Gloria Whelan facts for kids

Gloria Whelan (born November 23, 1923) is an American writer. She writes poems, short stories, and novels. She is best known for her books for children and young adults.

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 for Catholic Fiction in 2013. This was for her short story What World Is This?.

Many of Whelan's books are historical fiction novels. This means they are stories set in the past. Some of her stories are about Mackinac Island. Others are a series of books set in Russia during the time of communism. She has also written short stories for grown-ups. These stories have appeared in different literary magazines.

About Gloria Whelan's Life

Her Early Years and School

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 was the editor of her high school newspaper.

Gloria 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.

Starting Her Writing Career

In 1948, Gloria married Joseph L. Whelan, who was a doctor. They had two children. They lived near Detroit, where Gloria worked in social work. During this time, she also wrote short stories and poems.

In 1972, the Whelans moved to a cabin in northern Michigan. They wanted a quieter life away from Detroit. However, an oil company planned to drill for oil on their land. This experience inspired Gloria to write her first children's novel. The book was called A Clearing in the Forest and was published in 1978.

Gloria Whelan was almost 55 years old when her first book came out. Since then, she has written many books for children and young adults. She has written over 50 books! 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 British East Africa in 1919.

Gloria Whelan also writes short stories and poetry for adults. Her adult stories have been published in many collections. One collection, Living Together, was published in 2013.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Gloria Whelan has received several awards for her writing:

• 1999: Tuscany Prize for Best Short Story (for "What World Is This?")
• 2000: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (for Homeless Bird)
• 2003: National Outdoor Book Award in the 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 are some of the books Gloria Whelan has written:

• Summer of the Tree Army (2021)
• The Hedge School (2015)
• Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine (2014)
• Bernida: A Michigan Sailing Legend (2014)
• All My Noble Dreams And Then What Happens (2013)
• In Andal’s House (2013)
• Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story (2012)
• Small Acts of Amazing Courage (2011)
• The Boy Who Wanted to Cook (2011)
• Megan’s Year / An Irish Traveler’s Story (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 (2008)
• Parade of Shadows (2007)
• Yatandou (2007)
• Summer of the War (2006)
• The Turning (Russian Saga / Book 4) (2006)
• Mackinac Bridge / The Story of the Five-Mile Poem (2006)
• Listening for Lions (2005)
• Chu Ju's House (Also known as First Girl) (2004)
• Burying the Sun (Russian Saga / Book 3) (2004)
• Friend on Freedom River (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 (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, a girl living near 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 (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)
• Goodbye, Vietnam (1992)
• Bringing the Farmhouse Home (1992)
• Hannah (1991)
• The Secret Keeper (1990)
• Silver (1988)
• A Week of Raccoons (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)