In memory of the great and good Margaret K. McElderry, who died on Monday, we offer the two-part interview Leonard Marcus conducted with her for the November-December 1993 and January-February 1994 issues of the Horn Book Magazine.
The list of books Margaret published that I love is very, very long, but it begins with Margot Benary-Isbert’s The Ark, which my mother bought for me when I was around ten, and which I read over and over for years. Every kid should be fortunate enough to find such a book to love so much, and it’s thanks to the MKMs of the world that they get published. God bless her.
About Roger Sutton
>Margaret was one of the most impressive and lovely human beings I have ever met. The first time I had a conversation of any length with her, I walked away thinking what a bright light she was, what an inspiration.
>The Ark was one of those books we quietly passed around in 4th grade, whispering "You gotta read this!" We thought it was scandalous and hid it from adults. I haven't re-read it as an adult so can't remember what was so risque about it. Any idea?
I do remember that, as a result, the first time I met Margaret McElderry, I was awestruck because she had given us The Ark.
>KT, I looked online to refresh my memory and it seems the book is out of print (and I remember no scandalous doings). Maybe we should start a Twitter campaign or Facebook group to get HMH to reprint it!
>At ALA, the year The Thief was an honor book, Susan Hirshman shoveled me into a cab between Margaret McElderry and Eloise Jarvis McGraw. It was the cab ride of a life time. I also read The Ark when I was ten, Roger. I wish I'd known I had her to thank for it. And for Patricia Wrightson's and LM Boston's books as well.
~mwt
>I too love The Ark, although I came to it as an adult–I'm going to be re-reading it in the next few days, and I'll look for risque-ness, although I too remember none.
>For some reason, my high school library had almost all of Benary-Isbert's books. Love, love, love.
But as for scandalous? I must have missed something. Unless it was just the whole drama of it (dead brother, making do as refuges) as well as the setting — post WWII Germany with sympathy to Germans? I may have a copy somewhere, I'll have to look.
>And did I read that The Changeover is also out of print? That's a scandal.
I had lunch Friday with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publisher Betsy Groban and suggested she bring back The Ark in MKM's honor.
>I would love to see the Ark!
But then I'd be greedy, and want the other books where the family & friends from the Ark appear.