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Hila Colman

{{Short description|American writer of children's literature (1909–2008)}}

{{Infobox writer

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|7|21}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|5|15|1909|7|21}}

| death_place =

| occupation = Writer

| language = English

| education = Radcliffe College

| genre = Children's and young adult fiction

| awards = Josette Frank Award, Garden State Children's Book Awards

}}

Hila Colman (July 21, 1909 – May 15, 2008) was an American author whose career spanned four decades and included magazine articles, novels, and television. Colman principally wrote for children and young adults, authoring more than 70 books. She was also a writer for episodes of NBC Matinee Theater and ABC Afterschool Special.

Early life and education

Hill Colman was born in New York City on July 21, 1909, to Harry and Sarah Crayder. She attended Calhoun School, then Radcliffe College.

Career

Colman began her career writing at the National War Relief Agency. In 1947, she published her first article in The Saturday Evening Post, an opinion piece about the role fathers should play in home life.{{Cite web |last=Colman |first=Hila |date=1947-08-30 |title=Husbands are No Good at Home |url=https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/reprints/husbands-are-no-good-at-home/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Saturday Evening Post |language=en-US}} She continued writing for a number of women's magazines before turning to novels.{{cite book |last1=Silvey |first1=Anita |title=Children's Books and Their Creators |date=1995 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=0395653800 |pages=157–158 |edition=1}} Her 1977 autobiographical work, Hanging On, details caring for her husband during the final year of his life following a stroke.{{Cite news |last=Colman |first=Hila |date=1977-07-31 |title=HANGING ON |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/31/archives/hanging-on.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |issn=0362-4331}}

In all, Colman wrote more than 70 books and a few television episodes.

Personal life and death

Colman was politically liberal and was involved in several political movements.

Colman was married and widowed four times: Leon Meadow, Saul Ochs, Louis Colman, and Joel Rothman. She also had at least two children (Jonathan and James Colman), nine grandchildren, and eleven grandchildren.

Hila Colman died in Bridgewater, Connecticut, on May 15, 2008, at the age of 98.{{Cite web |date=2008-05-20 |title=Hila Colman Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/hila-colman-obituary?id=23943004 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Hartford Courant |via=Legacy.com}}

Awards

class="wikitable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Work

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" | Refs

1962

|Child Study Association of America Children's Book Award

|{{Sort|Girl from Puerto Rico|The Girl from Puerto Rico}}

|Winner

|{{cite book |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lee Bennett |title=More Books by More People |date=1974 |publisher=Citation Press |location=New York |isbn=0590073575 |pages=100–104 |edition=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/morebooksbymorep0000hopk/ |access-date=15 November 2023}}

1962

|Josette Frank Awards

|The Girl from Puerto Rico

|Special Citation

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Past Winners |url=https://www.bankstreet.edu/library/center-for-childrens-literature/childrens-book-committee/past-winners/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Bank Street College of Education |language=en-US}}

1976

|Garden State Children's Book Awards

|Nobody Has to Be a Kid Forever

|Winner

|{{Cite web |title=GSCBA Past Winners |url=https://njlamembers.org/content/gscba-past-winners |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=NJLA Members}}

Selected works

=Children's =

  • Peter's Brownstone House (1963){{Cite web |date=1963-06-15 |title=Peter's Brownstone House |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-5/peters-brownstone-house/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Boy Who Couldn't Make Up His Mind (1965){{Cite web |date=1965-09-01 |title=The Boy Who Couldn't Make Up His Mind |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-5/the-boy-who-couldnt-make-up-his-mind/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Ethan's Favorite Teacher (1975){{Cite web |date=1975-04-01 |title=Ethan's Favorite Teacher |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-7/ethans-favorite-teacher/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Rich and Famous Like My Mom (1988){{Cite web |date=1988-03-15 |title=Rich and Famous Like My Mom |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-4/rich-and-famous-like-my-mom/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}

=Novels=

  • The Big Step (1957){{Cite web |date=1957-08-01 |title=The Big Step |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman/the-big-step/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • A Crown for Gina (1958){{Cite web |date=1958-08-01 |title=A Crown for Gina |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-2/a-crown-for-gina/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Julie Builds Her Castle (1959){{Cite web |date=1959-08-01 |title=Julie Builds Her Castle |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-3/julie-builds-her-castle/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Best Wedding Dress (1960){{Cite web |date=1960-08-01 |title=The Best Wedding Dress |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman/the-best-wedding-dress/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Girl From Puerto Rico (1961){{Cite web |date=1961-09-01 |title=The Girl from Puerto Rico |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-2/the-girl-from-puerto-rico/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Mrs. Darling's Daughter (1962){{Cite web |date=1962-09-01 |title=Mrs. Darling's Daughter |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hils-colman/mrs-darlings-daughter/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Phoebe's First Campaign (1963){{Cite web |date=1963-09-01 |title=Phoebe's First Campaign |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-3/phoebes-first-campaign/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Classmates by Request (1965){{Cite web |date=1964-09-01 |title=Classmates By Request |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-4/classmates-by-request/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Car Crazy Girl (1967){{Cite web |date=1967-09-01 |title=Car Crazy Girl |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-coleman/car-crazy-girl/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Mixed-Marriage Daughter (1968){{Cite web |date=1968-09-01 |title=Mixed-Marriage Daughter |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-8/mixed-marriage-daughter/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Claudia, Where Are You? (1969){{Cite web |date=1969-09-01 |title=Claudia, Where Are You? |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-9/claudia-where-are-you/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Happenings at North End School (1970){{Cite web |date=1970-09-01 |title=The Happenings at North End School |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-10/the-happenings-at-north-end-school/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Daughter of Discontent (1971){{Cite web |date=1971-09-01 |title=Daughter of Discontent |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-12/daughter-of-discontent/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • End of the Game (1971){{Cite web |date=1971-09-01 |title=End of the Game |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-11/end-of-the-game/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Family and the Fugitive (1972){{Cite web |date=1972-09-01 |title=The Family and the Fugitive |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-13/the-family-and-the-fugitive/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Benny the Misfit (1973){{Cite web |date=1973-05-01 |title=Benny the Misfit |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-6/benny-the-misfit/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Chicano Girl (1973){{Cite web |date=1973-08-01 |title=Chicano Girl |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-14/chicano-girl/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Diary of a Frantic Kid Sister (1973){{Cite web |date=1973-11-01 |title=Diary of a Frantic Kid Sister |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-7/diary-of-a-frantic-kid-sister/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Friends and Strangers on Location (1974){{Cite web |date=1974-08-01 |title=Friends and Strangers on Location |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-15/friends-and-strangers-on-location/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • After the Wedding (1975){{Cite web |date=1975-09-01 |title=After the Wedding |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-17/after-the-wedding/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • That's the Way It Is, Amigo (1975){{Cite web |date=1975-09-01 |title=That's the Way It Is, Amigo |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-16/thats-the-way-it-is-amigo/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Amazing Miss Laura (1976){{Cite web |date=1976-09-01 |title=The Amazing Miss Laura |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman/the-amazing-miss-laura/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Nobody Has to Be a Kid Forever (1976){{Cite web |date=1976-03-01 |title=Nobody Has to Be a Kid Forever |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-2/nobody-has-to-be-a-kid-forever/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Sometimes I Don't Love My Mother (1977){{Cite web |date=1977-08-01 |title=Sometimes I Don't Love My Mother |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-2/sometimes-i-dont-love-my-mother/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Case of the Stolen Bagels (1978){{Cite web |date=1978-12-01 |title=The Case of the Stolen Bagels |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-8/the-case-of-the-stolen-bagels/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Tell Me No Lies (1978){{Cite web |date=1978-06-01 |title=Tell Me No Lies |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-9/tell-me-no-lies1/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Rachel's Legacy (1978){{Cite web |date=1978-10-01 |title=Rachel's Legacy |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-9/rachels-legacy/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Secret Life of Harold the Birdwatcher (1978){{Cite web |date=1978-03-01 |title=The Secret Life of Harold the Birdwatcher |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-3/the-secret-life-of-harold-the-birdwatcher/ |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Ellie's Inheritance (1979){{Cite web |date=1979-09-01 |title=Ellie's Inheritance |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-3/ellies-inheritance/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • What's the Matter with the Dobsons? (1980){{Cite web |date=1980-08-01 |title=What's the Matter with the Dobsons? |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-4/whats-the-matter-with-the-dobsons/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Accident (1981){{Cite web |date=1981-10-01 |title=Accident |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-10/accident-6/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • The Family Trap (1982){{Cite web |date=1982-11-01 |title=The Family Trap |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-11/the-family-trap/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Not for Love (1983){{Cite web |date=1983-10-01 |title=Not for Love |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-12/not-for-love-3/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Triangle of Love (1985)
  • Weekend Sisters (1985){{Cite web |date=1985-09-15 |title=Weekend Sisters |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-5/weekend-sisters/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}

=Non-fiction=

  • The Country Weekend Cookbook (1961)
  • A Career in Medical Research (1967){{Cite web |date=1967-01-01 |title=A Career in Medical Research |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman/a-career-in-medical-research/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Beauty, Brains, and Glamour: A Career in Magazine Publishing (1968){{Cite web |date=1968-11-01 |title=Beauty, Brains, and Glamour: A Career in Magazine Publishing |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-c-colman/beauty-brains-and-glamour-a-career-in-magazine-/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • City Planning: What, How, and When (1971){{Cite web |date=1971-12-01 |title=City Planning: What, How, and When |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-6/city-planning-what-how-when/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}
  • Hanging On (1977){{Cite web |date=1977-05-01 |title=Hanging On |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/hila-colman-8/hanging-on-2/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}

=Television=

  • Matinee Theater, 1955
  • "The Unforgivable Secret", ABC Afterschool Specials, 1982

=Magazines=

  • "Husbands Are No Good at Home", Saturday Evening Post, August 30, 1947

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://scua.uoregon.edu/repositories/2/resources/995 University of Oregon - Hila Colman Papers]
  • [https://specialcollections.usm.edu/repositories/4/resources/66 Hila Colman Papers], Special Collections at the University of Southern Mississippi (de Grummond Children's Literature Collection)
  • [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1431328/ IMDB - Hila Colman]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colman, Hila}}

Category:1909 births

Category:2008 deaths

Category:American women writers of young adult literature

Category:American writers of young adult literature