Emerging from the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, in 1948, Donna Jo Napoli was the youngest among four siblings born to a building contractor and a homemaker, both the offspring of Italian immigrants. In many ways, Napoli's achievements are emblematic of the American dream realized. Reflecting on her past in an autobiographical piece in Something about the Author Autobiography Series, she remembers a home devoid of books. Yet, by the tender age of eight, she had discovered the sanctuary of the school library, persuading the librarian to let her visit twice a week, igniting a lifelong love affair with literature. Her father's profession—constructing a house, selling it, and then moving to a nearby area—fostered in her a sense of rootlessness. A reserved tomboy, she found solace and a sense of belonging within the imaginative worlds that books unveiled.

Early Religious Roots

Napoli, baptized and raised in the Catholic faith, celebrated her First Holy Communion. Despite the trendiness of abandoning church at twelve, she remained devout. This deep-seated spirituality later infused her novel Song of the Magdalene, reflecting her youthful introspection and questioning of religious authority.

Academic Prowess and Personal Growth

Her vision began to fail early in life until the advent of hard contact lenses opened new vistas for her. This opportunity unlocked her academic potential, allowing her to shine in various disciplines. In junior high and high school, her accomplishments accumulated in a scholarship to Radcliffe, then Harvard University's women's college. At Harvard, she pursued mathematics with fervor, its precision foreshadowing her eventual passion for linguistics. Simultaneously, she immersed herself in modern dance, a medium that allowed her to express both mind and body with boundless freedom.

Life at Harvard and Beyond

During her Harvard years, she met Barry Furrow, a fellow scholarship recipient from South Dakota, whom she describes as “radically left-wing, radically anti-clerical and wonderfully sweet.” Together, they thrived both academically and personally, excelling as scholars and partners in parenting.

Napoli achieved a doctorate in linguistics from Harvard, venturing into the realms of writing and poetry, while Furrow distinguished himself as a law professor at Widener University. Their enduring marriage, spanning three decades, has been enriched by five children.

Family Inspirations and Social Advocacy

Her family life provided a rich tapestry for her children's literature, with inspiration drawn from the inquisitive nature of her own children and her tendency to regard every matter earnestly, a trait honed by her lifelong penchant for worry—about her family, herself, and the world at large. Her concerns fueled her commitment to social justice, engaging in activism on behalf of marginalized groups. At Harvard, she discovered the Boston City Missionary Society, dedicating summers to working with state wards in New Hampshire. After college, her compassion led her to counsel teens in the Neighborhood Youth Corps.

With her marriage to Barry Furrow, Napoli embraced her roles as wife and mother. Her children's vibrant lives and boundless curiosity sparked her literary endeavors. As she taught at Smith, Georgetown, and the University of Michigan, she faced and rejected the prevailing sexism in academia, ultimately finding a respected position at Swarthmore College as chair of the Linguistics Department.

Literary Journey and Acclaimed Works

Napoli began her writing journey long before her first book was accepted in 1984 and published in 1988, titled The Hero of Barletta . This retelling of an Italian folktale gave her pause to reflect on the worth of her original creations in the literary marketplace. Though linguistics was her academic domain, her heart compelled her to write, exploring her experiences as a parent and her quest for truth. Many of...