Jean Fritz facts for kids

Jean Guttery Fritz (born November 16, 1915 – died May 14, 2017) was a famous American writer. She wrote many books for children and was also a historian. This means she studied and wrote about history. Her parents, Arthur Minton and Myrtle Guttery, were missionaries. Missionaries are people who travel to different places to teach others about their religion.

Growing Up in China

Jean Fritz lived in China until she was 13 years old. She learned to speak Chinese before she learned English. In 1928, her family moved back to the United States.

Because her parents were missionaries, Jean often felt like she didn't quite fit in. She used writing as a special "private place." In her writing, she could share her thoughts, feelings, and emotions. She wrote down everything she thought about. She even copied parts of poems and books she enjoyed reading.

Starting Her Writing Journey

The things Jean wrote about as a child later became ideas for her books. On November 1, 1942, Jean married Michael Fritz. They had two children, David and Andrea.

Writing About History

Jean Fritz became known for writing true books about real events in history. She was especially interested in the American Revolution. She learned a lot about this important time.

She wrote many children's books about the main people and events of the American Revolution. Most of her books are non-fiction, meaning they are based on facts. She also wrote some novels, like "Brady."

To make sure her books were accurate, Jean did a lot of research. She looked at primary sources, which are original documents or objects from the past. In 1986, she won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. This award honors writers or illustrators whose books have made a lasting impact on children's literature.

After her father passed away, Jean wrote a book called Homesick: My Own Story. This book was about her own childhood experiences living in China. After writing it, she even visited China again. When she returned, she wrote two more books about China and its leader, Mao Zedong.

Jean Fritz's Books

Jean Fritz started writing her books in the 1950s. She knew a lot about events happening around the world.

• Homesick: My Own Story (Puffin, 1982 ISBN: 0142407615. Paperback)
• China homecoming (Putnam, 1985 ISBN: 0399211829. Hardcover)
• China's Long March (Putnam, 1988 ISBN: 0399215123. Hardcover)
• The Cabin Faced West (Puffin, 1987 ISBN: 0140322566. Paperback. Hardcover.)
• Brady (Puffin, 1988 ISBN: 0140322582. Paperback)
• Early Thunder (Puffin, 1987 ISBN: 0140322590. Paperback.)