Jean Fritz... 95 years and still ticking....

What are you going to be doing when you're 95 years old?  Breathing, perhaps?  Living?  I hope so.
     If you're Jean Fritz you'll be celebrating the publication of your 45th book.  This month Jean Fritz added Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider to her repertoire.  In this book, she writes a detailed account of Alexander Hamilton's life... from his arriving in New York to Study from the West Indies, to his political career, to his death in a duel.  
     Jean Fritz has won many awards for her writing, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award and the Newbery Honor.  I've always enjoyed reading her writing... Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution to The Secret Life of Pocahontas to Surprising Myself to The Cabin Faced West.  Homesick: My Own Story her autobiographical "story" of her young life is nothing less than brilliant.  
     Ms. Fritz has found her niche and has brought history alive for many young readers.  I'm amazed at her ability to capture history in such a rich and varied way.  She once said that she researches like a reporter... she looks for a scoop, notes clues and details, digs deep into her subjects and the result is her incredible list of books, many of which have become part of our classroom libraries.  She writes about real people and searches journals and letters for "real" dialogue.  She only uses the actual words of her subjects to recreate history and making it accessible for her readers.  And, she often surprises us with humor and unique situations that even the most "adult" biographer skips.
     As she begins her 95th year, I think we need to all tip our collective hats with a huge "thank you" and wish her continued blessings.  I can't wait to read Alexander Hamilton... I wonder what secrets she'll reveal?  She always does...