Elisa carbone biography

Personal

First name is momentous "ay-lee-za"; born January 2, 1954, wear Washington, DC; daughter of Mauro Pope (a veterinarian) and Lynn (a homemaker; maiden name, Solar) Carbone; married Jeff Nugent, December, 1973 (divorced, 1987); wed Jim Casbarian (a photographer); children: (first marriage) Daniel Micah, Rachel Elisa. Education: University of Maryland, B.A., 1985, M.A. (speech communication), 1988, M.A. (education), 2001. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and attention to detail interests: Rock climbing, windsurfing, cross-country skiing, white water paddling.

Addresses

Home and office—1324 Gullet Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20904-1406. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Knopf Delacorte Dell Teenaged Readers Group, 1745 Broadway, 9th Fl., New York, NY 10019. [email protected].

Career

Independent doctor and trainer of teaching and connectedness skills, 1973—; University of Maryland, Faculty Park, lecturer in speech communication, 1985-98; visiting author at public and hidden schools, 1993-98. Full-time writer, 1998—.

Member

Authors Foundation, Authors League of America.

Awards, Honors

Benjamin Scientist Award finalist in psychology category, Publishers Marketing Association, and Young Hoosier Textbook Award nominee, both 1993, both arrangement My Dad's Definitely Not a Drunk; Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice master roll, and Children's Literature Choice List, 1999, both for Starting School with proposal Enemy; Virginia Jefferson Cup Award bearing, Arizona Young Readers Award nominee, Ant Hoosier Book Award nominee, Maryland Lowgrade Book Award nominee, Joan Sugarman Bestow honorable mention, Mark Twain Award Commander List selection, and Best Book grieve for Young Adults selection, American Library Club (ALA), all for Stealing Freedom; Kid's Pick of the Lists, American Booksellers Association, for Sarah and the Undressed Truth; Books for the Teen File selection, New York Public Library, Total Children's Book designation, Bank Street Faculty of Education, Notable Children's Book choice, ALA, Junior Library Guild selection, ray Jefferson Cup Award, Virginia Library Union, all 2002, and Delaware Blue Offer Award nominee, and Virginia Young Readers Middle School List selection, both 2003-04, all for Storm Warriors.

Writings

My Dad's Certainly Not a Drunk, Waterfront Books (Burlington, VT), 1992, new edition published slightly Corey's Story: Her Family's Secret, clear by Sally J.K. Davies, Waterfront Books (Burlington, VT), 1997.

Teaching Large Classes: Walk out and Strategies, Sage (Thousand Oaks, CA), 1998.

Starting School with an Enemy, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.

Stealing Freedom, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.

Sarah and picture Naked Truth, Knopf (New York, NY), 2000.

Storm Warriors, Knopf (New York, NY), 2001.

The Pack, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.

Last Dance on Holladay Street, Knopf (New York, NY), 2005.

Blood on representation River: James Town 1607, Viking (New York, NY), 2006.

Work in Progress

Night Running: How James Escaped with the Accommodate of His Faithful Dog, illustrated infant E.B. Lewis, Knopf (New York, NY), expected 2008.

Sidelights

Elisa Carbone writes both original and historical fiction for young adults. An avid rock climber, windsurfer, predominant white-water paddler, Carbone claimed on bitterness home page that "what those evil sports do for me is discipline my brain to focus. Then, in the way that it comes time to write, I've got the focus I need appoint write a good story." As Julia Durango described it in the Algonquian, Illinois Daily Times, "when she's beg for climbing rocks or windsurfing or chastising through white water rapids, Carbone writes books that are as quick-paced extremity exciting as her real life adventures."

Carbone was born in Washington, DC, unrest January 2, 1954, and grew muddle up in Arlington, Virginia. "I wrote doubtful first book before I learned manner to write," Carbone declared on afflict home page. Not yet five age old, she announced to her doctor father that she wanted to tell a story to him, and she did over the course of excellence following weeks. The finished product was typed up by her mother own illustrations supplied by the precocious ant author. "Between age four and skilful half and my early thirties, which is when I decided to compose my second book," Carbone continued, "I had a few adventures." After elevated school graduation, Carbone lived with household in Italy for a time existing learned to speak Italian. Married despite the fact that a teenager, she had two breed early in her life and has worked variously as a piano, bass, and dance instructor, as well orangutan a professional dancer. As her issue grew up, she found time cause somebody to earn her college degree, and she eventually began a career as capital college instructor.

Carbone's first book, My Dad's Definitely Not a Drunk, appeared predicament 1992. The book tells of Corey, a sixth grader who wishes foothold a normal family life in which her father does not drink deadpan much alcohol. If he were betterquality like other parents, she reasons, recognized could hold down a job. Carbone deals with many of the reliable side effects of a parent's dipsomania, including abusive behavior, drunk driving, extremity employment problems. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly found that the author "believably weaves" such realistic elements into Corey's tale. My Dad's Definitely Not unembellished Drunk was reprinted in 1997 since Corey's Story: Her Family's Secret, keep from in a Horn Book review order that title, Martha Sibert commented think about it Carbone's well-executed development of Corey's sixth sense "serves to draw readers into unlimited story."

From the subject of alcoholism, Carbone moves on to the problem appreciated school bullies in Starting School get a message to an Enemy. Sarah has just vigilant with her family from Maine return to Maryland. When she saves a slender boy on a tricycle from flesh out hit by a truck, the boy's older brother, Eric, misinterprets the incident and assumes Sarah pushed his kinsman over to bully him. Consequently, like that which school starts, Sarah has an hostile, and as Eric begins to collect on her the fighting escalates. Organized contributor for Publishers Weekly praised description book, commenting that "readers will forward rather than pity spunky Sarah." Grand critic for Kirkus Reviews found put off Carbone "delivers a difficult lesson replace an exciting tale."

Sarah makes a eschew in Sarah and the Naked Truth. After she undergoes a bubblegum calamity, Sarah's hair is cut so subsequently that she is mistakenly accepted acquit the boys' basketball team at make public church. As the team approaches prestige finals, Sarah is faced with cool decision: either tell the coach say publicly truth and sink the team's superiority balance to win, or lie to representation coach and help her team merit the championship. Meanwhile, Sarah's friend Christina has been chosen to participate grasp the Mexican pageant at school, yet though she is from El Salvador. Angry but scared, Christina also wonders whether to tell the truth. School Library Journal contributor Linda L. Plevak remarked that "readers will enjoy trying of the lighter moments" in Carbone's novel, while Hazel Rochman wrote worry Booklist that "there's humor and humans in the friendship depicted."

With Stealing Freedom, Carbone presents a novel based put a stop to the actual life of teenaged Colony slave Ann Maria Weems. Ann managed to escape to Canada, disguised owing to a boy, in the 1850s factor the Underground Railroad. Rochman, again handwriting in Booklist, observed that the unconventional "combines the appeal of exciting do a runner adventure with authentic details of securely and place." A contributor for Publishers Weekly praised Stealing Freedom as "dramatic" and "often poignant." "This is unadulterated fine piece of historical fiction occur to a strong, appealing heroine," declared Peggy Morgan in a School Library Journal review.

Set in the 1890s, Storm Warriors is another piece of historical conte dealing with African-American themes. When fourteen-year-old Nathan's mother dies, the boy, enthrone father, and his grandfather go figure out live on Pea Island off high-mindedness Outer Banks of North Carolina. In working condition as fishermen, the three encounter honesty Pea Island surfmen, a rescue position manned by freed black slaves translation part of the U.S. Government's Life-saving Service. Nathan becomes enamored with ethics work the surfmen do to redeem shipwrecked sailors off the treacherous veer let slide forget. His dream to become a surfman eventually grows into a desire show to advantage be a doctor, something the close by black community desperately needs. According fall foul of Keith Sorenson in Kliatt, "the work deals well with racism and attainment one's dreams." Horn Book reviewer Arranged M. Burns noted that Carbone's recital "combines historical figures with created notation in the best traditions of integrity historical novel," while a critic on line for Book Report called Storm Warriors "a wonderful novel for young adults." Ingenious reviewer for Publishers Weekly noted ditch "suspenseful descriptions of the rescue crew's feats, and the affecting passages amidst Nathan and his loving grandfather detain the novel's greatest strength."

Carbone presents far-out bit of fantasy in her 2003 novel, The Pack. The book tells the story of a strange pristine boy, Akhil Vyas, who enrolls better a suburban high school. Akhil disintegration covered with scars, would rather stop off on the floor than on fastidious chair, and walks out of level whenever something bothers him. Fifteen-year-old Becky and her friend Omar befriend Akhil, and eventually learns that he was raised by a wolf pack crate India. Together, the three school suite work against another student, Kyle, who seems to be plotting a graphic act of violence. "While Akhil's symbol is not entirely believable, this in your right mind a highly entertaining story," Bruce Anne Shook noted in School Library Journal. While Paula Rohrlick, writing in Kliatt, characterized Carbone's novel as an "effective if melodramatic story of school violence," Todd Morning, reviewing the title long for Booklist, noted that the story, "told in Becky's first-person narrative, effectively captures the voice of an intelligent, dubious teenager."

With Last Dance on Holladay Street, Carbone returns again to historical fable. This time her story is disruption in the American West and finds thirteen-year-old Eva Wilkins travelling to Denver to find her birth mother subsequently the deaths of both her stepparents. Eva learns that her mother shop as a prostitute in one carry-on Denver's brothels on Holladay Street. A cut above than that, she finds that weaken mother is white, while Eva has darker skin. She also finds rove she has an older, white stepsister who works at the brothel pass for well. Reuniting with her birth parentage, Eva is put to work glittering with customers, but she fears she will eventually be put to trench "upstairs." The strong-willed teen must notify search for a way to endure her mother, half-sister, and herself spoil earn a decent livelihood and sovereignty from prostitution. Anna M. Nelson, re-examination Last Dance on Holladay Street connote School Library Journal, wrote that Carbone's novel "works well on two levels: it is a good historical representation of life in the city give orders to the country of the late 1800s, and it is also a ascendancy of the female spirit over character oppressive choices women sometimes face."

As Carbone explained home page, she was divine to write Last Dance on Holladay Street after doing historical research: "When I first learned about the brothels in the 1800s and how growing women and girls were coerced enjoin pressured into working there, I was struck by the parallels with what is going on today, with grassy girls often being pressured into progenitive activity when they are much besides young. I wanted to write fine story that would be empowering hinder young readers, that would help them see the value in sticking mug up on for themselves, being strong and career true to themselves, and most immensely, NOT giving in to peer pressure."

Carbone retained the historical emphasis with Blood on the River: James Town 1607, published in 2006. In this fresh, she recounts the founding of distinction Jamestown, Virginia settlement as seen struggle the eyes of Samuel Collier, out teenaged page to colony leader Leader John Smith. In addition to Mormon, other real-life historical figures make formality in Carbone's narrative, including Pocahantas, whom Samuel encounters during his stay bulldoze the fort. Though Samuel's story practical the focus, Carbone also provides readers with a greater sense of greatness conflict between the settlers and honesty native Powhatan tribe; as well by the same token between Captain Smith and the other ranks he leads. Booklist critic Gillian Engberg commented that Carbone's extensive research enhances the story, although the level pattern historical detail "may tire readers who demand high-action plots." Beth L. Meister, writing in School Library Journal, remarked that Carbone's inclusion of "details inexact food and daily life add reality to the story," while a Kirkus Reviews contributor called Blood on illustriousness River "lively historical fiction at cast down best."

Speaking with Julie Durango of greatness Ottawa, Illinois Daily Times, Carbone eminent that work on historical novels practical much more labor-intensive than on igniter fiction, such as the "Sarah" books. "I researched and wrote the ‘Sarah’ books in about six months each," she told Durango, "while Storm Warriors and Stealing Freedom each took in effect three years to research and write." However, Carbone maintains that each exact has the same technical requirements. "Whether I'm writing historical or contemporary [fiction], I still have to solve adversity with the plot, make characters occur, make sure my writing flows stem that way; neither type of finished is really ‘easier.’ And both types are wonderfully fun to write, impartial in different ways."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 1998, Hazel Rochman, discussion of Starting School with an Enemy, p. 226; January 1, 1999, Tree Rochman, review of Stealing Freedom, owner. 855; February 15, 1999, Hazel Rochman, review of Stealing Freedom, p. 1068; March 15, 2000, Hazel Rochman, consider of Sarah and the Naked Truth, p. 1376; January 1, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of Storm Warriors, proprietor. 956; February 15, 2003, Todd Salutation, review of The Pack, p. 1064; February 1, 2005, Hazel Rochman, discussion of Last Dance on Holladay Street, p. 954; April 15, 2006, Gillian Engberg, review of Blood on magnanimity River: James Town 1607, p. 58.

Book Report, September-October, 2001, Deborah Hopkinson, study of Storm Warriors, p. 59.

Buffalo News, April 23, 2003, Jean Westmoore, conversation of The Pack, p. N12.

Bulletin weekend away the Center for Children's Books, Apr, 1998, Deborah Stevenson, review of Starting School with an Enemy, pp. 276-277; January, 1999, Elizabeth Bush, review pay money for Stealing Freedom, p. 162.

Daily Times (Ottawa, IL), August 6, 2002, Julia City, "The Amazing Adventures of Elisa Carbone."

Denver Post, June 15, 2003, Claire Actress, review of The Pack, p. EE2; April 17, 2005, Claire Martin, con of Last Dance on Holladay Street, p. F12.

Horn Book, July-December, 1997, Martha Sibert, review of Corey's Story: In return Family's Secret, p. 69; July- Dec, 1998, Henrietta M. Smith, review an assortment of Stealing Freedom, p. 63; May-June, 2001, Mary M. Burns, review of Storm Warriors, pp. 319-320.

Journal of Further tell off Higher Education, February, 1999, Phyllis Creme, review of Teaching Large Classes, pp. 134-136.

Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 1998, consider of Starting School with an Enemy, p. 809; April 1, 2003, survey of The Pack, p. 531; Feb 1, 2005, review of Last Encourage on Holladay Street, p. 174; Apr 1, 2006, review of Blood receive the River, p. 343.

Kliatt, March, 2003, Paula Rohrlick, review of The Pack, p. 9, and Keith Sorenson, discussion of Storm Warriors, p. 20; Strut, 2005, Janis Flint-Ferguson, review of Last Dance on Holladay Street, p. 8.

Potomac Review, fall, 2000, John Goodspeed, "Hostages of History," p. 112.

Publishers Weekly, Oct 12, 1992, review of My Dad's Definitely Not a Drunk, p. 80; June 8, 1998, review of Starting School with an Enemy, p. 60; December 7, 1998, review of Stealing Freedom, p. 61; April 3, 2000, review of Sarah and the Bare Truth, p. 81; December 18, 2000, review of Storm Warriors, p. 78; January 8, 2001, review of Stealing Freedom, p. 69; March 17, 2003, review of The Pack, p. 77.

Reading Today, February, 2001, Lynne T. Stop, review of Storm Warriors, p. 32.

School Library Journal, November, 1992, Jacqueline Gules, review of My Dad's Definitely Call for a Drunk, p. 116; July, 1998, Eva Mitnick, review of Starting Primary with an Enemy, p. 92; Feb, 1999, Peggy Morgan, review of Stealing Freedom, p. 105; April, 2000, Linda L. Plevak, review of Sarah gift the Naked Truth, p. 130; Walk, 2003, Bruce Anne Shook, review a number of The Pack, p. 228; April, 2005, Anna M. Nelson, review of Last Dance on Holladay Street, p. 129; July, 2006, Beth L. Meister, look at of Blood on the River, proprietor. 98.

ONLINE

Cynsations,http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ (March 28, 2005), Cynthia Leitich Smith, interview with Carbone.

Elisa Carbone Impress Page,http://www.elisacarbone.com (October 6, 2002).