Web Wonders

Volume 31, Number 4, April 2004

Author web sites for high school students

Joanne Troutner

High school readers in Grades 9-12 have a variety of leisure reading interests. Consider these author web sites as you look for materials to engage this range of reading tastes as well as continuing to collaborate with your colleagues this school year.

J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The lord of the rings has captivated readers and movie viewers. Begin by introducing students to this site, where readers will find biographical information, interviews about the late author in text and video format, concise annotations of Tolkien’s works, and sample downloads of audio versions. A number of Tolkien’s drawings as well as other Tolkien-related artwork are also available. In addition, screensavers and wallpaper items can be downloaded. High school students will also want to access visit the web site for the movie trilogy. Movie trailers, desktop downloads, a number of still photos and video downloads are provided. Information on the various places in each book and the culture of Middle Earth can be explored as well.

Stephen King
Stephen King is another author that high school readers find intriguing. His web site includes a biography and news features. Concise annotations of King’s various works and movies are easily accessible. Budding authors will find the Inspirations section helpful. Additional information on the completion of The Dark Tower series is linked from the home page, and there is also a link to a separate web site for these books.

Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton has written a number of books that find their way into the hands of high school students. His web site provides text excerpts from his numerous books, video clips from movies and an online trivia quiz. Biographical information in a straight text as well as Q & A format is also included in the site.

Meg Cabot
Teen favorite Meg Cabot’s web site serves as the portal for all her writing names. Readers will learn more about the Princess Diaries series, All-American girl, Haunted and other works. Links to her writings under the pen name Jenny Carroll provide more text excerpts from this prolific writer. Biographical information is well organized and presented in an eye-catching manner.

Theodore Taylor
Theodore Taylor is known for over 50 works including The cay. His web site (best viewed using Internet Explorer) provides a biography and a complete list of his books, film and stage productions. Information on works in progress and a section where mailed-in student comments are published round out the site.

Nancy Werlin
Nancy Werlin, the Edgar Award-winning author for her literary suspense works, has an excellent web site for encouraging future writers. This site includes a gallery of book covers, biographical information, a synopsis of each book as well as an excerpt and list of awards and reviews. The section on each book also includes superb information on the author’s writing process. In addition, a For Writers section provides even more information and suggestions for beginning writers.

Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher’s web site provides readers with an excellent look at Crutcher’s views and writings. A wealth of still photos provide a biographical look at this author. In addition, several items on censorship lead students to examine their own thoughts on the topic. A number of text and audio interviews round out the site.

S.E. Hinton
This site from long-time high school favorite S.E. Hinton includes a brief biography starting with when she wrote The outsiders, a concise synopsis of each book along with a comment by the author, and a list of movies complete with a character listing and Hinton’s comments. The site is rounded out with an FAQ answering questions from readers.

Maya Angelou
Renowned poet and author Maya Angelou can be found at several sites on the Web. This, her official web site, contains a biography that reads more like a resume, a link to video clips of an interview with Oprah and a recent events section. Another site at the African American Literature Book Club, provides a clip of Angelou’s speech at the Million Man March and excerpts from reviews of her many works. Another web site, provides access to audio and video information about the author and her works.

Terry Trueman
This site for Printz Award Honor author Terry Trueman site includes a wealth of information about the author, myriad interviews, Trueman’s thoughts on censorship, excerpts from his various books and review excerpts and a number of photographs.

Lois Duncan
Fans of suspense writer Lois Duncan can explore her web site and find biographical information, an annotated list of works, and Duncan’s thoughts about writing. Teachers will find links to a number of teaching ideas.

Alex Flinn
At this site for Alex Flinn, readers find excerpts from her current and forthcoming books, a biography, booktalk ideas and teacher guides. In addition, a list of Flinn’s favorite books and current reads is accessible. Flinn also provides information and links on domestic violence, a topic in two of her novels, Breathing underwater and Nothing to lose.

Ray Bradbury
Science fiction classic author Ray Bradbury provides a concise annotation, short excerpt in both text and audio formats, and review clips on each of his works. The biography section includes a brief statement, a chronology, a list of awards and information on Bradbury’s appearances. A number of video clips are accessible, revealing the author’s thoughts on writing and his home in California. The site is completed with a message board and newsletter option.

Please contact me at troutner@mindspring.com with suggestions and ideas or check out my web site for other great sites. Also, please remember that when using addresses on the Internet you need to pay attention to upper and lower case letters and that addresses change rapidly. Thus, you may find the ones highlighted are different by the time you actually see this column in print.