Helena Harper
Author of Family & More: Enemies or Friends?
Works by Helena Harper
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Harper, Helena
- Birthdate
- 1960
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Places of residence
- Surrey, England, UK
- Education
- University of Surrey
University of Exeter - Occupations
- teacher
writer - Organizations
- NASUWT
- Short biography
- I live in the U.K. and come from a German/English background. I studied languages and International Relations at university and after a brief, unproductive spell in a bank (never again!), I decided to train as a teacher and did a PGCE at Exeter University in Devon. I've taught as a modern language teacher for 20 years, but have always enjoyed writing - primarily short, fantasy stories for children, but in the past few years I've also discovered the joys of writing poetry for adults - and my first two books are collections of poetry, which have been drawn from my professional and personal life. The first book is called "IT'S A TEACHER'S LIFE...!" and is available from Amazon. It's an amusing collection of twenty anecdotes and character sketches, written in free verse, based on my experiences as a teacher. There are plenty of reviews on Amazon. My second book "FAMILY AND MORE - ENEMIES OR FRIENDS?", which is greatly influenced by my German/English background, is an anthology of 16 poems, also written in free verse, based on people in my life who have had a big influence on me. It is a collection of life stories and lessons. It is an ebook and is available from my publishers (www.eloquentbooks.com/Familyandmore.html). I have completed two children's picture book manuscripts and illustrations for the first book are now being done.
Members
Reviews
I ordered this book on-line since I am a teacher myself. I was interested to see what a book of poetry on teaching would contain. I really found it to be a breath of fresh air in the hoopla of preparing for State Testing. Ms. Harper really gives the reader a teacher's perspective in a humorous fashion. You can really understand the everyday ups and downs a teacher goes through each day or week, and even during the school year.
It was wonderful to see that in the world of teaching, you ...more I ordered this book on-line since I am a teacher myself. I was interested to see what a book of poetry on teaching would contain. I really found it to be a breath of fresh air in the hoopla of preparing for State Testing. Ms. Harper really gives the reader a teacher's perspective in a humorous fashion. You can really understand the everyday ups and downs a teacher goes through each day or week, and even during the school year.
It was wonderful to see that in the world of teaching, you're not alone in your dedication. I really enjoyed her variation of subjects relating to the field such as "The Workplace", "The Trips"(Field Trips), "The Staffroom", and "The Duties". Her book has you travel through the school year experiencing all of the trials a teacher faces. Many of my students were startled by my laughter during DEAR(Drop-Everything-And-Read)Time as I chuckled again and again.
For American readers, it may be a bit different from the school experiences in the States. The school setting is a girls school in England, and may describe school format and procedure different from American Schools. But it does make it interesting in the sense that you can learn what schools are like in other countries.
I highly recommend this to anyone if they want a good chuckle. It is a memorable way to experience a little what it's like to be a teacher.… (more)
It was wonderful to see that in the world of teaching, you ...more I ordered this book on-line since I am a teacher myself. I was interested to see what a book of poetry on teaching would contain. I really found it to be a breath of fresh air in the hoopla of preparing for State Testing. Ms. Harper really gives the reader a teacher's perspective in a humorous fashion. You can really understand the everyday ups and downs a teacher goes through each day or week, and even during the school year.
It was wonderful to see that in the world of teaching, you're not alone in your dedication. I really enjoyed her variation of subjects relating to the field such as "The Workplace", "The Trips"(Field Trips), "The Staffroom", and "The Duties". Her book has you travel through the school year experiencing all of the trials a teacher faces. Many of my students were startled by my laughter during DEAR(Drop-Everything-And-Read)Time as I chuckled again and again.
For American readers, it may be a bit different from the school experiences in the States. The school setting is a girls school in England, and may describe school format and procedure different from American Schools. But it does make it interesting in the sense that you can learn what schools are like in other countries.
I highly recommend this to anyone if they want a good chuckle. It is a memorable way to experience a little what it's like to be a teacher.… (more)
This review was written by the author.
This is a memoir in verse and is my second book. Originally it was published as an ebook in 2008, but now it is also a paperback. The poems have undergone some revision and the paperback edition has an extra poem as well as photos. In the book, I recall the people who have touched my life and taught me precious life lessons, the most important of which is the fact that every encounter in life can be a force for good and, if we see with the heart, our man-made divisions will seem both absurd and insignificant. A celebration of our common humanity, heavily influenced by my German/English background. This is the review on the back cover, by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning writer of fiction and poet:
"Family and More, a book of poetry by Helena Harper, is like a poetic synopsis of a wartime saga, the life of a family with a backdrop of history, a memoir told in poetic blubs. The author encapsulates characters and events breathtakingly. There is so much here to think about once one turns the last page. I was left wanting more! More!..."
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning writer of fiction and poet… (more)
"Family and More, a book of poetry by Helena Harper, is like a poetic synopsis of a wartime saga, the life of a family with a backdrop of history, a memoir told in poetic blubs. The author encapsulates characters and events breathtakingly. There is so much here to think about once one turns the last page. I was left wanting more! More!..."
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning writer of fiction and poet… (more)
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Free verse poetry is a lot like prose, only it can't decide on what lines the words should be. At least, that's how I see it.
Many times, when free verse poetry is employed, it is to tell a story. Helena Harper with Family & More: Enemies or Friends is no exception.
The poems presented in this book tell short biographies of what I assume are real people. I assume this because there is a nice blend of important facts and trivial information, as well as a balance of positive and negative portrayals to make the people discussed here believably real.
If you do find yourself reading this book, don't make the same mistake that I did. Make sure you have plenty of time to devote to reading this book from beginning to end with little or no interruptions. What with the bitesize chunks (a chapter or so here, there) I took of the book, I lost the cohesion of the work as a whole, drawing common lines between the characters discussed. And because of that, I probably didn't enjoy the book as well as I could have hoped.
I'll be honest, the book didn't reach out and grab me. It was, however, interesting enough for me to willingly loan it my interest for the times I read it. Not gripping, but still worth reading if you do so enjoy poetry.
This book may appeal to you if you find you like free verse poetry, especially that about families.… (more)
Many times, when free verse poetry is employed, it is to tell a story. Helena Harper with Family & More: Enemies or Friends is no exception.
The poems presented in this book tell short biographies of what I assume are real people. I assume this because there is a nice blend of important facts and trivial information, as well as a balance of positive and negative portrayals to make the people discussed here believably real.
If you do find yourself reading this book, don't make the same mistake that I did. Make sure you have plenty of time to devote to reading this book from beginning to end with little or no interruptions. What with the bitesize chunks (a chapter or so here, there) I took of the book, I lost the cohesion of the work as a whole, drawing common lines between the characters discussed. And because of that, I probably didn't enjoy the book as well as I could have hoped.
I'll be honest, the book didn't reach out and grab me. It was, however, interesting enough for me to willingly loan it my interest for the times I read it. Not gripping, but still worth reading if you do so enjoy poetry.
This book may appeal to you if you find you like free verse poetry, especially that about families.… (more)
Lists
Statistics
- Works
- 3
- Members
- 6
- Popularity
- #1,227,255
- Rating
- 4.3
- Reviews
- 4
- ISBNs
- 3
Jenny the spaceship came by next and she said Sammy needed polish and she would bring some back to him. Then Jenny flew off too. Lastly, Johnny the spaceship came along and said Sammy needed new paint and he would bring some along the next time he came by.
Sammy wasn’t sure any of these things would help get back his shine. It all sounds so
confusing to him. Sammy waited and waited a long time for them all to return. He began to think they forgot all about him.
But all three did returned and they did help Sammy, but in an very unexpected way!
Pep, Polish and Paint is a delightfully clever story with an important message for children on how some things come from within us! Helena Harper uses her skill as a teacher to develop this charming fantasy all children will love. Malachy McKinney’s illustrations are engaging and imaginative.
Children’s worksheets and coloring sheets are available at www.helenaharper.com
You can learn more about Helena Harper at: www.helenaharper.com
~ Author and Illustrator, J.D. Holiday http://www.thebookgarden.net… (more)