Jean E. Karl
Encyclopedia
Jean Edna Karl was an American book editor
who specialized in children
's and science fiction
titles. She founded and led the children's division and young adult and science fiction imprints at Atheneum Books
, where she oversaw or edited books that won two Caldecott Medal
s and five Newbery Medal
s. One of the Newberys went to the new writer E. L. Konigsburg
in 1968 for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
.
-affiliated
Mount Union College
in 1949 and immediately began work in the book industry, initially at Scott Foresman in Chicago (Dick and Jane
readers), then at the Methodist Church-owned Abingdon Press
in New York City
(children's editor).
The founder of Atheneum, Alfred A. Knopf, Jr.
personally recruited her in 1961 to establish the Atheneum Books for Young Readers division
which she led until she retired. There she started the imprints Aladdin Paperbacks
(mass market children's) and Atheneum Argo (young-adult science fiction [hardcover]). Atheneum is now part of Simon & Schuster
.
During her time there, Atheneum merged with Charles Scribner's Sons
in 1978 and MacMillan acquired the new Scribner Book Company in 1984.
After retiring in 1985 she continued to edit books (as Atheneum editor-at-large) almost until her death in 2000. She died at a hospice
in Lancaster with no immediate survivors.
She was long active in the Children's Book Council which she served as president, and in the Association of American Publishers
.
s for children and young adults, notably The Turning Tree and Beloved Benjamin is Waiting and But We are Not of Earth (1981). She wrote other science fiction under her grandmother's name R. W. Munson.
She wrote two important books about children's books: From Childhood to Childhood: Children’s Books and Their Creators (John Day, 1970) and How to Write and Sell Children’s Picture Books (Writer's Digest Books, 1994). Vicki Palmquist at children's literature network credits the former with a "satisfying look into how publishing decisions are made".
was unpublished in her late thirties when she submitted two manuscripts; Karl accepted both. Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth
was published first, then Mixed-Up Files. They won the Newbery Honor (in 1971, retroactive) and the Newbery Medal, still the only Newbery recognitions for two books by one author in one year.
Konigsburg has called Karl her "forever editor". Without mentioning a name, she explained the editorial process to Scholastic Teacher (no date):
Ursula K. LeGuin had published the first Earthsea
book with the California small press Parnassus in 1968. The second, third, and fourth books were published by Atheneum in 1971, 1972, and 1990.
The Tombs of Atuan
(1971) earned a Newbery Honor and The Farthest Shore
(1972) a National Book Award in category young people's literature. Ms. Le Guin lists five other books published by Atheneum, 1976 to 1992 "(major books only, principal US editions only)".
Anne McCaffrey
had published two Dragonriders of Pern
books with Ballantine
in 1968 and 1971, with one more under contract to complete a trilogy.
Karl hoped to attract more female readers to science fiction by providing the right characters. Around 1974 she solicited "a story for young women in a different part of Pern". McCaffrey worked up a languishing false start as Dragonsong
and they contracted for a sequel before it was out in 1976.
Dragonsinger
and Dragondrums
followed in 1977 and 1979.
s, five Newbery Medal
s, five Newbery Honors (honorable mentions), and one National Book Award
. Others won eight Edgar Allan Poe Awards
.
Caldecott Medal
Newbery Medal
National Book Award
Edgar Allan Poe Award
All these are annual awards. The Edgars recognize mystery in several categories including mystery fiction
with subcategories such as short story and juvenile. The Caldecott recognizes one American children's picture book. The Newbery Medal recognizes one contribution to American children's literature, with the Newbery Honor for one or a few more distinguished nominees. The National Book Awards recognize books in four categories including young people's literature (the award to Le Guin).
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
who specialized in children
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
's and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
titles. She founded and led the children's division and young adult and science fiction imprints at Atheneum Books
Atheneum Books
Atheneum Books was a publishing house and adult publisher created by Alfred A. Knopf, Jr. in 1959. He recruited editor Jean E. Karl personally, to come and establish a Children's Book Department in 1961....
, where she oversaw or edited books that won two Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
s and five Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
s. One of the Newberys went to the new writer E. L. Konigsburg
E. L. Konigsburg
Elaine Lobl Konigsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books and young adult fiction. She is one of five authors to win two Newbery Medals, awarded annually for one contribution to American children's literature.Her first two manuscripts were submitted to editor Jean E...
in 1968 for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a novel by E. L. Konigsburg. It was published by Atheneum Books in 1967, the second published from two manuscripts the new writer had submitted to editor Jean E...
.
Life
Karl was born and raised in Chicago. She graduated from the Methodist ChurchMethodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
-affiliated
Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
in 1949 and immediately began work in the book industry, initially at Scott Foresman in Chicago (Dick and Jane
Dick and Jane
Dick and Jane were the main characters in popular basal readers written by William S. Gray and Zerna Sharp and published by Scott Foresman, that were used to teach children to read from the 1930s through to the 1970s in the United States...
readers), then at the Methodist Church-owned Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press is the book publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House which publishes sheet music, ministerial resources, Bible-study aids, and other items, often with a focus on Methodism and Methodists. Abingdon Press was begun in the early 1900s by The Methodist Church, and is...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(children's editor).
The founder of Atheneum, Alfred A. Knopf, Jr.
Alfred A. Knopf, Jr.
Alfred Abraham Knopf, Jr. was one of the founders of Atheneum Publishers in 1959.-Biography:He was the only child of publisher Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. and Blanche Wolf. He was born in White Plains, New York, on June 17, 1918. At 7, in 1925 he was sent to a boarding school, first at the Riverdale...
personally recruited her in 1961 to establish the Atheneum Books for Young Readers division
which she led until she retired. There she started the imprints Aladdin Paperbacks
Aladdin Paperbacks
Aladdin Paperbacks is one of several children's-book imprints owned by Simon & Schuster.It was established by Jean E. Karl at Atheneum Books where she was the founding director of the children's department . Atheneum merged with or was acquired by Scribner's in 1978, then MacMillan in 1984, before...
(mass market children's) and Atheneum Argo (young-adult science fiction [hardcover]). Atheneum is now part of Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
.
During her time there, Atheneum merged with Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
in 1978 and MacMillan acquired the new Scribner Book Company in 1984.
After retiring in 1985 she continued to edit books (as Atheneum editor-at-large) almost until her death in 2000. She died at a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
in Lancaster with no immediate survivors.
She was long active in the Children's Book Council which she served as president, and in the Association of American Publishers
Association of American Publishers
The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the American book publishing industry. AAP has more than 300 members, including most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly...
.
Author
Karl wrote science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
s for children and young adults, notably The Turning Tree and Beloved Benjamin is Waiting and But We are Not of Earth (1981). She wrote other science fiction under her grandmother's name R. W. Munson.
She wrote two important books about children's books: From Childhood to Childhood: Children’s Books and Their Creators (John Day, 1970) and How to Write and Sell Children’s Picture Books (Writer's Digest Books, 1994). Vicki Palmquist at children's literature network credits the former with a "satisfying look into how publishing decisions are made".
Editor
E. L. KonigsburgE. L. Konigsburg
Elaine Lobl Konigsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books and young adult fiction. She is one of five authors to win two Newbery Medals, awarded annually for one contribution to American children's literature.Her first two manuscripts were submitted to editor Jean E...
was unpublished in her late thirties when she submitted two manuscripts; Karl accepted both. Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth, or Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth and Me in some editions, is a children's novel by E. L. Konigsburg. It was her first book published, in 1967, the same year as her second book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler...
was published first, then Mixed-Up Files. They won the Newbery Honor (in 1971, retroactive) and the Newbery Medal, still the only Newbery recognitions for two books by one author in one year.
Konigsburg has called Karl her "forever editor". Without mentioning a name, she explained the editorial process to Scholastic Teacher (no date):
- How do you go about revising your writing?
- My editor - I've had the same editor always - sends me some suggestions. I have had two books go directly from manuscript to typescript, which is like getting an A+ on a paper. My editor makes suggestions, and I read them all and work with them. Neither she nor I approves of someone going in to tweak the story. We agree that you should read the comments over the whole story, and then decide what you are going to churn up. You don't change little bits at a time.
Ursula K. LeGuin had published the first Earthsea
Earthsea
Earthsea is a fictional realm originally created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story "The Word of Unbinding", published in 1964. Earthsea became the setting for a further six books, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, and continuing with The Tombs of Atuan, The...
book with the California small press Parnassus in 1968. The second, third, and fourth books were published by Atheneum in 1971, 1972, and 1990.
The Tombs of Atuan
The Tombs of Atuan
The Tombs of Atuan is the second of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea, first published in 1971. Its events take place a few years after those in A Wizard of Earthsea and around two decades before those in The Farthest Shore...
(1971) earned a Newbery Honor and The Farthest Shore
The Farthest Shore
The Farthest Shore is the third of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea, first published in 1972. It follows on from The Tombs of Atuan, which itself was a sequel to A Wizard of Earthsea. It is the Earthsea series novel which inspired the...
(1972) a National Book Award in category young people's literature. Ms. Le Guin lists five other books published by Atheneum, 1976 to 1992 "(major books only, principal US editions only)".
Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
had published two Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern is a science fiction series written primarily by the late American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey, who initiated it in 1967. Beginning 2003, her middle child Todd McCaffrey has written Pern novels, both solo and jointly with Anne. The series comprises 22 novels and several short...
books with Ballantine
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
in 1968 and 1971, with one more under contract to complete a trilogy.
Karl hoped to attract more female readers to science fiction by providing the right characters. Around 1974 she solicited "a story for young women in a different part of Pern". McCaffrey worked up a languishing false start as Dragonsong
Dragonsong
Dragonsong is a fantasy or science fiction novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. Released by Atheneum Books in March 1976, it was the third to appear in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey...
and they contracted for a sequel before it was out in 1976.
Dragonsinger
Dragonsinger
Dragonsinger is a young adult fantasy novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. Published by Atheneum Books in 1977, it was the fourth to appear in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey....
and Dragondrums
Dragondrums
Dragondrums is a young adult fantasy novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. Published by Atheneum Books in 1979, it was the sixth to appear in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey....
followed in 1977 and 1979.
Awards
Karl oversaw or edited books that won two Caldecott MedalCaldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
s, five Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
s, five Newbery Honors (honorable mentions), and one National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
. Others won eight Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
.
Caldecott Medal
- Beatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de Regniers was an American children's picture book author.- Background :Beatrice Schenk de Regniers was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and studied social work administration at the University of Chicago, earning her M.Ed. in 1941. Her first book, The Giant Story, was illustrated by...
, May I Bring a Friend?May I Bring a Friend?May I Bring a Friend? is a 1964 book by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers. It tells the story of a boy who gets invited to the king and queen's palace over and over. The first time he goes, he asks if he can bring a friend. When they say yes, he always brings some type of exotic animal...
, illustrated by Beni MontresorBeni MontresorBeni Montresor was a versatile Italian artist, opera and film director, set designer, author and children's book illustrator. He won the Caldecott Medal in 1965 for May I Bring a Friend?... - Gail E. HaleyGail E. HaleyGail E. Haley is an American author and illustrator. She was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She married mathematician Joseph A. Haley in 1959. Her first book, My Kingdom for a Dragon was published in 1962...
, A Story a StoryA Story a StoryA Story a Story is a book written and illustrated by Gail E. Haley that retells the African tale of how, when there were no stories in the world for children to hear, the trickster Anansi obtained them from the Sky God. The book was produced after Gail E. Haley spent a year in the Caribbean...
Newbery Medal
- E. L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. FrankweilerFrom the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. FrankweilerFrom the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a novel by E. L. Konigsburg. It was published by Atheneum Books in 1967, the second published from two manuscripts the new writer had submitted to editor Jean E...
- Robert C. O'BrienRobert C. O'BrienRobert Leslie Conly was an American author and journalist for National Geographic Magazine.-Early life:...
, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. Illustrated by Zena Bernstein, it won the 1972 Newbery Medal. A film adaptation, The Secret of NIMH, was released in 1982.... - Phyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds Naylor is an American author best known for her children and young adult fiction books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel trilogy Shiloh , Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies...
, Shiloh - Cynthia VoigtCynthia VoigtCynthia Voigt is an American author of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse. Her first book in the Tillerman family series, Homecoming, was nominated for several international prizes and made into a 1996 film...
, Dicey's SongDicey's SongDicey's Song is a novel by Cynthia Voigt. It won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1983.-Plot:Picking up where Homecoming left off, Dicey Tillerman and her three siblings, James, Maybeth, and Sammy, are now living with their widowed grandmother Abigail Tillerman,... - Maia WojciechowskaMaia WojciechowskaMaia Wojciechowska aka Maia Rodman was a writer of books for teenagers and young adults. She was born in Warsaw, Poland, spent some time in France and England, and later came to the United States with her parents. In 1965, her book Shadow of a Bull won the Newbery Medal...
, Shadow of a BullShadow of a BullShadow of a Bull is a novel by Maia Wojciechowska that was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1965.-Plot summary:...
National Book Award
- Ursula K. LeGuin, The Farthest ShoreThe Farthest ShoreThe Farthest Shore is the third of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea, first published in 1972. It follows on from The Tombs of Atuan, which itself was a sequel to A Wizard of Earthsea. It is the Earthsea series novel which inspired the...
Edgar Allan Poe Award
All these are annual awards. The Edgars recognize mystery in several categories including mystery fiction
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
with subcategories such as short story and juvenile. The Caldecott recognizes one American children's picture book. The Newbery Medal recognizes one contribution to American children's literature, with the Newbery Honor for one or a few more distinguished nominees. The National Book Awards recognize books in four categories including young people's literature (the award to Le Guin).