Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno is an American
poet, teacher, and contributing editor to The American Poetry Review.
She is the author of Slamming Open the Door (Alice James Books
, 2009), which was the 2008 Beatrice Hawley Award
winner, and also received a positive, full-page review in The New York Times, while Library Journal praised it as "A stunning first book." Bonanno was interviewed about her writing of the book on NPR's Fresh Air by Terri Gross, who began the interview by praising the book, "I really love the poems we're about to hear. They're beautifully written. But some of them really hurt. They're about the worst thing that can happen to a mother, the murder of her child." Slamming Open the Door is a collection of poetry which tells the story of the aftermath of the murder of the author’s daughter, Leidy Bonanno, who was strangled in 2003 by an ex-boyfriend, just after she had graduated from nursing school. Bonanno is an advocate for victims’ rights and a member of the Montgomery Country Parents of Murdered Children, and was honored with a 2008 “Women of Courage/Women of Inspiration Purple Ribbon Award” from Lutheran Settlement House in Philadelphia.
Bonanno was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
, and received an undergraduate degree in English and a master’s in education from Temple University
. She taught at Dobbins High School for five years and has taught at Cheltenham High School
for thirteen years. She is married to David Bonanno, a native of Caldwell, New Jersey
, and co-editor of The American Poetry Review
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet, teacher, and contributing editor to The American Poetry Review.
She is the author of Slamming Open the Door (Alice James Books
Alice James Books
Alice James Books is an American non-profit poetry press located in Farmington, Maine and affiliated with the University of Maine at Farmington.- History and mission :...
, 2009), which was the 2008 Beatrice Hawley Award
Beatrice Hawley Award
The Beatrice Hawley Award is given annually by Alice James Books. The award includes publication of a book-length poetry manuscript and a cash prize ....
winner, and also received a positive, full-page review in The New York Times, while Library Journal praised it as "A stunning first book." Bonanno was interviewed about her writing of the book on NPR's Fresh Air by Terri Gross, who began the interview by praising the book, "I really love the poems we're about to hear. They're beautifully written. But some of them really hurt. They're about the worst thing that can happen to a mother, the murder of her child." Slamming Open the Door is a collection of poetry which tells the story of the aftermath of the murder of the author’s daughter, Leidy Bonanno, who was strangled in 2003 by an ex-boyfriend, just after she had graduated from nursing school. Bonanno is an advocate for victims’ rights and a member of the Montgomery Country Parents of Murdered Children, and was honored with a 2008 “Women of Courage/Women of Inspiration Purple Ribbon Award” from Lutheran Settlement House in Philadelphia.
Bonanno was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, and received an undergraduate degree in English and a master’s in education from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. She taught at Dobbins High School for five years and has taught at Cheltenham High School
Cheltenham High School
Cheltenham High School is a public high school in Wyncote, Pennsylvania serving grades 9 through 12. Cheltenham is the Senior High School in the School District of Cheltenham Township...
for thirteen years. She is married to David Bonanno, a native of Caldwell, New Jersey
Caldwell, New Jersey
Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey, about outside of New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,822....
, and co-editor of The American Poetry Review
The American Poetry Review
The American Poetry Review is an American poetry magazine printed every other month on tabloid-sized newsprint.Founded in 1972 by Stephen Berg, APR has always been published from editorial offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Berg is one of three editors, along with David Bonanno and Elizabeth...
.
External links
- Alice James Books > Kathleen Sheedeer Bonanno > Author Page
- Author Profile: The Chestnut Hill Local > Daughter’s Murder Inspires Local Mom to Write Best-Selling, Honored Book of Poetry > by Len Lear > May 21, 2009
- Review: The New York Times Book Review > My Daughter's Murder, by David Kirby > 04/10/09
- Review: Library Journal > 'Arts & Humanties > Poetry > February 1, 2009 > Review by Karla Huston of Slamming Open the Door, by Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno