Irene Hunt's Across Five Aprils

Irene Hunt was born on May 18, 1907 in Pontiac, Illinois to Franklin and Sarah Hunt. Her family moved to Newton, Illinois when Hunt was six weeks old. It was a town that is described in the novel Across Five Aprils. In 1914, Hunt’s father died and she was only seven. She lived with Hunt’s grandparent and she was a lonely girl. However, she had a close relationship with her grandfather who told her stories about his childhood during the Civil War. These stories helped her write books and they became the basis of her books. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and after she earned her master’s degree, she when to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Hunt taught English and French in public school in Oak Park, Illinois. …show more content…
As I said before, her grandfather’s childhood stories during Civil War was the basis of this book. Therefore, like the book’s protagonist, Jethro, Hunt’s grandfather was nine years old when the Civil War occurred. Hunt could describe family situation during Civil War in detail. This book received a great deal of acclaim. It was selected as a Newberry Honor book and received a Lewis Carroll Self Award. Hunt said that this book is her favorite book. The critic said: “Brilliant characterization, a telling sense of story, an uncanny ability to balance fact and fiction, and compassionate, graceful writing mark Hunt’s small but distinguished body of work”. This book made Hunt as one of the greatest historical novelists. Also, she proved that she can write books for both adult and children audiences. The second book Hunt wrote is Up a Road Slowly and it was awarded the Newberry Medal in 1967. It was given to the White House in 1970 by the American Bookseller Association. Then, she wrote Trail of Apple Blossoms in 1968, No Promises in the Wind in 1970, The Lottery Rose in 1976, William in 1977, Claws of a Young Country in 1980, and lastly Everlasting Hills in