Jane Yolen, who wrote more than 400 books that spanned a variety of genres, has died at 87.
Her death was announced on Facebook by her daughter, the author Heidi E.Y. Stemple, who wrote, “It is with profound sadness that I, along with my brothers…share the news of our mother, Jane Yolen’s passing. As you all probably know, she had one of the most brilliant creative minds of our time.”
According to a biography on her website, Yolen was born in New York City and raised there and in California, and educated at Smith College. She worked as an editor before making her literary debut with the children’s book Pirates in Petticoats, illustrated by Leonard Vosburgh, in 1963.
Hundreds more books would follow, mostly for young readers, including Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; Harvest Home, illustrated by Greg Shed; and How To Spot a Mermaid, illustrated by Sally Deng. Her 1988 book The Devil’s Arithmetic, about a Jewish girl who time-travels back to 1942 Poland, is perhaps her best-known work; it was adapted into a 1999 television movie starring Kirsten Dunst and Brittany Murphy.
Stemple wrote in her Facebook post, “She has been awarded 6 honorary doctorates and too many awards to mention here. She has mentored, inspired, and nurtured so many authors and illustrators through her words both on the page and off. But, beyond that, she was our mother and grandmother….Please know that she passed gently with no pain or stress, with my brother Adam’s music filling the room and me reading Owl Moon to her one last time. My brother Jason was by my side and we feel the love of everyone who has been holding us in the light.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
