Hadley Irwin
Pseudonym for two American writers of young adult literature
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hadley Irwin was the pseudonym of a writing team of young adult literature, consisting of Lee Hadley (10 October 1934 in Earlham, Iowa[1] – 22 August 1995) and Annabelle Irwin (8 October 1915 in Peterson, Iowa – 13 September 1998), both Iowa State University English professors.[2][3][4] The pair started writing together in 1979.[5] Their 1985 book Abby, My Love is considered to be the first in children's literature to deal with incest/child sexual abuse.[2]
Themes
Hadley Irwin wrote so called 'problem novels' about teenagers, aimed at young adults, for example about alcoholism, racism, antisemitism, incest/child sexual abuse and suicide.[2][3][6] Aside from this primary theme, Irwin often portrays the elderly as human beings with their own hopes, fears, and problems.[7] Books are often set in Iowa, the home state of both Hadley and Irwin.[7] A final theme has to do with the relationships between parents and children.[7]
According to The New York Times, the novel Abby, My Love (1985) was the first novel in children's literature to deal with incest/child sexual abuse.[2] The main character of the book is a girl who is sexually abused by her father.[6]
In spite of the heavy subjects, the books are written with humor, and the main theme is coming of age, and relations between people. Their historic novels are based on facts.[1]
The book We Are Mesquakie We Are One describes the history of the Meskwaki accurately, according to expert Adeline Wanatee.[8][9]
Reception
According to The New York Times Book Review, The Lilith Summer is "a sympathetic novel of teen-age distress",[10] "in no way a liberationist tract"[11] and "The story is warm and the writing exemplary".[12]
According to Publishers Weekly, Hadley Irwin's "themes are thoughtfully developed and well worth pondering",[13] and Kim/Kimi is "a drama that Irwin spices with naturally amusing episodes".[14]
Some of Hadley Irwin's books have been adapted for the screen. Their books sold steadily in the United States as well as in Europe and in Japan.[3] Abby, My Love (also Atheneum), which focuses on incest, was adapted as a CBS Schoolbreak Special in 1988.[5][15]
Awards
Hadley Irwin received several literary awards for their books:
- In 1981: an honor book designation from the Jane Addams Peace Association for We Are Mesquakie, We Are One (1980).[7][16]
- In 1982: Society of Midland Authors award for Moon and Me (1981)[7]
- In 1982: ALA Best Young Adult Book Award for What About Grandma? (1982).[7][15]
- In 1982: the Dutch Book Award Zilveren griffel for We Are Mesquakie, We Are One (1980).[17]
- In 1983: the Dutch Book Award Vlag en Wimpel for What About Grandma? (1982).[18]
- In 1985: ALA Best Young Adult Book Award for Abby, My Love (1985)[7]
- In 1986: the Dutch Book Award Vlag en Wimpel for I Be Somebody (1984).[18]
- In 1986: Children's Choice Book award from a joint committee of Children's Book Council and International Reading Association for Abby, My Love (1985)[7]
- In 1988: the Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award for Abby, My Love (1985).
Bibliography
| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Lilith Summer | Old Westbury, NY: Feminist Press | ISBN 9780912670522 | Translated into Dutch as Een zomer met Lilith. Adapted into a short film in 1984. |
| 1980 | We Are Mesquakie, We Are One | Old Westbury, NY: Feminist Press | ISBN 9781558611481 | Translated into Dutch as Hidden Doe : wij zijn Mesquakie, wij zijn één. Received the Dutch Book Award Zilveren Griffel in 1992.[18] |
| 1981 | Moon and Me | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 0451147588 | Translated into Dutch as Maan en ik: verhaal van een vriendschap. |
| 1981 | Bring to a Boil and Separate | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 0689501560 | Translated into Dutch as Katie: haar dochter – zijn dochter.[19] |
| 1982 | What About Grandma? | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 0380711389 | Translated into Dutch as Twtti Rhys Hec: een meisje van zestien. Received the Dutch Book Award Vlag en Wimpel in 1983.[18] |
| 1984 | I Be Somebody | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 0451153030 | Translated into Dutch as Athabasca. Received the Dutch Book Award Vlag en Wimpel in 1986.[18] |
| 1985 | Abby, My Love | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 0689503237 | Translated into Dutch as Abby. Received the Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award in 1988. |
| 1987 | Kim/Kimi | Atheneum/Margaret K. McElderry Books | ISBN 014032593X | Translated into Dutch as Kimiko. |
| 1988 (March) | Writing Young Adult Novels | Writers Digest Books | ISBN 0898793130 | |
| 1988 (30 Nov.) | So long at the fair | Margaret K. McElderry | ISBN 0689504543 | Translated into Dutch as Terug naar de kermis. |
| 1990 (1 Oct) | Can't hear you listening | Margaret K. McElderry | ISBN 0689505132 | Translated into Dutch as Gewoon niet doen!. |
| 1996 (Jan.) | Jim-Dandy | Troll Communications | ISBN 081673867X | Translated into Dutch as Jim-Dandy. |
| 1996 (1 June) | The original Freddie Ackerman | Simon Pulse | ISBN 0689803893 | Translated into Dutch as Afzender: Freddie. |
| 1996 (1 Oct.) | Sarah with an H | Margaret K. McElderry | ISBN 0689809492 |
