BY ANNA Esther Forbes

Introduction Esther Forbes is best known as the author of Johnny Tremain. She grew up in Massachusetts, overcame serious disabilities, and became an award-winning novelist.

Early Life Esther Forbes was born on June 28, 1891, in Westboro, Massachusetts. She was the fifth of six children of William Trowbridge Forbes and Harriette Merrifield.

Challenges in Life Forbes had a lot of trouble in school. She was extremely nearsighted and dyslexic. She was picked on many times in school. Although she couldn’t express herself verbally as well as others, she expressed herself well through writing.

First Short Story Forbes went to Bradford Junior Academy for two years and graduated in She took a few courses at University of Wisconsin and found a teacher with whom she could share her work. She wrote a short story called "Breakneck Hill,” which she submitted to a magazine, with her teacher's encouragement. In 1915, the story was published and won the O. Henry Prize.

First Novel Forbes moved back to Massachusetts in 1918 and worked for Houghton Mifflin publishing company. In 1926, her first novel was published. O Genteel Lady! was the second selection of the Book-of-the- Month Club. On April 21, 1926, a review in the Boston Transcript stated, "A distinguished first novel, written with ease and a mastery of technique unusual in a young writer."

Notable Achievements In 1928, Forbes wrote Mirror for Witches. This book was made into a ballet and movie, and has never been out of print since its initial publication. Paul Revere and the World He Lived In, published in 1942, won the Pulitzer Prize for history. Johnny Tremain, published in 1943, won the John Newberry Medal for most distinguished contribution of the year to children's literature. Walt Disney made a movie based on the book.

Death Esther Forbes died on August 12, 1967, of rheumatic heart disease.

Conclusion Forbes had been a great novelist, and overcame many challenges. Her work is still very famous and lives on through history.

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