Library Thing Part E #1 Biography
Sommers, Michael A. Avi. New York: Rosen Central, 2004. Print.

Michael A. Sommers has written a very accurate and authentic biography about Avi, a popular and prolific writer of children’s and young adult literature. This title is part of the Library of Author Biographies series by Rosen Central and the Rosen Publishing Group in New York. Avi, is a short bibliography of 72 pages followed by an “Interview with Avi”; part of the reference aids at the end of the book. A short novel with and attractive front cover attracts the young reader and even the teenager. The cover is steel grey with bronze corners printed with a Victorian filigree, Avi’s portrait is in subdued color matching the cover and set into the cover reminiscent of a diary or a tome of magical knowledge. The title-AVI, is done in a classic font in 3D. Every time Mr. Sommer describes Avi’s early years with his family, school environment, and college experiences, he continually refers to his sources and provides a plethora of citations. There is no room for doubt as to Mr. Sommer’s accurate account of Avi’s life. To further help in organizing, and clarifying the bio, a timeline is available in the reference aid section.

While describing Avi’s early childhood relationships, Sommers incorporates information about Avi’s earlier writing endeavors and draws parallels between fictional characters and those special friends and relatives of Avi’s. This helps the reader not only have a glimpse into Avi’s past but also to see how the writer’s mind takes from his surroundings and builds story from them. The entire biography is a motivational piece for those young readers to keep writing no matter what teachers, parents, or friends say when they read your written work and find it lacking. Avi was raised in an upper middle class professional family during WWll in New York. He was an avid reader and the family story is that he taught himself to read at a very young age. His mother read books to her children habitually every evening and his home was full of his parents’ professional books. He loved to write but his dysgraphia kept his family and teachers from recognizing his talent and they were not very supportive of his ambition to be a writer. School achievement was difficult and only after working with a tutor in high school, did he begin to feel better about his ability to write. His tutor recognized his creativity and could look beyond his disability.

Mr. Sommers intertwines each of Avi’s novels as he presents Avi’s biographical events. He provides a summary and theme and aligns them with several of Avi’s passionate beliefs and world views. One such passionate focus is the idea of questioning authority figures and if need be, rebel against the authority and the institution surrounding that authority. It is only then that a young person finds his own identity and belief in himself. This title is clearly written with a tone of expectancy and celebratory praise with plenty of reference aids for the young reader to further explore: Selected reviews from School Journal, List of Selected Works, List of Selected Awards, Glossary, For More Information, For Further Reading, Bibliography, and Source Notes. I like this biography by Michael A. Sommers and every school library should definitely have a copy in its collection. Intended audience is 4th grade to middle school + and curriculum connection are language arts and social studies. ( )