Partage des connaissances

Date de naissance: 1901-11-26
Date de décès: 1987-09-03
Lieu de sépulture: Wildcat Cove, Carmel, CA (ashes scattered)
Sexe: female
Nationalité: USA
Lieu de naissance: Mountain View, California, USA
Lieu du décès: Carmel, California, USA
Lieux de résidence: Mountain View, California, USA (birth)
Études: Fresno State Teachers College
Los Angeles Library School
Western Reserve University
Professions: librarian
children's book author
Relations: Gates, Charles Obed (father)
Gates, Bessie Louise Jones (mother)
Gates, Laura (half sister)
Gates, Charles (sister)
Prix et distinctions: Doris Gates Room, Central Library, Fresno Public Library System
Courte biographie: Doris Gates was born in Mountain View CA, to Charles Obed and Bessie Jones Gates. She was the oldest of two daughters born to them. She also had an older sister, Laura Gates born from a previous marriage of her father, whose wife died while they lived in Hustisford, WI.

Doris grew up largely on her family's prune orchard in San Jose, CA which was a joint family operation and from which she would later, loosely base a few of her novels on. In her teens, her family moved to Fresno, CA where she would live into her late 30's and would then move to Monterey/Carmel CA.

Doris attended various colleges and earned degrees in Children's Literature. She worked for the Fresno County Free Library for many years and authored many children's novels. She was considered a renowned author of her times for writing groundbreaking children's novels addressing realistic problems of children. She was well known for the book "Blue Willow".

She also hosted a radio program in Fresno, CA telling children's stories on air. She was also a well known visiting lecturer to many colleges including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSF and also spoke around the country at various Libraries.

Doris was married briefly in 1942 to William Herbert Hall. They had no children.

Membres

Discussions

A girl, about 12 years old, her family picks fruit (migrant workers) and she longs for a house to li à Name that Book (Août 2012)

Critiques

Blue Willow par Doris Gates

reviewed - Michael

Signalé

hcs_admin | 25 autres critiques | Apr 10, 2024 |

Blue Willow par Doris Gates

AR: 6.5

Signalé

ASSG.Library | 25 autres critiques | Mar 8, 2024 |

The warrior goddess: Athena par Doris Gates

Somewhat dry but clear retellings of several myths that involve Athena in the Greek classical tradition. Appears to be middle-grade. Includes the story of Aglauros, which I had never come across, as well as the tales of Perseus and Medea, Bellerophon and Pegasus, the Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece, and Arachne. Stories are presented in a way that minimizes the problematic nature of Greek myth as well as romanticizing men's relations with women.
Not good for pagans, feminism or modern discussions of Greek Mythology.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

bunnyjadwiga | 1 autre critique | Jan 11, 2024 |

Blue Willow par Doris Gates

Ten-year-old Janey Larkin, the daughter of migrant farm workers in Great Depression-era California, clings to the beautiful blue willow plate that once belonged to her mother in this poignant children's novel. As the Larkins settle into a shack in the San Joaquin Valley, while Mr. Larkin goes to work in the cotton fields, Janey befriends Lupe Romero, who lives in the shack opposite the Larkins, and goes to the field school run by Miss Peterson. Slowly, Janey begins to feel that this is a place she could call home and put down roots. But when her step-mother becomes ill and work dries up, it looks like the Larkins will have to move on once more. Can the willow plate, a symbol of Janey's deepest desire for a home and a sense of belonging, save her and her family...?

Published in 1940, Blue Willow was chosen as one of four Newbery Honor books in 1941—other Honor Books that year included Young Mac of Fort Vancouver by Mary Jane Carr, The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Nansen by Anna Gertrude Hall, while the Medal Winner was Armstrong Perry's Call it Courage—and it is not difficult to see why. Doris Gates, who worked for many years as a children's librarian in the San Joaquin Valley, spins an immensely engaging and moving story, beautifully capturing Janey's rich inner life, from her changing perception of her wonderful step-mother, Mom, to her puzzling over her father's words on courage, and her discovery of the joys of true friendship with Lupe. This latter is quite interesting, in that it is the earliest example I have encountered, in the pages of popular children's literature, of a genuine friendship across racial and ethnic divides. There were one or two moments that I found dated—Janey wondering why Lupe would prefer a dress that made her look darker, for instance—but on the whole I thought this aspect of the story was very progressive for its time, treating the two friends as equals, delving into Lupe's perspective, and highlighting her many good qualities without making her a saint. The happy ending of the story, while perhaps a tad unrealistic, is nevertheless deeply satisfying.

All in all, I found Blue Willow a wonderful book, and would recommend it to upper primary and lower middle-grade readers who enjoy historical stories, or who are looking for heartwarming tales of children finding a home and happiness. Thematically, it is very similar to Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Velvet Room, which I have also read and loved, and could be read in tandem with that book.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

AbigailAdams26 | 25 autres critiques | Dec 10, 2023 |

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