One of the most revered authors of young adult books, Richard Peck has
penned several critical and commercial successes including Dreamland
Lake, The Ghost Belonged to Me, and the National Book Award finalist, A
Long Way from Chicago. Peck's novels have also received prestigious
awards including the Edgar for Are You in the House Alone? and the
Newbery Medal for A Year Down Yonder. He is also the recipient of the
Margaret A. Edwards Award, the National Humanities Medal, the ALAN
Award, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Medallion. In
Richard Peck: The Past Is Paramount, authors Donald R. Gallo and Wendy
J. Glenn recount the highlights of Peck's life, focusing on his world
travels, his accomplishments as a teacher and his renowned writing
career. Gallo and Glenn examine Peck's 30 novels, as well as his short
stories and children's books, poems, essays and other nonfiction. An
additional chapter analyzes themes, characters, and style in his
writing. The appendixes list Peck's many honors and prizes, as well as
film adaptations of his works. The extensive bibliography cites all of
Peck's primary and secondary works, along with sources of interviews,
speeches, prayers and credos, articles about him, and sources of reviews
of each of his books. For fans and scholars alike, Richard Peck: The
Past Is Paramount is the most authoritative resource about the life and
work of this beloved author.