Tracy Barrett
Personal Information
Description
Tracy Barrett is the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the award-winning YA biographical novel, Anna of Byzantium (Delacorte, 1999). Her most recent publications are The 100-Year-Old Secret (Book 1 of “The Sherlock Files,” Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2008), The Ancient Chinese World (Oxford University Press, 2005) and On Etruscan Time (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2005). Under contract with Holt are three more novels in “The Sherlock Files” and a young-adult novel with the working title King of Ithaka. Some of her past publications include: Growing Up in Colonial America (The Millbrook Press, 1995); Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, in the series Celebrate the States (Benchmark Books, Marshall Cavendish, 1997-1999); The Trail of Tears: An American Tragedy (Perfection Learning Corporation, 2000); “The Children’s Crusade” (AppleSeeds Magazine, December 2001); and Cold in Summer (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2003). Tracy is Regional Advisor for the Midsouth chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and was awarded the SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She holds a B.A. from Brown University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. She is married and has two young-adult children. She lives in Nashville, TN, where she teaches at Vanderbilt University. Visit her at www.tracybarrett.com.
Books
On Etruscan time
While spending the summer on an archaeological dig near Florence, Italy, with his mother, eleven-year-old Hector meets an Etruscan boy who needs help to foil his treacherous uncle's plan to make him a human sacrifice--1,000 years in the past.
The Missing Heir
Once upon a time there was a beautiful young lawyer accustomed to solving riddles. Executing Douglas Ramsey's outrageous requests had become so old hat to Caron Carlisle she swore she could spin straw into gold. But come on! Bad enough that Douglas demanded she find the billion-dollar baby--his missing heir--the kicker was that the man with the answer had broken her heart long, long ago. Now, she faced the hardest riddle of all-- what was worse: remaining safe in her shell or opening herself to heartbreak again?
Cold in summer
At the beginning of seventh grade, Ariadne moves to a Tennessee town near a former farming community submerged under a man-made lake and meets the ghost of a girl from the past.
Virginia
Describes the history, geography, government, economics, and people of Virginia.
The Trail of Tears
Kentucky
Discusses the land and climate, economy, government, and history of the Bluegrass State. Includes Internet links to Web sites related to Kentucky.
Anna of Byzantium
In the eleventh century the teenage princess Anna Comnena fights for her birthright, the throne to the Byzantine Empire, which she fears will be taken from her by her younger brother John because he is a boy
Tennessee
Describes the geography, plants, animals, history, economy, religions, culture, sports, arts, and people of Tennessee.
Nat Turner and the slave revolt
A biography of the slave and preacher who, believing that God wanted him to free the slaves, led a major revolt in 1831.
Harpers Ferry
Examines the personal background of abolitionist John Brown and the events surrounding the raid he led on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1859.
The case that time forgot
Xena and Xander Holmes, an American brother and sister who are living in England, use clues from their ancestor Sherlock Holmes' casebook when they are asked by a classmate to find an ancient Egyptian artifact that has been missing for many years.
King of Ithaka
When sixteen-year-old Telemachos and his two best friends, one a centaur, leave their life of privilege to undertake a quest to find Telemachos's father Odysseus, they learn much along the way about what it means to be a man and a king.
Marabel and the book of fate
When Princess Marabel's twin brother, Marco, is kidnapped on their thirteenth birthday, Princess Marabel must defy expectations and prophecies, leave the castle for the first time, and face great danger to rescue him.
The stepsister's tale
Jane cares for her mother and sister until her stepfather dies, leaving nothing but debts and Jane's spoiled stepsister behind, but a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate.