Bunting, Eve (1928-2023), was a Northern Ireland-born American author of children’s literature. Bunting wrote more than 250 books, from picture books for young children to novels for young adults. She won praise for her skill at portraying the world as seen through the eyes of children. In 1997, Bunting was awarded the Regina Medal, with which the Catholic Library Association honors a person for a lifetime contribution to children’s literature.
Bunting’s works include science fiction, mysteries, and stories that explore modern social problems. Bunting was born and raised in Northern Ireland, and many of her stories are set there. Her fiction often reflects the influence of the Irish storytelling tradition. But her characters come from a broad range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, including African American, Puerto Rican, Chinese American, Japanese, and Hawaiian, in addition to Irish.
Anne Evelyn Bolton was born on Dec. 19, 1928, in Maghera, Northern Ireland. She married Edward Davison Bunting, a medical administrator, in 1951. They moved with their three children to California in 1959. Bunting took a writing course at a local community college and decided to become an author. In 1972, she published her first children’s book, The Two Giants, based on Irish folklore. The book was the first in a series called “The Magic Circle.” Bunting also wrote the “Dinosaur Machines” series, beginning with The Day of the Dinosaurs (1975); a science fiction series, beginning with The Day of the Earthlings (1978); and a young romance series, beginning with Fifteen (1978).
Bunting wrote many books that explore serious themes. Fly Away Home (1991) tells about a homeless father and his son who live in an airport. Smoky Night (1994) describes a race riot in Los Angeles as witnessed by a child. The Memory String (2000) portrays a girl trying to cope with the pain of losing her mother and adjusting to a new stepmother. One Candle (2002) is set during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and confronts memories of the Holocaust, while also celebrating the values of tradition and family. The Pirate Captain’s Daughter (2011) and The Voyage of the Sea Wolf (2012) are historical novels about a 15-year-old girl who sails on a pirate ship disguised as a boy. Forbidden (2015) is a ghost story about a 16-year-old orphan girl who is sent to live with an unknown aunt and uncle in a town on the stormy northwest coast of Scotland. Alligators, Alligators (2023) is a picture book about a boy whose magical flute can make swamp animals dance. Bunting also wrote nonfiction for young readers, including The Great White Shark (1982) and The Sea World Book of Whales (1980). She died on Oct. 1, 2023.
