Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
2 appearances
-
Edition 38 (1959) Winner
-
Edition 41 (1962) Winner
Elizabeth George Speare
エリザベス・ジョージ・スピアー
Elizabeth George Speare
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1908-11-21 （Melrose, Massachusetts, US）
- Died
- 1994-11-15 （Tucson, Arizona, US） age 85
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Melrose, Massachusetts → New England (including long residence in Connecticut) → Tucson, Arizona
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, English teacher (formerly)
- Active Years
- 1932-1994
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith College | — | — | Bachelor of Arts | 1926–1930 | United States |
| Boston University | — | English | Master's degree | — | United States |
Smith College
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
1926–1930
Year of Graduation:
1930
Country:
United States
Received BA
Boston University
English
Degree:
Master's degree
Country:
United States
Master's in English (year unknown)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Newbery Medal | The Witch of Blackbird Pond | — | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) | 受賞 |
| 1962 | Newbery Medal | The Bronze Bow | — | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) | 受賞 |
| 1989 | Children's Literature Legacy Award | — | — | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) | 受賞 |
| 1984 | Newbery Honor | The Sign of the Beaver | — | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) | 受賞（名誉賞） |
| 1984 | Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction | The Sign of the Beaver | — | Scott O'Dell Award committee | 受賞 |
Newbery Medal
1959
Work:
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result:
受賞
Newbery Medal
1962
Work:
The Bronze Bow
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result:
受賞
Children's Literature Legacy Award
1989
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result:
受賞
Newbery Honor
1984
Work:
The Sign of the Beaver
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result:
受賞（名誉賞）
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
1984
Work:
The Sign of the Beaver
Organization:
Scott O'Dell Award committee
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Children's Literature Legacy Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 9 (1989) Winner
Works
Major Works
Calico Captive
1957 Children's historical fictionA historical novel set in 1754 New England about a family kidnapped by Native Americans; based on regional historical research.
Colonial lifeFamily and belonging
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
1958 Children's historical fictionSet in 17th-century Connecticut, it follows a young woman and her conflicts with community prejudice and tolerance. Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal.
Prejudice and misunderstandingIndividual freedom vs. social norms
The Bronze Bow
1961 Children's historical fictionSet in ancient Palestine, the novel explores themes of revenge, forgiveness, and faith through the growth of a young protagonist. Winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal.
Revenge and forgivenessReligion and faith
Life in Colonial America
1963 Children's historical non-fictionA children's non-fiction work explaining life and culture in Colonial America.
Educational historical overviewDepictions of daily life
The Prospering
1966 Children's literature / historical novelA work published in the 1960s; details on content and year vary across sources.
History and family
The Sign of the Beaver
1983 Children's historical fictionA story of a boy waiting for his father on the frontier who befriends a Native American boy. It received a Newbery Honor and the Scott O'Dell Award.
FriendshipCross-cultural understanding
Adaptations
- [TV movie] Keeping the Promise (1997)
Bibliography
- Calico Captive (1957)
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1958)
- The Bronze Bow (1961)
- Life in Colonial America (1963)
- The Prospering (1966)
- The Sign of the Beaver (1983)
Adaptations
- Keeping the Promise (TV movie, 1997)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Careful, detail-oriented writing grounded in historical factClear, accessible prose for young readersRealistic character-driven narrative
- Recurring Motifs
- Faith and moralityComing-of-ageCommunity and belonging
Health
-
Ruptured aortic aneurysm1994Died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in 1994. No public record of long-term health issues affecting her literary output is available.
Legacy
Elizabeth George Speare is a significant author of children's historical fiction, honored with two Newbery Medals among other awards. Her works, grounded in historical research and universal themes, continue to be read across generations.
Academic Societies
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Archives
- Smith College Archives (possible holdings related to the author)
Quotes
-
“She is not merely a writer of escapist literature, bringing only the past to her readers; in exploring universal problems and offering timeless values, she offers them hope for the present and the future as well.”
Source: Marilyn Fain Apseloff, Elizabeth George Speare (1991)
Trivia
- Won the Newbery Medal twice (1959, 1962).
- Received the Children's Literature Legacy Award in 1989.
- First book published in 1957: Calico Captive.
- Taught English at private Massachusetts high schools earlier in her career.
- Died in 1994 of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.