Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 54 (1975) Nominee
Bette Jean Greene
ベット・ジーン・グリーン
Bette Jean Greene
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1934-06-28 （Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.）
- Died
- 2020-10-02 （Lakewood Ranch, Florida, U.S.） age 86
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Judaism
- Residence History
- Parkin, Arkansas, U.S. → Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. → Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. → Lakewood Ranch, Florida, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Reporter, Screenwriter
- Active Years
- 1950-2020
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | Writing and Astronomy (coursework) | — | — | 在学期間不明 | United States |
| Study in Paris, France | — | — | — | 約1年間 | France |
Columbia University
Writing and Astronomy (coursework)
Period:
在学期間不明
Country:
United States
After taking classes at several colleges, she enrolled at Columbia University focusing on writing and astronomy. Graduation year not specified.
Study in Paris, France
Period:
約1年間
Country:
France
Spent about one year in Paris after high school; this experience later influenced her novel Morning Is a Long Time Coming.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Golden Kite Award | Summer of My German Soldier | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1973 | ALA Notable Book Award | Summer of My German Soldier | — | American Library Association | 受賞 |
| 1975 | Newbery Honor | Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe | — | American Library Association | 受賞（名誉賞） |
| 1973 | National Book Award (Finalist) | Summer of My German Soldier | — | — | 最終候補 |
| — | Massachusetts Children’s Book Award | Summer of My German Soldier | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1983 | Parent's Choice Award | Them That Glitter and Them That Don't | — | Parent's Choice Foundation | 受賞 |
Golden Kite Award
1973
Work:
Summer of My German Soldier
Result:
受賞
ALA Notable Book Award
1973
Work:
Summer of My German Soldier
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
受賞
Newbery Honor
1975
Work:
Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
受賞（名誉賞）
National Book Award (Finalist)
1973
Work:
Summer of My German Soldier
Result:
最終候補
Massachusetts Children’s Book Award
Work:
Summer of My German Soldier
Result:
受賞
Parent's Choice Award
1983
Work:
Them That Glitter and Them That Don't
Organization:
Parent's Choice Foundation
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Summer of My German Soldier
1973 Children's fiction / Young adult fictionA story of a Jewish girl in Arkansas during World War II who befriends an escaped German POW, dealing with themes of prejudice, isolation, and moral complexity; heavily based on Greene's childhood experiences.
PrejudiceAlienationFriendshipMoral conflict
Adaptations
- [Television movie] Summer of My German Soldier (TV movie) (1978)
- [Stage (musical)] Summer of My German Soldier (musical) (2003)
Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe
1974 Children's fictionA coming-of-age story told from a young girl's perspective mixing humor and emotion; noted for Greene's wit and insight, it received a Newbery Honor.
Coming of ageFriendshipSelf-awareness
Adaptations
- [Filmstrip] Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe (filmstrip) (1979)
Morning Is a Long Time Coming
1978 Young adult fictionA sequel to Summer of My German Soldier; the book draws on Greene's experiences, including her time in Paris.
GrowthMemoryBelonging
Them That Glitter and Them That Don't
1983 Young adult fictionA young adult novel addressing themes of class, relationships, and self-esteem.
Social classSelf-esteem
The Drowning of Stephan Jones
1991 Young adult fictionA novel about youth violence and moral responsibility; the book was optioned for a film.
ViolenceResponsibilityJustice
Adaptations
- [Film (optioned)] The Drowning of Stephan Jones (film optioned)
Bibliography
- Summer of My German Soldier (1973)
- Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe (1974)
- Morning Is a Long Time Coming (1978)
- Get on Out of Here, Philip Hall (1981)
- Them That Glitter and Them That Don't (1983)
- The Drowning of Stephan Jones (1991)
- I've Already Forgotten Your Name, Philip Hall! (2004)
Adaptations
- Summer of My German Soldier TV movie (NBC, 1978)
- Summer of My German Soldier musical (2003, Ohio)
- Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe filmstrip (1979)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realist style for children and young adultsEmotionally probing character-driven narrationDirect and accessible prose
- Recurring Motifs
- OutsidersPrejudice and injusticeLoneliness and friendship
Legacy
Bette Greene was a noted children's and young-adult author known for addressing prejudice and alienation; works such as Summer of My German Soldier, drawn from her Southern Jewish upbringing, are highly regarded. Her books have also been the target of frequent challenges and censorship controversies.
Archives
- Author's papers are housed in the Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota
In Popular Culture
- Works have been adapted for screen and stage, including the 1978 TV movie of Summer of My German Soldier and a 2003 musical stage adaptation.
Quotes
-
My books focus on themes of injustice and alienation.
Source: Author biography (summary from Wikipedia)
Trivia
- Summer of My German Soldier was rejected 18 times before being published.
- She was raised in Parkin, Arkansas, where her family ran a general store.
- Her works have frequently been challenged in U.S. libraries and schools.