Philip Pullman (Who Wrote That?)

Gr. 7-10. One of few Pullman biographies available for youth, this entry in the Who Wrote That? series draws upon an impressive array of sources--particularly Pullman's own writings--to present the groundbreaking author's life and work. Yuan competently narrates Pullman's itinerant military childhood, his Oxford education, and his rewarding years as a middle-school teacher. What may thrill readers most, however, are the insights into the writing process; Pullman produces precisely three pages per day and says that "making a plan first kills a story stone dead." The occasional photos are often generic, and Yuan's philosophical analysis of the His Dark Materials books is too brief to be effective, though quotation sources (as well as other useful end matter) are provided for those wishing to learn more. Skip the serieswide foreword by Kyle Zimmer, which reads like a direct-mail campaign for Zimmer's literacy organization; Pullman's own comments on the power of story--"Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever"--are far more compelling. Jennifer Mattson
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"Both books are well-organized and clearly written. Each writer emerges as a recognizable figure seen against a background of particular historical events..."