Gail Carson Levine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gail Carson Levine
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| Born | September 17, 1947 New York, New York |
| Alma mater | City College of New York |
| Genre | Young adult literature |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Newbery Honor |
| Spouse |
David Levine
(m. 1967) |
Gail Carson Levine (born September 17, 1947) is an American author. She writes books for young adults, like you! Her first book, Ella Enchanted, was very popular. It won a special award called the Newbery Honor in 1998.
Contents
Gail Carson Levine's Early Life
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City. Her family was very creative. She says her parents, David and Sylvia, helped her become an artist. Her dad owned an art studio. His childhood in an orphanage later inspired her book, Dave at Night. Gail's mom was a teacher. She wrote plays for her students. Her older sister, Rani, also became a painter.
As a child, Gail loved to read. Her favorite book was Peter Pan by James M. Barrie. She also enjoyed books by Louisa May Alcott and L. M. Montgomery. At first, she wanted to be an actress or a painter. She joined theater groups but later lost interest in acting.
In 1967, she married David Levine. She studied philosophy at City College. She earned her degree in 1969. For the next 27 years, she worked for the state of New York. She helped people find jobs. Gail also has a dog, an Airedale Terrier named Reggie.
Gail Carson Levine's Writing Career
Gail took a class about writing and illustrating for children. She found that she loved writing much more than drawing. So, in 1987, she started writing. For nine years, all her stories were turned down. During this time, she took writing classes. She also joined groups with other writers.
Gail says those years were "some of my happiest." She was learning how to write. Her first book to be published was Ella Enchanted. A company called HarperTrophy decided to publish it. Gail remembers April 17, 1996, as "one of the happiest in my life." The book came out in 1997. In 1998, it won a Newbery Honor. Later, it became a movie in 2004. Because Ella Enchanted was so successful, Gail could stop her government job. She became a full-time writer.
Books Inspired by Life
Gail's next book, Dave at Night, was inspired by her father. She wondered what his life was like in an orphanage. Gail says she "made up my own version" of his childhood. She thinks the character Dave is a bit like her dad. She also believes the strong friendships among the boys in the book are real.
For her book The Wish, Gail needed to do some research. This book is about popularity in middle school. Gail skipped eighth grade herself. She spent a day following an eighth-grade class. She asked many questions. She also talked to kids about their hobbies and classes.
Retelling Fairy Tales
After Ella Enchanted, Gail continued to write fairy tales with a twist. These became her Princess Tales series. She had some old picture books that had been rejected. Her editor liked one called Talk Is Cheap?. The editor thought it should be a short novel. She asked Gail to write three more. That picture book became The Fairy's Mistake. This is how the series began.
Her six short stories retell classic fairy tales. Gail tries to fill in parts that don't quite make sense. For example, in Sleeping Beauty, the prince falls in love with the princess quickly. He only knows she is pretty and a princess. In Gail's story, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, the prince has a real reason to kiss her. Even after 100 years, she is covered in spider webs!
Gail also wrote picture books based on fables. Betsy Who Cried Wolf is from The Boy Who Cried Wolf. In 2010, she released Betsy Red Hoodie. This book is an adaptation of "Little Red Riding Hood".
Original Fantasy Stories
Gail continued to write fantasy novels. The Two Princesses of Bamarre is an original fairy tale. It is about two very different sisters. One sister must face her fears to save the other. This story shows a strong sisterly bond.
Another fantasy book is Fairest. This novel is inspired by the story of Snow White. It is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Later, she published Ever. This fantasy story is set in ancient times. It explores ideas from myths.
Disney Fairy Books
Gail also wrote an illustrated novel for young readers. It is called Fairy Dust and the Quest For the Egg. Disney Press published it in 2005. It was the first book in the "Disney Fairies" series. The novel explores the world of Never Land. This is the world from Barrie's and Disney's Peter Pan. It shows the community of fairies living in Fairy Haven. Well-known characters like Tinker Bell appear. New characters are also in the story.
This book was followed by two sequels. Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand came out in 2007. Fairies and the Quest for Never Land was released in 2010.
Writing Workshops
Gail also leads writing workshops for children. She loves working with kids. She says it's "the best thing I do." In her workshops, Gail created many exercises for students. These exercises led to her non-fiction book, Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly. This book helps children learn how to write stories.
Themes in Gail Carson Levine's Books
Gail Carson Levine's books often have common themes. These include magic and magical creatures. Love and marriage are also frequent topics. Her stories often feature strong female characters. Most of her novels end with a romantic relationship, often marriage.
Her books also teach important lessons. They show the importance of kindness and selflessness. They also highlight self-confidence and courage. These qualities help characters face danger.
