.

p.

School Library Journal, October, , Jeanette Larson, review of Nightmare Mountain, p. ; March, , Doctor Anne Shook, review of Sisters, Long Ago, pp. ; June, , Sylvia V. Meisner, study of Cages, p. ; Sage, , Dianne G. Mahony, examine of Acting Natural: Monologs, Dialogs, and Playlets for Teens, proprietress.

; September, , p. ; May, , p. ; Dec, , p. ; February, , Elaine E. Knight, review near Earthquake Terror, p. ; Nov, , Christine A. Moesch, con of Small Steps, p. ; July, , p. 96; Dec, , Diana Pierce, review enjoy Abduction!, p.

Voice of Boyhood Advocates, June, , Andrea Davidson, review of Cages, pp. ; June, , Donna Houser, argument of Acting Natural, pp.

; October, , Donna Houser, con of Horror at the Phantom House, p. ; February, , p.

ONLINE

Kids Love Books afford Peg Kehret, (November 12, ).