Jacqueline Pearce

Background

Pearce was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1962.

Career

She writes contemporary and historical fiction, as well as poetry. She obtained a bachelor"s degree in English Literature, from the University of Victoria (1985) and a Master"s degree in Environmental Studies (with an emphasis on environmental education and environmental thought) from York University (1990). While at York University, she helped found the graduate student journal Undercurrents.

Her historical fiction includes The Reunion, about a multicultural community on Vancouver island affected by the internment of Japanese-Canadians during World World War II, and Emily"s Dream, introducing children to the 19th century childhood of artist Emily Carr.

Her book Dog House Blues, about human-animal interaction, bullying, was published by Scholastic Canada for its Social Responsibility Book Club and featured in the "Moving Up with Literacy Place" resource for grade 4-6 classrooms. lieutenant and The Truth About Rats (and Dogs) were both endorsed by the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Her later writings Manga Touch and Mystery of the Missing Luck introduce young readers to Japanese culture.

Achievements

• Pearce"s young adult short story "The Trickster" won first prize in the 1988 Thistledown short story contest and was published in the anthology Up All Night edited by Peter Carver (Thistledown Press, 1989).