Margaret Carver Leighton facts for kids

Margaret Carver Leighton (born December 20, 1896 – died June 19, 1987) was an American writer. She was best known for writing books for children and young adults.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Carver Leighton was born in Oberlin, Ohio. She spent parts of her childhood studying in different countries. She attended schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as in France and Switzerland. This happened when her father was on a special study leave.

In 1918, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated from Radcliffe College. On May 5, 1921, Margaret married James Herbert Leighton. They had four children together. Their names were James Herbert, Mary, Thomas Carver, and Sylvia.

Moving to California

Margaret's husband passed away in 1935. After this, her family moved to California. It was there that she started writing books for young readers. Her own children's fun and playful actions gave her ideas for her stories.

A Career in Writing

Margaret Carver Leighton wrote many books for children and young adults. Her most well-known book is Shelley's Mary: A Life of Mary Godwin Shelley. This book was published in 1973. It tells the story of Mary Godwin Shelley's life.

Community Involvement

Margaret Leighton also played a role in her community. From 1930 to 1934, she was a member of the Board of Education in Westfield, New Jersey. This board helps manage local schools.

Later, she joined the Board of Trustees for the Santa Monica Public Library. She was also part of important writing groups. These included the Authors League of America and P.E.N.. She even served as president of the Los Angeles P.E.N. center from 1957 to 1959.

Margaret Carver Leighton passed away on June 19, 1987. She died in Santa Monica, California.

List of Works

• Junior High School Plays: Ten Short Plays on the American Epic (1938)
• The Secret of the Old House (1941)
• Twelve Bright Trumpets (1942, published in England as The Conqueror, and Other Tales from the Middle Ages)
• The Secret of the Closed Gate (1944)
• The Singing Cave (1945)
• Judith of France (1948)
• The Sword and the Compass: The Far-Flung Adventures of Captain John Smith (1951)
• The Secret of Bucky Moran (1952)
• The Story of Florence Nightingale (1952)
• The Story of General Custer (1954)
• Who Rides By? (1955)
• Comanche of the Seventh (1957)
• The Secret of Smuggler's Cove (1959)
• Journey for a Princess (1960)
• Bride of Glory: The Story of Elizabeth Bacon Custer (1962)
• Voyage to Coromandel (1965)
• The Canyon Castaways (1966)
• A Hole in the Hedge (1968)
• Cleopatra, Sister of the Moon (1969)
• The Other Island (1971)
• Shelley's Mary: A Life of Mary Godwin Shelley (1973)