by Richard Peck
First published 1991
Richard Peck opens his life story in the small town of Decatur, Illinois, where his journey as a storyteller began. He walks readers through his formative years, then into the classroom where he first encountered the young people who would later populate his novels. Teaching showed him the struggles teenagers face and the stories they need to hear. Peck describes his transition from educator to full-time writer, revealing how classroom observations became the foundation for his fiction. He explains his mission to create books that don't just entertain young readers but actually influence their lives. Throughout his account, Peck demonstrates how his teaching background shaped his approach to writing, giving him insights into what resonates with adolescent audiences. This memoir reveals the deliberate craft behind his novels and his belief that books can genuinely transform young lives.
Genres: literary-fiction, autobiography, education, biography-memoir, teaching
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, memoir
Setting: Decatur, Illinois
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing