JERI CHASE FERRIS is the award-winning author of eleven biographies for
children and young adults. She specializes in biographies of women and
minorities - people who have done great and important deeds, but have
been overlooked in history. "We all like to be treated fairly," Jeri says. "Many of the people I write about were not treated fairly. My books set the record straight."

One of Jeri's recent biographies, WITH OPEN HANDS, tells the story of
Biddy Mason, a slave brought to California in 1851 who became one of the
richest women in Southern California and a great philanthropist to the
poor of all races. Her 2003 biography, DEMANDING JUSTICE, tells about
Mary Ann Shadd Cary - a fiery free black woman, a contemporary of
Frederick Douglass (and Biddy Mason), a woman who could NOT be kept "in her place," a woman who said what she meant and meant what she said (and offended everyone), the first black woman to edit and publish a
newspaper, the first black woman to enroll in law school..... Read the
book to find out what else she did!

Jeri is currently working on two historical novels for ages 8-12.
SURROUNDED is the story of a boy's fight for survival during the first
winter 1941 of the Siege of Leningrad (one million people died in
Leningrad). ANDREW AND THE ARK is the story of a boy's struggle to get
his family safely down the danger-filled Ohio River in the 1790s.

In addition to writing, Jeri is a frequent speaker at schools and
conferences, bringing history to life through the lives of these eleven
(so far) remarkable women and men.

Contacts

Email: jchaseferris@sbcglobal.net

Books

		ARCTIC EXPLORER (Matthew Henson) Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN #0-87614-370-2 hardcover ISBN #0-87614-507-1 paper Matthew Henson and Robert Peary raced against other explorers and death itself to be the first to reach the North Pole. But because Henson was a black man, his part in the discovery of the North Pole was overlooked and dismissed. This book tells the true story of Matthew Henson’s role.
		DEMANDING JUSTICE (Mary Ann Shadd Cary) Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN #1-57505-177-X hardcover ISBN #0-87614-928-X paper Mary Ann Shadd Cary spent her entire life fighting for justice and equality for black Americans. Born free and black in 1823, she started schools, wrote books and articles, became the first black woman to publish a weekly newspaper and to enter law school. She made a difference.... and she was forgotten, until now.
		WHAT ARE YOU FIGURING NOW? (Benjamin Banneker) Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN #0-87614-331-1 hardcover ISBN #0-87614-521-7 paper Benjamin Banneker, a black man, was a contemporary of George Washington. He built the first wooden clock in America, studied astronomy, helped survey the new city of Washington, D.C., calculated almanacs, and figured out for himself the mysteries of the stars, the planets, and time itself.
		WHAT I HAD WAS SINGING (Marian Anderson) Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN #0-87614-818-6 hardcover ISBN #0-87614-634-5 paper Marian Anderson, one of the greatest contraltos of the 20th century, could not stay at hotels or eat at restaurants where whites were served? because she was black. She refused to let discrimination bring down her spirit, however, and her 1939 Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial was one of the great civil rights events of the century. In 1955 she again made history when she became the first black singer to appear with the Metropolitan Opera.
		WITH OPEN HANDS (Biddy Mason) Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN #1-57505-330-6 hardcover ISBN #0-87614-845-3 paper Biddy, born a slave in 1818, walked the Mormon Trail from Mississippi to Utah behind her master’s wagons. Then, still a slave, she walked from Salt Lake City to Southern California. But California was a free state! This book tells the story of Biddy’s adventures, how she got her freedom, how she became one of the richest women in Southern California..... and what she did then.

Awards

2000 Susan B. Anthony Award for "exceptional literary contributions to
women’s history," Hollywood Business & Professional Women

1995 Author-Illustrator Human and Civil Rights Award
presented by the National Education Association

CBC, NCSS Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Kirkus Reviews Best of the Issue

Carter G. Woodson Award Winner, "most distinguished book written for
young readers depicting ethnic diversity in the United States"

Public Library Association Top Titles for Adult New Readers

SCCLCYP Award for "significant contribution to the field of biography"

New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

Society of School Librarians International Outstanding Elementary
Science Book

Sequoyah Children’s Book Award Masterlist

Included in "Guide to Great Books for Children and Teens"

Best Children’s Book, from CBC at Bank Street College.

Selected for the California Readers Collection

Reviews

ARCTIC EXPLORER (Matthew Henson)

"...a jewel of an adventure story." - School Library Journal

"... gripping chronicle ... vividly re-creates scenes ... A solid asset
for research on explorers and in black studies courses." - Booklist

WHAT I HAD WAS SINGING

"[Marian Anderson] is eloquently portrayed... meticulously researched,
told in moving but unsentimental prose."
- Kirkus Review, pointer review

"...triumphant portrait... warm and informative..." - Horn Book Guide

GO FREE OR DIE and WALKING THE ROAD TO FREEDOM

"The lives of [Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth] are well presented
in books by Jeri Ferris. ... Their courage, daring, independence and
perseverance are presented in a way that demonstrates their importance
and appeal." - New York Times Book Review

FATHER OF LIBERTY (Thomas Jefferson)

"Ferris moves beyond the standard great-deeds analysis found in so many
biographies, thus providing an understanding of both the man and his
continuing legacy." - School Library Journal

"Excellent. This book is riveting; impossible to put down."
- Dr. H.V. Nelson, UCLA, Historian and Author, African-American Culture

DEMANDING JUSTICE

"Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s uncompromising words pack a punch even now and help to make this an unusually lively biography..."
- Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California

Other Publications & Media

"A Red, White and Blue 2000" July 2000, Los Angeles Times Kids' Reading Room
"The Story of Biddy Mason" Feb. 2001, Los Angeles Times Kids' Reading Room
"Choosing A President 2004" July 2004, Los Angeles Times Kids' Reading Room
C-Span TV, "Book TV" one-hour segment, Saturday, May 25, 2002

Presentations

For schools and libraries, grades 2 through 12, 45-60 minutes, I
provide a lively multicultural presentation using props which include a
log, a quill pen, and a buffalo (okay, it’s a toy buffalo). I take
students back to the time of the American Revolution, the Civil War and
slavery, the Native American past, and the Jim Crow era through the
lives of boys and girls, men and women, who were there. Then, after
these gripping stories of real people who made a difference in our
history (selected and presented to suit teacher and student needs) I
show students how an author/detective gets the facts and what she does
with them. Students learn that, yes, even a real author has to write it
again (and again), as they see the process from idea and first notes
through galleys and proofs to completed book. The grand finale is a
slide presentation which neatly ties up the threads of the entire
presentation. Teacher handouts provided.

For conferences: I discuss and teach using biographies in the
classroom; how to research and write a biography; how a teacher can
ensure that the biographies she selects for her students are absolutely
accurate. Depending on the topic, I use props which include sample books
to discuss; props used in school visits; galleys, etc., from the making
of a book; slides to elaborate on my points; detailed bibliographies.
Handouts.

What People Say

"Thank you for capturing the attention, imagination, and heart of my
students!" - Teacher, California

"I can’t begin to state how much I enjoyed your presentation. Our
students were spellbound." - Teacher, California

"This was the best author’s presentation I’ve ever attended. Please
come back again!" - Teacher, California

"Great story-telling manner. Perfect." - Teacher, Oregon

"That was a masterful performance! You had us all in the palm of your
hand." - Senior Librarian (retired), UCLA Research Library, California

"(What Are You Figuring Now?) is one of my favorite books ever. I like
it because you describe Benjamin as a person I would know as a friend."
Student, New York

"Your books are good for children because they tell us true facts and
not false facts like some books do." - Student, Ohio

"I learned many things but most of all I learned about the lives of
people who have been left out of history." - Student, California

"I learned a lot. I never knew about the lady that went from a slave to
a black woman with property. I never knew about the man that stood on
the top of the world. I never knew that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. I
learned a lot!" - Student, California

Fun Facts

• When I was a kid I milked cows, by hand, at my grandfather's dairy farm.
• When I was demonstrating how well I ride, at a big horse show, I fell off my horse and broke my arm.
• I put my husband through school with my shorthand (what's that?!) and typing skills.
• My favorite food is dark chocolate; my next favorite food is salt.
• My favorite Olympic event is dressage (no, not dressing).
• My cat Molly is a mutt; my dog Casey is a Scottie; and my car Eleanor is a Toyota.
• I have two perfect sons and six perfect grandchildren.

Just For You

Using Biographies in the Classroom