Reading with... Gail Jarrow

photo: Alicia Sangiulano

Gail Jarrow is the author of nonfiction books about magicians, hoaxes, medical fiascoes, and other intriguing stories from U.S. history. Her work has received many distinctions, including the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults for Ambushed!; the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist for American Murderer; the Sibert Honor Book medal for Spooked!; and the Orbis Pictus Honor Book for The Poison Eaters. Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes was just published by Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

Mediums and magicians collide in the 1920s as Houdini and his fellow conjurers expose psychic fraudsters who take advantage of the vulnerable and gullible.

On your nightstand now:

The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson. I always read Larson's latest. His writing is engaging and exceptional, and I enjoy learning history from his books. I'm fairly familiar with the Civil War because I wrote two books about it (Lincoln's Flying Spies and Blood and Germs). I'm looking forward to what Larson has to say about the war's prelude.

Favorite book when you were a child:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I was attracted to it because I helped tend flowers in my grandmother's garden. As an adult, I've maintained flower and vegetable gardens wherever I lived. On my bookshelf, I have three copies of this book. One belonged to my mother during her childhood. I received the second from my grandparents on my 12th birthday. And the third is the version I bought for my children.

Your top five authors:

My list has changed over time, and it's hard to narrow to five. But right now, among those authors whose work I study, are Erik Larson and David McCullough for the way they write about history, and Matt Ridley, Sam Kean, and Lindsey Fitzharris for the way they write about science.

Book you've faked reading:

Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore. For some inexplicable reason, my mother thought I'd like this when I was a teen. I didn't, and I never finished it. But the title shows up in crosswords occasionally, so all is not lost!

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. Although writers can find other guides that will improve their prose, this book is concise, clear, and direct. Anyone who writes for an audience should read it, digest it, and keep it around as a refresher.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I can't remember ever doing this, but I certainly recall the opposite. Back when I browsed my school's library shelves, I rejected books because the cover was uninviting. As an author for young readers, I understand how important a cover is. Fortunately, my editor includes me in the process of choosing its design.

Book you hid from your parents:

When I was in fourth grade, I was hooked on Nancy Drew mysteries, by "Carolyn Keene." After lights-out, I read by a dim flashlight under my covers. By fifth grade, I needed glasses.

Book that changed your life:

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. I was a bit too old for this book when it first came out, but when I taught science and math in an elementary school several years later, I saw many of my students avidly reading it. I was curious about its appeal. That summer in my master's program, I had to do a research paper on the history of children's literature. I went to the public library and took out all of Blume's books. My paper about her work opened my English professor's eyes: his specialty was the 18th and 19th centuries, and he was a bit shocked. At the time, I remember asking the children's librarian which books were popular with her patrons. This led me to explore other contemporary books for young readers. For the first time, I saw a career path that combined my love of writing, my experience as an educator, my interest in history, and my training in science.

Favorite line from a book:

"Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. (Charlotte's Web by E.B. White)

As a beginning to a children's book, it's hard to beat. The startling question grabs readers immediately, and the brief sentence introduces three characters. Mrs. Arable's answer to Fern in the next sentence establishes setting and puts the plot into motion: "Out to the hoghouse.... Some pigs were born last night."

Five books you'll never part with:

For sentimental reasons: a small hardcover of The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter that my grandparents gave me for Valentine's Day when I was five and Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes by Marguerite de Angeli from my very early childhood.

For inspirational reasons, signed copies of:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper

I met these authors when I was just starting my writing career. Besides enjoying their books and later sharing them with my children, I learned useful writing skills by studying the authors' techniques.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. It would be fascinating to read this after a half-century of scientific advances.

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