Reflections

January 1, 2013

Putting her papers together in the face of her impending death, Jones chose and arranged these lectures, articles, and reviews written between 1978 and 2008 to encapsulate her beliefs about writing, writing for children, and fantasy. Ranging from literary criticism to autobiography, the 28 pieces illustrate her insight, her humor, and the mastery of her craft. She describes how magic and humor work, discusses the nature of heroes, the uses of mythology, and the value of learning Anglo-Saxon. Other selections reflect on the magic of the "Narnia" books, the nature of "Real Books," and the orchestration of a narrative. Because this volume is a gathering of pieces written over many years, topics and episodes are repeated, like recurring melodies in a long piece of music. One of the most important themes is that humans-children and adults-need fantasy. In some ways, her entire oeuvre is a reaction to a childhood in which fantasy literature was denied, as revealed in the long essay she wrote for Something About the Author and included here. An interview with the book's editor, Charlie Butler, and reminiscences by two of her sons wrap up the collection. Readers who have known and loved the author's vast body of work will nod and laugh, rejoice that they can return to works like the "Chrestomanci" series, and mourn the fact that there will be no more.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012
Grades 8-12 When Jones learned she had only a few months to live, she and her agent, Laura Cecil, began gathering together a sampling of her essays. They run the gamut: an interview with Charles Butler (author of Four British Fantasists, 2006); her own fascinating Something about the Author entry; a succinct day in the life of an author making school visits (educators take noteshe is not complimentary!); and her son's eulogy at her funeral. With an introductory explanation of why it was chosen, each selection reveals Jones in one of her charming guisesmuch-loved children's fantasy author, cuddling mum reading bedtime stories, unlucky traveler, reluctant author of adult books, and perceptive philosopher on writing, especially fantasy, and especially for children. It's a collection that belongs in every children's literature and writing course and on every library shelf. A serious, sometimes humorous, always perceptive tutorial on how to write, why to write, and most importantly how and why to write fantasy for children, the book achieves Jones' self-effacing and understated goal: It is my hope that some of these items will be of use to people. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Jones' career spanned four decades and, in that time, she wrote more than 40 fantasy books for young people. Fans of the legendary author, who passed away in 2011, will be eager to glean her advice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

September 23, 1987
Like her innovative black-and-white picture book Round Trip, this is an arresting and exciting exercise in imagination and graphic design. The story of one child's day in a small seaside town begins at dawn and includes encounters with morning fishermen, a trip to the seashore, boatyard, beach, the peach orchard and the birch grove. Since "it's a little scary deep in the woods,'' readers are prompted to turn the book around ``and find . . . (the) way back'' home to bedbut not before many additional visual treats. In a few spreads the connection between image and narrative stretches credibility, but the overall effect is so vivid and striking that readers are quickly caught up again in the enticing circularity of Jonas's vision. Ages 5-8.