World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Emily Cheney Neville

エミリー・チェニー・ネヴィル

Emirī Chenī Neviru

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1919-12-28 （Manchester, Connecticut, U.S.）
Died
1997-12-14 （Keene Valley, New York, U.S.） age 77
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Manchester, Connecticut → New York City, New York → Keene Valley, New York

Career

Occupations
children's author, newspaper reporter, lawyer
Active Years
1940-1997

Education

Bryn Mawr College
Department of Economics
Degree: B.A. (Economics)
Year of Graduation: 1940
Country: United States
Earned a degree in economics
Albany Law School
Law
Degree: J.D.
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: United States
Earned a J.D. in 1976 and began private law practice

Awards

Newbery Medal
1964
Work: It's Like This, Cat
Organization: American Library Association (ALSC)
Result: Winner
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
1966
Work: Berries Goodman
Organization: Jane Addams Book Award Committee
Result: Winner
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award
1965
Work: It's Like This, Cat
Organization: Vermont reading organization
Result: Nominee
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award
1967
Work: Berries Goodman
Organization: Vermont reading organization
Result: Nominee

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

It's Like This, Cat

1963 Children's literature / Young adult 192 pages

Set in New York City, the novel realistically portrays adolescent life and coming-of-age through the protagonist's relationship with his cat, exploring family, friendship, and teenage conflicts.

adolescencefamilyurban liferealism

Berries Goodman

1965 Children's literature 176 pages

Centers on an adolescent girl and sensitively depicts interpersonal relationships and social realities.

adolescencefriendshipsocial realism

The Seventeenth-Street Gang

1966 Young adult / social realism 192 pages

Portrays a group of urban youths, focusing on group dynamics and their personal growth.

urban youthfriendshipcoming-of-age

Traveler From a Small Kingdom

1968 Children's literature 160 pages

Deals with conflicts and understanding that arise when individuals from different cultural or social backgrounds interact.

cross-cultural understandinggrowthfamily

Fogarty

1969 Children's literature 144 pages

Through a distinctive protagonist, depicts confronting problems at home and school.

individual and familyschool lifeself-discovery

Garden of Broken Glass

1975 Young adult 200 pages

Themes include family recovery and personal resilience after hardship.

family restorationovercoming adversity

The Bridge

1988 Children's / Young adult 96 pages

Brief, sharp portrayals of characters at turning points in their lives.

turning pointshuman relationships

The China Year

1991 Children's / Young adult 112 pages

A later work that portrays personal growth against an international and cross-cultural background.

cross-cultural experiencegrowth

Bibliography

  • It's Like This, Cat (1963)
  • Berries Goodman (1965)
  • The Seventeenth-Street Gang (1966)
  • Traveler From a Small Kingdom (1968)
  • Fogarty (1969)
  • Garden of Broken Glass (1975)
  • The Bridge (1988)
  • The China Year (1991)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realistic depictionnatural, conversational tonecareful portrayal of adolescent interiority
Recurring Motifs
urban lifefamily relationshipsfriendship and coming-of-age

Legacy

Emily Cheney Neville is regarded as a children's author who realistically depicted urban adolescence in the 1960s. Winning the Newbery Medal established her reputation in children's literature; critics praised her realism and believable characters.

Archives

  • University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections (Emily Cheney Neville Papers)

Quotes

  • “Her books have been praised by critics for their emphasis on realism and honest depiction of adolescent life.”
    Source: Britannica / Wikipedia summary (2014)

Trivia

  • She had five children.
  • Won the 1964 Newbery Medal for It's Like This, Cat.
  • Earned a J.D. in 1976 and practiced law in addition to writing.