Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to England with her father when the Nazis came into power. Ibbotson wrote more than twenty books for children and young adults, many of which garnered nominations for major awards for children's literature in the UK, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Whitbread Prize. Eva's critically acclaimed Journey to the River Sea won the Smarties Gold Medal in 2001. Set in the Amazon, it was written in honour of her deceased husband Alan, a former naturalist. Imaginative and humorous, Eva's books often convey her love of nature, in particular the Austrian countryside, which is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. Eva passed away at her home in Newcastle on October 20th 2010. Her final book, One Dog and His Boy, was published in May 2011.
Gr 9 Up-In Eva Ibbotson's romance novel (St. Martin's Pr., 1985; Puffin, pap. 2007), Harriet Morton, 19, leads a boring, confined life on an estate in 1912 England because of her restrictive father and spinster aunt. Ballet class is one of the few things she has been allowed to enjoy. Hungry for more than the marriage her father has arranged for her, she sneaks off to join a ballet company tour to South America and meets colorful characters including the wealthy, but reclusive Rom Verney who changes her life in ways she never dreamed possible. Harriet is transformed from a sheltered, naive girl into a beautiful and talented woman and dancer. Patricia Connolly's near flawless narration features accents, tones, and pacing that transport listeners into Harriet's world. On only a few occasions, she continues speaking in the voice of the character for a few seconds at the beginning of a narrative segment. A fine choice for school and public libraries.-Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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