Marjorie Hill Allee facts for kids

Marjorie Hill Allee (born June 2, 1890, in Carthage, Indiana – died April 30, 1945, in Chicago) was an American author. She wrote many books for young people. Her stories often explored themes of science, history, and friendships.

About Marjorie Hill Allee

Marjorie Hill Allee grew up on a farm in Carthage, Indiana. Her family was part of a Quaker community. After college, she taught in the same one-room school she had attended.

She later went to the University of Chicago. Marjorie wanted to become a writer. She graduated in 1911. In 1912, she married Warder Clyde Allee, a zoologist. She often helped her husband with his science writings. Sometimes, she even wrote with him.

Her First Books

Marjorie's first book was Jungle Island (1925). She wrote it with her husband, Warder Allee. This book was non-fiction for children. It described the plants and animals of Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal. They were inspired by their time at a research lab there.

She wrote other books with similar science themes. Jane's Island (1931) was a novel about science exploration. It was recognized as a Newbery Honor book. This means it was one of the best children's books of the year. Another book, Ann's Surprising Summer (1933), was about biologists. They worked to protect the sand dunes in northern Indiana.

Historical and Modern Stories

Marjorie Hill Allee also wrote six historical novels. These books were about Quaker families. They showed how these families dealt with changes in the mid-1800s. Three of these books were about a widow named Charity Lankester. They told the stories of her and her eight daughters. These books were Judith Lankester (1930), A House of Her Own (1934), and Off to Philadelphia (1936).

She also wrote books about more modern times. The Great Tradition (1937) was a novel about women studying biology. It showed their serious work in a lab at the University of Chicago. This was different from other college stories of the time. The House (1944) was another important work. It explored relationships between people of different ages, races, and backgrounds. This book won the Josette Frank Award.

Books by Marjorie Hill Allee

• Jungle Island (1925) with Warder Clyde Allee
• Susanna and Tristam (1929)
• Judith Lankester (1930)
• Jane's Island (1931)
• The Road to Carolina (1932)
• Ann's Surprising Summer (1933)
• A House of Her Own (1934)
• Off to Philadelphia (1936)
• The Great Tradition (1937)
• The Little American Girl (1938)
• Runaway Linda (1939)
• The Camp at Westlands (1941)
• Winter's Mischief (1942)
• The House (1944)
• Smoke Jumper (1945)