author
Helen Diehl Olds
1895–1981
An American writer whose books brought adventure, ambition, and real-world subjects to young readers, Helen Diehl Olds wrote everything from career romances and radio stories to biographies and practical nonfiction. Her lively, accessible work includes Joan of the Journal, Lark, Radio Singer, and biographies of Christopher Columbus and Richard Nixon.
1 Audiobook
Joan of the Journal
by Helen Diehl Olds
About the author
Helen Diehl Olds (1895–1981) was a prolific American author for children and young adults. Her fiction explored dreams of work and independence, including journalism, radio performance, and other careers, while her educational books introduced young readers to subjects such as driver education and food processing.
Her books included Joan of the Journal, Lark, Radio Singer, The Silver Button, Christopher Columbus, and Lyndon Baines Johnson. She also contributed to the Everyday Adventure Stories series and wrote biographies of explorers and political figures.
Olds studied at the University of Texas, Wellesley College, and Wittenberg, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. Later, she taught juvenile writing at Queens College and led writing workshops in New York and elsewhere. Her work is remembered for combining readable storytelling with useful knowledge and encouraging young readers to imagine wider possibilities.