Reef, Catherine. John Steinbeck.REEF, Catherine. John Steinbeck Noun 1. John Steinbeck - United States writer noted for his novels about agricultural workers (1902-1968) John Ernst Steinbeck, Steinbeck . Houghton Mifflin Houghton Mifflin Company is a leading educational publisher in the United States. The company's headquarters is located in Boston's Back Bay. It publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers , Clarion. 163p. illus. bibliog. index. c1996. 0-618-43244-2. $8.95. JS Catherine Reef, author of over 20 books of nonfiction for young readers, believes that John Steinbeck "appeals to young readers because he shows that it is possible to enter adulthood yet never lose the idealism, courage, and natural humor humor, according to ancient theory, any of four bodily fluids that determined man's health and temperament. Hippocrates postulated that an imbalance among the humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) resulted in pain and disease, and that good health was of youth." This volume successfully presents the story of Steinbeck as a man and as a writer. It is long enough to introduce readers to the major events in Steinbeck's life and to his major works and yet is not too long to discourage young readers. Reef's organization is straightforward, her insights are clear, and her descriptions are vivid. She manages to introduce readers to sophisticated concepts such as non-teleological thinking and the phalanx phalanx, ancient Greek formation of infantry. The soldiers were arrayed in rows (8 or 16), with arms at the ready, making a solid block that could sweep bristling through the more dispersed ranks of the enemy. theory of group behavior in a simple but effective manner. Reef does an excellent job of connecting Steinbeck's writing to the times in which he lived. Her discussion of The Grapes of Wrath as an outgrowth of Steinbeck's personal experience with the plight of migrant workers A migrant worker is someone who regularly works away from home, if they even have a home.[] Although the United Nations' use of this term overlaps with 'foreign worker', the use of the term within the United States is more specific. in California during the Depression is a prime illustration. She includes some details of which even fans of Steinbeck might be unaware, such as the famous and controversial ending of The Grapes of Wrath in which Rose of Sharon rose of Sharon, common name for several plants, especially Hibiscus syriacus, of the family Malvaceae (mallow family), and for St.-John's-wort, i.e., any species of the genus Hypericum of the family Hypericaceae (St.-John's-wort family). feeds a starving man with the milk from her breast. The inspiration for that gesture came directly from a true story told to Steinbeck by a man named Frank Kilkenny whom he had met in a hobo camp many years earlier. Steinbeck paid Kilkenny two dollars for that story. When asked about the purpose of his work, Steinbeck remarked, "My whole work drive has been aimed at making people understand each other." Reef's purpose here is to help young readers understand Steinbeck and motivate them to read his works. In this, she performs a worthwhile service. The text is enriched by a large number of b/w photographs. Many are of Steinbeck and his family at various times throughout his life; others depict the harsh conditions of life in the 1930s. J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. Anthony Pucci, English Dept. Chair., Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame H.S., Elmira, NY |
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