Module 12 | Nevermore

PLOT SUMMARY
The book provides an overview of the life of Edgar Allan Poe, beginning with his mother's death and father's abandonment when Poe was a toddler. Nevermore details Poe's informal adoption by the Allan family; his troubles as a student; his early writing jobs; his marriage to his cousin, Virginia; and his bouts with alcoholism. The book discusses Poe's contribution to fiction, particularly his influence on the American short story. The fact that Poe's reputation was often maligned during his lifetime is sure to interest young readers who know only of the author's modern reputation.

MY IMPRESSIONS
The book does an excellent job of profiling Poe, as author Karen Lange gives the writer's talent its full due while never shying away from Poe's flaws. Nevermore will likely heighten the way young readers examine Poe's work, as it is easy to see the influence the many sad events in his life ─ specifically the early deaths of his mother and wife ─ had on his writing. The photographs are excellent enhancements to the text, as they illustrate how Poe's struggles with the bottle began to take a toll on his youthful good looks. It's also wonderful to see the many personalities mentioned in the text, including Poe's wife, mother, and foster parents, as well as his various allies and enemies in the publishing field. Overall, Nevermore is an excellent example of biography for middle school and high school audiences.

REVIEWS
"The book compactly covers Poe’s dramatic life from his early orphaning and his tempestuous relationship with his foster father to his growing writing career and his tempestuous relationship with his fellow writers ... The author gives full acknowledgment of Poe’s bouts of self-torment and alcoholism, but she also makes clear that he had his sunny and amiable days as well, and he seems all the more mysterious and glamorous as a result of the even-handed treatment."
Deborah Stevenson, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2009, Vol. 62, No. 9

"Lange’s emphasis on the many tragedies that shaped Poe’s short life as well as upon the historical and cultural elements that influenced his society gives readers a vivid sense of his struggles ... Lange’s volume demonstrates that Poe’s own tale is a worthy competitor with any of the stories he wrote."
Megan Lynn Isaac, VOYA, August 2009, Vol. 32, No. 3

"This book would be a wonderful way to introduce a unit on Poe to students or as a resource for research into Edgar Allan Poe. It is also a good book for browsers or those curious to learn more about the author’s life and works."
Anne Hoffman, Catholic Library World, June 2010, Vol. 80, No. 4

USES IN THE LIBRARY
The book could be featured as part of an "Edgar Allan Poe Day" celebration at the library, which could take place around the same time as Poe's birthday (January 19). Nevermore would be an excellent resource to showcase when discussing non-fiction works about the author's life, while other activities could include a gothic poetry contest; read-alouds of a few of his short-stories; and a screening of a movie based on one of his works, such as The Fall of the House of Usher. In addition, Nevermore could be included on a list of books aimed at teens that deal with the lives of famous artists, especially as many teens begin to familiarize themselves with Poe's work in middle school and high school.

CITATION
Lange, K. (2009). Nevermore: A photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.