Forgotten Vintage Children's Lit We Want Republished! discussion

(This one is for Annie - Annie, apparently that dedicated discussion to Joan North happened either by PM or entirely in my head, so here's a proper thread for her!)

Wikipedia says...

Joan Marian North (15 February 1920 – 1999[1]) was a UK writer of children's books. Although set in the contemporary real world, North's stories deal with incursions into our world of mysterious powers or influences, which often lead to her young protagonists learning a greater sense of their true selves. As Searles, Meacham and Franklin say in A Reader's Guide to Fantasy, "The mental and spiritual attitudes of her protagonists influence greatly their success or failure."[2]
Biography

Born in Hendon, London, Joan North was the daughter of metallurgist Frank Wevil North and Gladys May Paybody. She was educated in England, Wales, and China, and went to Kings College, London. She served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during World War II,[3] and worked as a nurse, and a social worker, also working for the BBC, and for the Tate Gallery's publications department. She married C. A. Rogers, Astor Professor of Mathematics at the University of London, in 1952,[4] with whom she had two daughters, Jane and Petra.[5]
Bibliography

Emperor of the Moon (1956)[6]
The Cloud Forest (1965, 1966 in the US)
The Whirling Shapes (1967)
The Light Maze (1971)

The Light Maze was shortlisted for the Mythopoeic Award.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_North

The Cloud Forest
The Light Maze (https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18458...)
&
The Whirling Shapes
are all on my to-read list.

I don't have anything myself to add about the author, but I have certainly appreciated the recommendation and tip-off to her works. Indebted to you all for that. Hilary and Emily have previously reviewed The Cloud Forest. :)

I'll be uploading a photo of my edition of The Cloud Forest (not pictured on GR) soon, too. Might have to knock off The Visitor: A Story of Suspense a.k.a. Billy Buck first, though. I've been waiting a long time for that one. :)

Capn wrote: "(This one is for Annie - Annie, apparently that dedicated discussion to Joan North happened either by PM or entirely in my head, so here's a proper thread for her!)

Wikipedia says...."

The Light Maze looks good. *downloads*

I have just read The Light Maze, the Cloud Forest and the Whirling Shapes and I think they are now some of my favourite children's fantasy books. The young female protagonists, Ronnie, Harriet, and Liz are engaging, sassy and utterly relatable. I also really enjoyed Aunt Hilda in the Whirling Shapes, who gets the best lines! Personal favourite: "People who always insist on doing their duty are the curse of civilisation."

I really love the recurring themes around the neccessity of paying attention to the true self, inner space, spiritual threats of conformity, and the shadow self. I'd be really interested if anyone knows more about the author's inspiration in this area, although it seems information about Joan North on the internet is scant.

I would really love to read the Emperor of the Moon but given the scarcity of this book it seems unlikely sadly.

That is a great quote!!! XD Thanks for sharing it!

I've really got to read The Light Maze....!

Sadly, I don't personally have anything more to add about Joan North. Would also like to know more about her!

I have only been able to find out one thing about this author and it possibly concerns her time at the BBC. According to www.jukeboxjury.uk, it appears that a lady called Joan North appeared as a panellist on a BBC TV show called Juke Box Jury in December, 1959, along with Russ Conway, Nancy Spain and Eric Sykes. If that was Joan North the author she was with some quite eminent celebrities of the time and makes one wonder what her role was at the BBC. The show was a very middle of the road – and middle aged - panel game in which celebrities passed judgement on new potential hit singles.

Writers could not earn a living from books, quite often, so they contributed content material to radio and comedy shows. They also did this while waiting for publishers to reply. Douglas Adams started out this way. If the lady was personable and had a nice speaking voice she might get invited to radio and tv spots.

Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams

RIP DNA. My favourite. <3

I may be going around in pointless circles now, but I'm like that. From what I've read online there was a model, who worked for Vogue, called Joan North and I have a feeling she was the Joan North who appeared on Juke Box Jury. I have yet to find a connection between her and the author Joan North. However, the present-day author Elizabeth Kesses seems to be the niece of Joan North the model (the source for that is The Huffington Post). The connection is tenuous but I'm working on it.

I went to the British Library today to read Emperor of the Moon and I am so glad I did! Quite different to her later books, more of a fable/fairytale/Alice in Wonderland vibe, still well written and very enjoyable. I've reviewed it and will add some quotes later. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately can't seem to link the Imgur images to the review, but really nice illustrations from Judith Bledsoe too.

Glad to know more about Emperor of the Moon, Rose! I read and enjoyed her other three books from the library as a pre-teen and somewhere own a copy of The Whirling Shapes (must be in a box in the attic).

If anyone is interested there is a reasonably priced copy of the Cloud Forest for sale online in the UK, they don't tend to come up too often under £30.

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...

Rose wrote: "If anyone is interested there is a reasonably priced copy of the Cloud Forest for sale online in the UK, they don't tend to come up too often under £30.

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo......"

Thanks, Rose - that's very kind of you! I'm trying to remember what I paid for mine, but it wasn't cheap. This is a good opportunity. :)

A review by Murray Ewing of The Whirling Shapes which includes links to his reviews of The Cloud Forest and The Light Maze. While you're there it's worth scrolling through the subject archive.

https://www.murrayewing.co.uk/mewsing...

Sem wrote: "A review by Murray Ewing of The Whirling Shapes which includes links to his reviews of The Cloud Forest and The Light Maze. While you're there it's worth scrolling through the subject archive.

htt..."

Ooh, had to skim - totally sold on this one! :D Thanks, Sem - Louise Lawrence was also mentioned, and I had a look at some of her books here on GR - seems more akin to Monica Hughes though

I’ve read The Cloud Forest and The Light Maze. The Cloud Forest is good and definitely worth reading, but not extraordinary imo. The Light Maze, on the other hand, is excellent, and super weird. I’m very keen to track down a copy of The Whirling Shapes! Very interesting author.