Eyerly, Jeannette

Jeannette Hyde Eyerly's novels for young adults explore difficult aspects of life, including teen pregnancy and fatherhood, divorce, crime, alcoholism. She has been honored with the Susan Glaspell Award (1965), the Christopher Award (1969), has been named on the Child Study Association list, Books of the Year (1970), and the American Library Association "Book for Reluctant Reader" (1987). Under a joint pseudonym (Jeannette Griffith), Eyerly and Valeria Winkler Griffith wrote "Dearest Kate" and a weekly newspaper column for 2-1/2 years.

Author.

American author, of Des Moines, Iowa; b. Jeannette Hyde, 1908; married Frank R. Eyerly; used joint pseudonym Jeannette Griffith with Valeria Griffith.

Jeannette Hyde was born June 7, 1908, in Topeka, KS. She married Frank R. Eyerly (a newspaper editor), December 6, 1932. In addition to her career as a writer and lecturer, she was publicity director for the Des Moines Public Library, 1930-1932, and creative writing teacher in the Des Moines Adult Education Program, 1955-1957. She was also on the board of directors for several community groups at various times, and often served a term as president of the organization. She once stated that her books not only reflected her interest in the young, but also her involvement with her community. Her novels for young adults examined issues that are often difficult for teens to discuss with their parents and with each other. Among the honors she received for her writing are the Susan Glaspell Award in 1965 for Gretchen's Hill and the Christopher Award in 1969 for Escape from Nowhere . Radigan Cares was selected as one of the Child Study Association's Books of the Year in 1970, and Someone to Love was chosen "Book for Reluctant Reader" by the American Library Association in 1987. She died in 2008.

Biographical Source: Something About the Author, Vol. 86, p. 79-83