Gloria Whelan facts for kids

Gloria Whelan (born November 23, 1923) is an American writer. She is known for her children's and young adult fiction books.

Gloria Whelan won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2000. She received this award for her novel Homeless Bird. She also won the Tuscany Prize in 2013 for her short story What World Is This?.

Many of Whelan's books are historical fiction novels. These include a series of three books set on Mackinac Island. She also wrote a series of four books set in communist Russia.

Gloria Whelan's Early Life and Education

Gloria Rewoldt was born in 1923 in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were William and Hildegarde Rewoldt. As a girl, she loved to read many books. She even dictated stories for her babysitter to write down. She also wrote poetry and edited her high school newspaper.

She went to the University of Michigan. She earned her first degree in 1945. She then earned a master's degree in social work in 1948.

Gloria Whelan's Writing Career

In 1948, Gloria married Joseph L. Whelan. They had two children. They lived in the Detroit area, where Gloria worked in social work. During this time, she also wrote short stories and poetry.

The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi keeps her writings. This collection shares an interesting story about her early writing.

In 1972, the Whelans moved to a cabin in northern Michigan. It was a peaceful place near Mancelona. But soon, an oil company wanted to drill for oil on their land. The Whelans did not own the mineral rights to the land. So, the company cleared three acres and drilled a well. The well was not successful, and the company left.

This experience inspired Gloria Whelan to write her first book. It was a children's novel about a boy who worked on an oilrig. The book was called A Clearing in the Forest. It was published in 1978.

Gloria Whelan was almost 55 years old when her first book came out. Since then, she has written over 50 books for children and young adults. Many of her stories are set in northern Michigan. But her books also take readers to places like Africa, China, Vietnam, India, and Russia. For example, her book Listening for Lions is set in 1919 in British East Africa (now Kenya).

Gloria Whelan also writes short stories and poetry for adults. Her stories have appeared in many literary magazines.

Awards and Honors for Gloria Whelan

Gloria Whelan has received several awards for her writing:

• 1999: Tuscany Prize for her short story "What World Is This?"
• 2000: National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Homeless Bird
• 2003: National Outdoor Book Award (Children's Category) for Jam & Jelly by Holly & Nellie
• 2014: IPPY Silver Medal for Short Story Fiction for "Living Together"

Gloria Whelan's Books

Here is a list of some of the books Gloria Whelan has written:

• Summer of the Tree Army (picture book) (2021)
• The Hedge School (2015)
• Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. (2014)
• Bernida: A Michigan Sailing Legend (picture book) (2014)
• All My Noble Dreams And Then What Happens (2013)
• In Andal’s House (picture book illustrated by Amanda Hall) (2013)
• Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story (picture book) (2012)
• Small Acts of Amazing Courage (2011)
• The Boy Who Wanted to Cook (picture book) (2011)
• Megan’s Year / An Irish Traveler’s Story (picture book) (2011)
• See What I See (2011)
• The Listeners (2009)
• Waiting for the Owl's Call (2009)
• The Locked Garden (2009)
• K is for Kabuki (2009)
• After the Train (2009)
• The Disappeared (2008)
• Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (picture book) (2008)
• Parade of Shadows (2007)
• Yatandou (picture book) (2007)
• Summer of the War (2006)
• The Turning (Russian Saga / Book 4) (2006)
• Mackinac Bridge / The Story of the Five-Mile Poem (picture book) (2006)
• Listening for Lions (2005)
• Chu Ju's House (Also published as First Girl) (2004)
• Burying the Sun (Russian Saga / Book 3) (2004)
• Friend on Freedom River (picture book) (2004)
• The Impossible Journey (Russian Saga / Book 2) (2003)
• A Haunted House in Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 4) (2003)
• Are There Bears in Starvation Lake? (Starvation Lake / Book 3) (2002)
• The Wanigan: A Life on the River (2002)
• Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect (2002)
• Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (picture book) (2002)
• Rich and Famous in Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 2) (2001)
• Angel on the Square (Russian Saga / Book 1) (2001) - This book tells the story of Katya. She is the daughter of a lady-in-waiting at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg around 1914.
• Homeless Bird (2000)
• Welcome to Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 1) (2000)
• Return to the Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 3) (2000)
• Miranda's Last Stand (1999)
• Forgive the River, Forgive the Sky (1998)
• Farewell to the Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 2) (1998)
• The Shadow of the Wolf (Libby Mitchell Trilogy / Book 3) (1997)
• The Miracle of St. Nicholas (picture book) (1997)
• Friends (1997)
• The Indian School (1996)
• Once On This Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 1) (1995)
• That Wild Berries Should Grow (1994)
• Night of the Full Moon (Libby Mitchell Trilogy / Book 2) (1993) (illustrated by Leslie W. Bowman)
• Goodbye, Vietnam (1992)
• Bringing the Farmhouse Home (picture book) (1992)
• Hannah (1991) (illustrated by Leslie W. Bowman)
• The Secret Keeper (1990)
• Silver (1988)
• A Week of Raccoons (picture book) (1988)
• Next Spring an Oriole (Libby Mitchell Trilogy / Book 1) (1987)
• The Pathless Woods (1981)
• A Time to Keep Silent (1979)
• A Clearing in the Forest (1978)