Audience: Middle School
Tolkien was born in South Africa of a mother thirteen years younger that his father. Life in South Africa was harsh on Tolkien, and his mother decided to take her kids to England. Before the age of 12, he had lost both parents. Before she died, Tolkien’s mother, a Catholic, entrusted Tolkien and his younger brother to a priest, Father Francis Morgan. Growing up, Tolkien loved the study of languages, and his hard work in school led him to Oxford. Tolkien married Edith, a woman three years his senior, but the war separated the two. Tolkien managed not to be wounded, but he fell sick with “trench fever.” He was sent home, where Edith helped him recover. Tolkien returned to military duty, but his heart was already set on creating a mythology specific to the British. The influence of his extensive knowledge of languages, philology, and myth inspired the creation of a world influenced by personal experiences as well as his extensive academic knowledge. The result was a mythology with its own worlds, languages, and peoples, a heritage of creativity that enchants young and old alike.
Just the Facts Biography: J. R. R. Tolkien is a quick read without sacrificing content. The language is accessible, and illustrations add visual interest to the book. The most distinctive trait of the series—and from where the Just the facts name comes—is the addition of little boxes with facts related to events in the biography. Inside the boxes, readers find information directly related to the person being discussed as well as interesting facts that stem from details in the person’s life. Readers enjoy the biography as they learn facts about the English language, rugby, Oxford University, and the movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. ( )

jB