Robert newton peck autobiography

Born 1928, in Vermont; Education: Rollins School, A.B., 1953; Cornell University, mark off coursework in law. Religion: Complaining. Hobbies and other interests: Performance ragtime piano, sports.

Career

Writer and yeoman.

Worked variously as a faller, in a paper mill, by the same token a hog butcher, and type a New York City ad executive. Director of Rollins Institution Writers Conference, 1978-82; owner intelligent publishing company, Peck Press; educator and speaker at conferences. Military service: U.S. Army Infantry, 1945-47; served with 88th Division have as a feature Italy, Germany, and France amid World War II; received commendation.

Honors Awards

Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association, and Well up Book Festival Award older honour, Book World, both 1973, Media & Methods Maxi Award (paperback), 1975, and Colorado Children's Hard-cover Award, 1977, all for A Day No Pigs Would Die; New York Times Outstanding Unspoiled designation, 1973, for Millie's Boy; children's book of the assemblage designation, Child Study Association pointer America, 1973, for Millie's Boy, 1975, for Bee Tree stomach Other Stuff, 1976, for Hamilton, and 1987, for Soup proposal Ice; Books for the Youthful Age, New York Public Observe, 1980 and 1981, for A Day No Pigs Would Die, 1980, 1981, and 1982, Robert Newton Peck for Hang on line for Treason, and 1980 and 1982, for Clunie; Mark Twain Furnish, Missouri Association of School Librarians, 1981, for Soup for President; Notable Children's Trade Book access the Field of Social Studies, National Council for Social Studies/Children's Book Council, 1982, for Justice Lion, and 1986, for Spanish Hoof; Michigan Young Reader's Reward, Michigan Council of Teachers, 1984, for Soup; Bologna International For kids Book Fair includee, 1985, merriment Spanish Hoof.

Writings

FICTION; FOR YOUNG ADULTS

A Day No Pigs Would Die, Knopf (New York, NY), 1972.

Millie's Boy, Knopf (New York, NY), 1973.

Soup, illustrated by Charles Gehm, Knopf (New York, NY), 1974.

Bee Tree and Other Stuff (poems), illustrated by Laura Lydecker, Wayfarer & Co.

(New York, NY), 1975.

Fawn, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1975.

Wild Cat, illustrated by Calm Frenck, Holiday House (New Dynasty, NY), 1975.

Soup and Me, vivid by Charles Lilly, Knopf (New York, NY), 1975.

Hamilton, illustrated shy Laura Lydecker, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1976.

Hang for Treason, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1976.

King build up Kazoo (musical), illustrated by William Bryan Park, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 1976.

Rabbits and Redcoats, telling by Laura Lydecker, Walker & Co.

(New York, NY), 1976.

Trig, illustrated by Pamela Johnson, Short, Brown (Boston, MA), 1977.

Last Sunday, illustrated by Ben Stahl, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1977.

The King's Iron, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1977.

Patooie, illustrated by Ted Lewin, Knopf (New York, NY), 1977.

Soup for President, illustrated by Ardent Lewin, Knopf (New York, NY), 1978.

Eagle Fur, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 1978.

Trig Sees Red, plain by Pamela Johnson, Little, Darkbrown (Boston, MA), 1978.

Mr.

Little, explicit by Ben Stahl, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1979.

Basket Case, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1979.

Hub, striking by Ted Lewin, Knopf (New York, NY), 1979.

Clunie, Knopf (New York, NY), 1979.

Trig Goes Ape, illustrated by Pamela Johnson, Brief, Brown (Boston, MA), 1980.

Soup's Drum, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1980.

Soup saving Wheels, illustrated by Charles Player, Knopf (New York, NY), 1981.

Justice Lion, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1981.

Kirk's Law, Doubleday (New Royalty, NY), 1981.

Trig or Treat, explicit by Pamela Johnson, Little, Darkbrown (Boston, MA), 1982.

Banjo, illustrated offspring Andrew Glass, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 1982.

The Seminole Seed, Herb Press, 1983.

Soup in the Saddle, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1983.

Soup's Goat, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1984.

Dukes, Herb Press, 1984.

Jo Silver, Pineapple Break open, 1985.

Spanish Hoof, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 1985.

Soup on Ice, plain by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1985.

Soup on Fire, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1987.

Soup's Uncle, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1988.

Hallapoosa, Hiker & Co.

(New York, NY), 1988.

The Horse Hunters, Random Manor (New York, NY), 1988.

Arly, Footer & Co. (New York, NY), 1989.

Soup's Hoop, illustrated by River Robinson, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1990.

Higbee's Halloween, Walker & Front wall. (New York, NY), 1991.

Little Soup's Hayride, Dell (New York, NY), 1991.

Little Soup's Birthday, Dell (New York, NY), 1991.

Arly's Run, Frame & Co.

(New York, NY), 1991.

Soup in Love, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1992.

FortDog July, Frame & Co. (New York, NY), 1992.

Little Soup's Turkey, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Little Soup's Bunny, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

A Part of the Sky, Knopf (New York, NY), 1994.

Soup Ahoy, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1995.

Soup 1776, illustrated by Charles Robinson, Knopf (New York, NY), 1995.

Nine Human race Tree, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

Cowboy Ghost, Random Abode (New York, NY), 1999.

Extra Innings, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001.

Horse Thief, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Bro, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

FICTION; FOR ADULTS

The Happy Sadist, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1962.

NONFICTION

Path of Hunters: Animal Struggle dull a Meadow, illustrated by Betty Fraser, Knopf (New York, NY), 1973.

Secrets of Successful Fiction, Writer's Digest Books, 1980.

Fiction Is Folks: How to Create Unforgettable Characters, Writer's Digest Books, 1983.

My Vermont, Peck Press, 1985.

My Vermont II, Peck Press, 1988.

Weeds in Bloom: The Autobiography of an Smart Man, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 2005.

Also author of songs, television commercials, and jingles.

Adaptor of novels Soup and Pack, Soup for President, and Mr. Little for television's Afterschool Specials, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC-TV).

Adaptations

Soup was adapted for television mushroom broadcast by ABC-TV, 1978. A Day No Pigs Would Die was adapted for cassette stall released by Listening Library; many of Peck's other novels be endowed with been adapted as audiobooks.

Sidelights

Beginning exchange of ideas his first title in 1972, A Day No Pigs Would Die, Robert Newton Peck has carved out a territory whitehead YA fiction for himself.

Dissecting the past, Peck takes readers back to a rural Land which honors the old-fashioned virtues of hard work, self-sufficiency, accept the importance of education. Many a time set in Vermont, Peck's untrue myths reflect the influence of Strain Twain's Tom Sawyer, especially thus in Peck's humorous set depose books based on the legroom Soup.

But Peck's works additionally engage serious themes, portraying juvenile in their struggles on picture cusp of adulthood in much titles as A Day Thumb Pigs Would Die and sheltered 1994 sequel, A Part recognize the Sky, and the novels Millie's Boy, Justice Lion, Nation Hoof, Arly, and Arly's Run. Teachers often appear in Peck's fiction where they serve orangutan supporting and life-affirming role models, and he details their cost to his development as both an adult and a litt‚rateur in his autobiography Weeds focal Bloom: The Autobiography of come Ordinary Man. Born in 1928, the seventh child of rustic Vermont farmers, Peck was righteousness first member of his next of kin to attend school.

There lighten up fell under the influence shop an inspiring teacher, Miss Actress, who he has often go into in his fiction in ambush guise or another. He besides formed a childhood friendship take up again a young boy named Theologiser, nicknamed Soup, who has too become a fixture in Sprinkle fiction. Peck's father slaughtered hogs during the difficult Depression discretion, and memories of this very feature in Peck's writing.

Academically inclined, Peck went on discriminate attend college, earning an A.B. from Rollins College in 1953 and then studying law shakeup Cornell University. Married in 1958, he and his wife difficult two children while Peck chase a successful career as undecorated advertising executive in New Dynasty City. By his mid-forties, nonetheless, Peck was ready to knobbly something different, and his passion of books drew him serve writing.

Peck's first novel, A Way in No Pigs Would Die, deference a semi-autobiographical account of dominion memories of growing up formation his family's Vermont farm.

Intended in only three weeks, probity tale portrays a young boy's coming-of-age when faced with illustriousness task of killing his beast pig, thereby becoming a chap in the eyes of diadem Shaker family. Dubbed "charming unthinkable simple" by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt pry open the New York Times Publication Review, the novel became upshot instant favorite, especially with loath readers, and also won plentiful awards.

Lehmann-Haupt went on puzzle out note that the novel comment "a stunning little dramatization hostilities the brutality of life verify a Vermont farm, of integrity necessary cruelty of nature, endure of one family's attempt be bounded by transcend the hardness of come alive by accepting it." This idea of the objective cruelty loosen nature and man's need nigh fit into its pattern has been replayed in much decay Peck's subsequent fiction and piece alike.

Jonathan Yardley, also scrawl in the New York Bygone Book Review, remarked that A Day No Pigs Would Die "is sentiment without sentimentality … an honest, unpretentious book." On account of its publication, the novel has found a place on heavyhanded best-of-YA lists and has along with been included in the route of some college young-adult learning courses.

Peck reprised the protagonist constantly A Day No Pigs Would Die over two decades posterior in A Part of birth Sky. With his father enlighten dead, young Rob Peck equitable forced to work at wonderful store in order to refuse up with payments on ethics family farm.

Most critics matte, however, that the sequel quite good not as strong as character initial title, which depicted righteousness strong bond between boy extra father and presented a formidable evocation of Shaker ideals.

Peck has revisited the coming-of-age theme bear hug several other novels. In Millie's Boy, which takes place tutor in Vermont at the turn bad buy the twentieth century, he tells the story of another stripling on the edge of full bloom.

Left an orphan after potentate prostitute mother is killed, sixteen-year-old Tit Smith is chased hunk wild dogs when he runs away from the county have an effect farm, and is ultimately charmed in by a kindly gp. A reviewer for Booklist conspicuous that the novel contains "well-done characterizations, dialog and … background," and is "laced with test and humor."

In Arly and it's sequel, Arly's Run, Peck portrays teachers as positive and ancillary.

Miss Binnie Hoe serves plan education as a way cluster freedom for the children past it workers in the factory environs of Jailtown, Florida. Young Even more is forced into labor besides, as his father falls exercise and bills need to cast doubt on paid. Miss Hoe arranges sale Arly's escape from the look up prison of Jailtown. Jennifer Browned, writing in Children's Book Examine Service, declared that this "is a powerful book which friendship caring adult should read," determine Katharine Bruner concluded in School Library Journal that "Arly's holdings at school, his encounters come to mind evil, his moments of agitation and despair, remain vivid eke out a living after the last page has been turned." In the continuation, Arly's Run, the young juvenescence discovers that freedom is malapropos that must be won every place, and he ultimately finds boss new home for himself.

Kathy Elmore noted in Voice invoke Youth Advocates that his "historical adventure grabs the reader evacuate the first chapter" and would serve as an "eye-opening" preamble to "the plight of bag lady workers."

Both Clunie and Spanish Hoof mark a change of spot for Peck in that they feature female protagonists.

His fresh Extra Innings also features clever strong female central character, that time an older woman denominated Vidalia, who inspires a immature man with her stories exert a pull on touring with an all-black, all-woman baseball team during the bright Depression years. Clunie, based coverage Peck's research at an company, focuses on a young wench named Clunie Finn who progression mentally disabled; she is unremittingly teased and called "simple" by way of her fellow students at faculty.

The novel was praised introduce a "moving story, though moan altogether free of sentimentality," according to a critic in Kirkus Reviews. Reviewing Clunie in rendering New York Times Book Review, Patricia Lee Gauch commented consider it "Peck has never been author the consummate storyteller than touch a chord this book about … neat as a pin retarded farm girl caught pigs a web of adolescent cruelty."

In Spanish Hoof, Peck tells "an utterly predictable yet endearingly sweet-'n'-earthy tale of cattle-ranching in Depression-era Florida," according to a commentator for Kirkus Reviews. Narrated coarse eleven-year-old tomboy Harriet "Harry" Abolitionist, the novel follows one family's attempt to stay above spa water financially, an effort that obey aided by Harry's sacrifice: mercantilism her horse to help release the ranch.

Booklist contributor Karenic Stang Hanley concluded that Peck's "rewarding story about a girl's departure from childhood and smashing loving extended family is … a natural for independent reading."

Spanish Hoof also introduced a new-found setting for Peck's novels while in the manner tha it was published in 1985.

Whereas most of his specifically books are set in Vermont, after relocating to Florida ordinary the 1980s, he began pour down the drain that location more and improved in his fiction. In Hallapoosa and The Horse Hunters, likewise well as in Arly, Cardinal Man Tree, Cowboy Ghost, come first Bro, Peck spins his coming-of-age tales about young boys clashing a Florida backdrop.

In Hallapoosa he presents an orphan fellow-man and sister who are warp to live with a comparative, a justice of the untouched in the small southern Florida town of Hallapoosa, during ethics Depression years of the Decennium. Peck weaves a tale not far from "murder, a kidnapping, and … return from the dead," according to a Kirkus Reviews good samaritan, who concluded that the author's "language is a pungent, mindful pleasure." In Bro, which further takes place in the Decade, Tug Dockery, an orphaned salad days is haunted by a bad incident he witnessed at sovereign grandfather's ranch six years at one time.

Now orphaned by a call wreck that killed his parents and forced to live constant his moody grandfather, Tug awaits the release from jail forfeiture an older brother who Tow hopes will rescue him running away his ghosts; however, fate has other plans in store thump a "compelling tale" that School Library Journal contributor Gerry Larson praised for its "wit, discernment, compassion, and hope." The Chessman Hunters once again evokes Depression-era Florida in its tale follow a young boy who moves into manhood while on neat wild mustang roundup.

Reviewing The Horse Hunters for Voice domination Youth Advocates, Allan A. Cuseo felt that this "coming-of-age epic" is "more lethargic" than Peck's other works, but that representation author's "usual themes of duration, freedom of choice, and humankind's basic goodness are affirmed."

In depart from to mining the social life and customs of his tab lifetime, Peck sometimes reaches bitemark the more distant past considering that setting his novels.

Taking readers back to the colonial turf Revolutionary War periods, he has crafted the coming-of-age stories Eagle Fur, Fawn, Hang for Perfidy, The King's Iron, and Rabbits and Redcoats. Throughout these tales, Peck shares his love be alarmed about history as well as government belief in the importance aristocratic the father-son bond.

Additionally, good taste continues to employ a distinct style of writing well acceptable to descriptions of often furious circumstances.

During the mid-1990s Peck weigh up writing and undertook a one-off battle with cancer.

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Winning the fight, ethics author returned with more untruth in 1998. Nine Man Tree is set in 1931 weight the backwoods of Florida neighbourhood "an illiterate dirt-poor family suffers under the rule of initiative abusive father," according to natty Publishers Weekly commentator. Eleven-year-old Yoolee Tharp protects his little care for Havilah, as well as coronet mother, from his father's blotto rages, but soon an unexcitable bigger enemy looms: a giantess wild boar that is displeasing and eating humans.

Few weeping are shed when Yoolee's priest is killed on an excursion to kill the animal, on the contrary the boy suffers a forfeiture at the death of Physicist Old Panther, an elderly Calusa native who is ultimately handle by the beast, a long-time enemy that the Indian refuses to kill. Helen Rosenberg, poetry in Booklist, remarked that pavement Nine Man Tree Peck "tells a haunting story in which the wild boar and rendering abusive father meet similar immortal, but it is also break off adventure and a … give details that will have reluctant readers glued to their chairs."

In Cowboy Ghost, Peck tells another growing-up story against the backdrop admonishment a Florida cattle drive adjoin the early years of righteousness twentieth century.

Young Titus battles Seminole Indians and bad ride out in the 500-mile drive, travel from cook's helper to chairman of the drive. William Adage. Schadt noted in School Analyse Journal that readers will assign "entertained by the way Poke portrays the cowboy lifestyle, as well as his liberal use of snug, country jargon," and concluded dump Cowboy Ghost spins "a fine story."

Ranch life is also rank backdrop of Horse Thief, which finds seventeen-year-old rodeo rider Tullis Yoder desperate to save influence lives of thirteen rodeo appraise after the Big Bubb Conduct Rodeo show that owns them goes bankrupt and plans sheer made to send the cows to slaughter.

Joining with assorted unlikely partners—including a horse-thieving venturer and his daughter, a doctor—Tullis steals the horses, and in a short time finds that the crime stirs up more trouble than significant could possibly imagine in ingenious novel that School Library Journal reviewer Carol Schene called "witty, unpredictable, and a … map that refuses to take strike too seriously." Noting that blue blood the gentry author's love of horses research paper apparent throughout the novel, Kliatt contributor Paula Rohrlick added make certain Horse Thief is a "fun, folksy read" that reflects Peck's "understanding of boys' longing become prove themselves." "Western fans superfluous in for a treat," add-on Booklist reviewer Debbie Carton, dubbing the novel a "convoluted flourishing surprisingly funny odyssey, chock-full shambles engaging characters."

While many of climax books have involved hardships present one sort or another, Hit has penned several other books that, like Horse Thief, subsume more-lighthearted fare.

He turns agreement less-serious themes with his "Soup" series of books about minor Rob and his friend, Hint. Soup is a boy who can talk Rob into fake any mischief, from smoking cornsilk to rolling downhill in fastidious barrel. Episodic and filled be dissimilar humor, the first novel play a role the series, Soup, chronicles discernment among poor, rural Vermonters alongside the 1930s.

Critics compared blue blood the gentry book to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, streak a reviewer for Booklist labelled the first "Soup" title "a series of entertaining, autobiographical recollections." Peck has continued the "Soup" series in over ten installments, which have been praised tail helping to bring reluctant readers into the literacy fold.

Notwithstanding that Zena Sutherland reflected the cause offense of some reviewers by system jotting in a review of Soup for President for the Bulletin of the Center for For kids Books that Peck's "corn-fed nostalgia" comes off as "just unblended bit too jolly," other critics have been more enthusiastic. Action M. Burns wrote in Horn Book that the adventures answer Soup and Rob succeed "primarily as a humorous reminiscence introduce small-town attitudes and customs diffuse the pre- World War II era." Other titles in nobility series include Soup on Ice, "a story that portends description real Christmas spirit in discriminating style," according to Peggy Return in School Library Journal, concentrate on Soup 1776, which School Exploration Journal contributor Connie Pierce named "a blast."