MerrickElizabethJameswell

__ The M.J Show __ __ Script __ (H1=host 1) (H2=host 2) (LL=Lois Lowry) H1=Merrick H2=Jameswell LL=Elizabeth

H1: hi this is the M.J show with Merrick Driver, and Jameswell Zhang! What's up J? H2: Not much M! H1: so who do we have on our show today? H2: Today, we have a very special guest. H1: Children's book Author, Lois Lowry! H2: For those of you who don't know her, Mrs. Lowry is an accomplished children's author (applause) H1: My daughter just finishede reading one of her books, Oh! what was it? Oh yeah! The Giver! She loved it so much she read it 3 times! H2: Well, I guess it's pretty good! And look! Here she is now! ( lois walks in/applause ) LL: Hello, how are you? H1: Fine thanks, can we call you Lois? LL: Yes, that's fine H2: So, Lois, where you born? LL: I was born on March 20th 1937, in Honolulu. Since my father was constantly away, my family and I moved many times, finally staying in Pennsylvania. H1: Why did you have to move so many times? LL: Well, my father was an army dentist... H2: Cool. H1: So Lois, how many family members do you have? LL: Four. My father, mother, sister Helen, and brother Jon. My sister died when I was young, which actually inspired me to write my first children's book; a summer to die. H2: What was your sister's name? LL: Helen. H1: So what was "A Summer To Die" about? LL://A Summer to Die// is the story of two sisters: Meg and Molly.Meg and Molly are recently removed to a lovely, rambling home in the country in order for their professor father to finish a book in peace. There, before tragedy strikes, Molly runs among the flowers, Meg masters photography, their mother quilts, their father writes, and Meg and Molly befriend Will, a kindly old widower next door, as well as his hippie tenants, Maria and Ben. H2: Tragedy? LL: Yes. Unfortunately, Meg dies. H1: wow. H2: What types of books do you mostly write? LL: Like A summer to die, I usually write fiction, but the giver trilogy was more along the lines of a science fiction series. H1: Interesting. Where did you attend college? LL: I attended college at Penbrook and brown university. H2: Wow, impressive! How did you attend such prestigious universities? LL: When I was young, I could read very well. I skipped second grade, and found school very fun. H1: Very cool. It's so wonderful to see that you enjoyed reading. When was //your// first book published? LL: Like I said earlier, my first children's book was a summer to die, which was published in 1977. H1: Since you’ve written almost forty books, have any of them won any awards? LL: Yes, I have received quite a number of awards. I have won the Children's book award from the international Reading Association in 1978, the Massachusetts Children's Book Award from the Salem State College, Young Readers Medal from the California Reading Association, both in 1981, and many, many more. H2: That's just amazing! Considering the awards, have any of your books been made into movies? LL: Yes, the Giver is being made into a movie, right now with actor Jeff Bridges. H1: That's so cool; I think it will make a great film! LL: I think so too... H2: What was the Giver about? LL: The Giver is written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. H1: sounds like a nice place. LL: Not really, there is no prejudice, since everyone looks and acts basically the same, and there is very little competition. H2: wow. Now it sounds like a very...well...interesting LL: Although the society is futuristic, this book takes place in present day. Jonas' society is actually cut off from the rest of the world. H1: So when was the giver published? LL: The giver was published in 1993, by Houghton Mifflin Company. H2: To my understanding, the giver was a very popular book. LL: Yes, more than 5.3 million copies have been sold H1: Incredible! Were there other giver books? LL: Yes, Gathering Blue was the second book, and Messenger was the third in the trilogy H2: That's cool, what are they about? LL: Gathering Blue is about a girl who lives in a futuristic society like Jonas, but her's is much more brutal. Messenger is similar to the giver, where all members of the books meet. H1: Sounds interesting. I'll have to read that. O.k., we'll be right back with Lois after this commercial break! (Applause) (Trailer) (Applause) H2: Welcome back! That was the movie trailer for Lois Lowry's book, The Giver! LL: Which is coming out this summer! H1: So Lois, it seems like you have a pretty busy life. I’ve been meaning to ask you, when did you start writing? LL: Well when I was 19 years old I got married, and from then on started writing. H2: wow that’s a very young age to be married... LL: yes I suppose it was... H1: So then how many kids do you have? LL: four, Alix, Grey, Kristen, and Benjamin. H2: Those are lovely names! LL: Thank you! H1: So where do you currently live? LL: I live in Cambridge Massachusetts, still writing. H1: That's a nice place! LL: Ha-ha, yea I think so too... H1: Are you writing any other new books? LL: Yeah i just finished a book called “Bless This Mouse" H2: Very cool. LL: Yeah, I think it’s very exciting and lots of action. H1: Great! H2: What is Bless This Mouse About? LL: This is about a caretaking mouse that must take care of the colony, even in desperate situations. H1: Very Exciting! I always love a good adventure! LL: Yes I think it is one of my better books, and it has gotten rave reviews... H2: That's great Lois! We are so excited for you. LL: It's so nice to have that kind of support from you! In fact, everyone has helped me a lot through all of my writing processes. H1: Who has helped you the most do you think? LL: My fans definitely. They send me letters and e-mails every day. They also really helped me through some hard times. H2: Hard times? Like what? LL: During Writer's block or when I was just feeling down. They helped me very much. H1: So what do you like to do in your free time? LL: Well, other than writing, I like photography, knitting, and art. H2: So, is there anything else you would like to talk about with us? LL: No, not really. H1: That’s it for today! H1: I'm M. H2: And I'm J. H1 and H2: And this is the M.J show. (Applause)