1. She was born in Manchester, England in 1849, but after the death of her father, her family moved to Tennessee. She began writing short stories to help support her family, and then she began writing full length romanic novels. Some of these were quite successful, but she is remembered nowadays for her children’s fiction, three books in particular: Little Lord Fauntleroy, Sara Crewe(A Little Princess), and The Secret Garden. My favorite of the three is The Secret Garden, although it is spurned by some because it includes elements of the author’s faith in spiritualism. I just skip over the part where the children are chanting to “the spirits” and concentrate on the captivating idea of a secret garden where wounds both of the spirit and of the body can be healed. Wouldn’t everybody love to have a secret garden?
2. Carlo Lorenzini (b. 1826, d. 1890) was the real name of a Florentine journalist who wrote the fantasy story of a wooden puppet who, after many misadventures, finally became a real boy. Do you know the author’s pen name and the name of his famous book?
3. This science fiction author was born in 1933. She wrote two YA novels about a girl who was training to observe cultures on other planets as they evolved into advanced cultures capable of joining the World Federation of Planets (or some such name). The rule (prime directive) is that observers are not allowed to interfere in the evolution of the culture being studied unless the planet is in danger of being destroyed or destroying itself. Of course, Elana, the young observer-in training, finds herself in a situation that calls for her to violate her oath and interfere in a way that may have unexpected and tragic consequences.
These two books were favorites of mine in junior high, and I still think they’re not bad, although a little dated. The evolution of cultures theme doesn’t really ring true to me, but the idea of having to make a choice that may be wrong either way (damned if you do, and damned if you don’t) does make both books thought provoking.