Author Study Jacqueline Woodson

1. Author Study Jacqueline Woodson By: Rosalind Moore

2. Woosdon’s Books • She has written over 29 plus books. • Coretta Scott King Awards • Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime Achievement. • Newberry Honor

3. Background Information • Born February 12, 1963 in Columbus, Ohio and her family were Jehovah Witnesses. • Grew up in Greenville, South Carolina and Brooklyn, New York. • At an early age JW spoke frankly about sex and sexuality. • In 5th grade, JW won a poetry contest and was accused of plagiarizing. The first six lines of her poem came from a poem her 7th grade sister had written, but the rest of the poem was hers: • Graduated from college with a B.A. in English • Former drama therapist for runaways and homeless children. • Open Lesbian and activist • Daughter named Toshi and son named Jackson-Leroi • Enjoys, reading, writing, sewing, and politics.

4. Commonalities in her Writings • Deals with LGBT relational issues but more lesbian relationship s seem to be featured. • The importance of family runs through her work. • Highlights the value of education,  but understands the realities of some peoples lives. • Current teen problems run through her stories. • Uses simple and direct language to tell her stories. • Characters are well-drawn.

5. Commonalities in her Writings cont…. • She loves to put multiple controversial issues into every story. • Has a great understanding of the need for connection. • Likes to deal with that feeling of loneliness • Understands being on the outside of things. • Uses Inter-racial themes wherever possible. • Writes about parents who are withdrawn from the action, or caught up in their own worlds.

6. Major Themes in her writings • African-American history and culture. • Struggles (coping with death of a family member, foster care, war, slavery, breaking racial barriers • Triumphs • Children sold into slavery are able to keep their history and culture and escape to freedom. • Children placed into foster care have a successful ending due to a caring aunt. • Women are allowed to enter the work force. • Racial barriers are broken

7. After Tupac and D Woods • Newbery Honor Medal • 2009 Josette Frank Award

8. After Tupac and D Woods This is a story about two young girls, Neeka and the narrator. They meet a new girl on their block named D. She is a foster child who is hoping to one day meet her mother. While Neeka and the narrator have more strict but loving families, they envy D’s freedom, D on the other would do anything to have what the other girls have, a loving family and a place to call home. These girls share in common their love for rapper Tupac. They feel like his lyrics of “Dear Momma” speak directly to them and explains their lives exactly. D introduces to the girls the idea of finding their “big purpose” in life and they relate it to the lyrics and struggle of Tupac. D mom finally comes to get her around the same time that Tupac gets shot. The story examines how adolescents often “think the grass is greener” in their friends life. The story also touches issues of Neeka’s older brother Tashm who is in jail for making a bad choice. Feelings on his homosexuality are also explored through the narrator’s thoughts.

9. Hush • National Book Award Finalist • 2003 ALA Best Book for Young Adults • School Library Journal Best Book • 2002 Booklist Editor’s Choice • 2003 New York Public Libraries Books for the Teen Age • Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year (“Today” category / 12 & up) • 2003 Riverbank Review Children’s Books of Distinction Short list • 2003-2004 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List • 2003-2004 Maine Student Book Award Master List • 2002 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top 40 Nominees • 2004-2005 Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Nominee (Grades 6-8) (children’s choice award for Minnesota) • 2005 Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee (NJ)

10. Hush Toswiah the main character father was a police officer who testifies against his fellow police officers for killing a young black boy, her family is forced to relocate in a witness protection program. The witness protection program forces the family to leave behind their identity, people, and things they love. Toswiah and her sister are forced to change their names to Evie and Anna Thomas and her mom leaves behind her teaching job and becomes a Jehovah's witness. Toswiah fathers gets severely depressed and has a nervous breakdown. The story ends positive and with true meaning of them fighting for justice.

11. Locomotion • National Book Award Finalist • Coretta Scott King Honor • 2003 Boston Globe—Horn Book Award (Fiction Honor) • Horn Book Fanfare List • School Library Journal Best Book • IRA-CBC Children’s Choice for 2004 • 2004 Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts (sponsored by the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English) • 2005 New Mexico Battle of the Books (Middle School/Grades 7-9) • 2004-2005 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Master List (children’s choice award for • Vermont) • 2005 Kentucky Bluegrass Master List (Grades 3-5) • 2006 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award Nominee (Grades 3-5) • 2004-2005 Maine Student Book Award Nominee (Grades 4-8) • 2004-2005 William Allen White Children’s Book Award Nominee (Kansas children’s choice award)

12. Locomotion This story is very inspirational and sad, as it tells the story of 13 year old Lonnie, whose parents died in a fire. Lonnie has to live in a foster home in the city, apart from his sister, without his mother and father. As he struggles to overcome the painful memories and events in his life, he is encouraged by his teacher, Ms. Marcus, to begin writing poetry because it's a way to express himself. Throughout Locomotion, we see Lonnie grow and use poetry as a way to heal and express himself. It's a deep and thoughtful piece of literature which is saturated with poetic texture and honesty. Woodson has a way with words, and brings readers into Lonnie's soul as she writes with the voice of a young boy.This is a book that can be suitable for younger and older children. I think middle school students would especially enjoy this book, and it's a great way to explore all the possibilities within poetry: that is can be unrestrained and it needn't rhyme. Woodson had a similar experience with writing as well in the 5th grade and I think she wants students to understand how useful poetry can be to expressing ones feelings..

13. Miracle’s Boys • Coretta Scott King Award • Los Angeles Times Book Prize • ALA Best Book for Young Adults • Sequoyah Book Award Master List, Young Adult Category • 2003-2004 Sunshine State Master List (grades 6-8) • 2003-2004 Georgia Children’s Book Award nominee

14. Miracle’s Boys The story and message of this books is very touching. The story of three Puerto Rican brothers who have lost both their mother and father to tragic death. Each boy adopts a different coping technique to deal with the circumstances. Ty'ree grows up over night and dedicates himself to his brothers, Lafayette gets "quiet", and Charlie tries to be the “tough kid”. The characters are both believable and heroic. This books will appeal to a very broad teenage audience because the age separation of the three brothers will allow readers to relate with the character closest to their own age. This story will especially appeal to teens who may have experienced family struggles in their own lives, especially if they feel some responsibility for creating it. This book is tragic and frustrating as the story unfolds, but its resolution at the end will remind readers about the importance of resiliency and strength in times of struggle.

15. Miracle Boy’s cont… The narrator of this book, Lafayette, the youngest brother of the three brothers is trying to figure out the death of his father and constantly feels he is responsible for his mother’s death. The second brother Charlie just came out of juvenile detention and has completed change from a nice brother to Lafayette to a mean brother. Charlie is the biggest impact in the story that brings them together. Then there is the oldest brother Tyree, a very smart young boy who has given up going to college to get a job so he can take care of his brothers. In this family he is more of a parent figure than a brother. In the book they go through a speculation which makes them realize the love they really that they got for each other.

16. Conclusion • Woodson literary work is often viewed as a legend in the Young Adult fiction world. She is concerned with youth being able to pick up books that are relatable to situations they are facing. Her biggest inspiration is when she worked as a drama therapist for runaways and homeless children. Woodson was also inspired by some of her favorite books: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaretby: Judy Bloom and she related because was flat-chested like Margaret. Zeely was one of the first books I read that was by an African American about African American people

17. References ""Crime Watch." : The Best of 2009: Los Angeles Times Book Prizes (Mystery/Thriller). Web. 05 June 2012. <http://kiwicrime.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-of-2009-los-angeles-times-book.html>."Jacqueline Woodson: Something Many People Don't Know about Me." Jacqueline Woodson: Something Many People Don't Know about Me. <http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/alaga.shtml>."Kawzmik World." Kawzmik World. Web. 02 2013. <http://kawzmikworld.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/show-way-by-jacqueline-woodson/>."Penguin.com (usa)." The Books of Jacqueline Woodson. . <http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/jacqueline_woodson.html>."Really Great Books!" Really Great Books! . <http://libraries.risd.org/frelib/rgbooks.htm>."Seals of Approval- A Guide to Young Adult Book Awards – WhatchYAreading?" Seals of Approval- A Guide to Young Adult Book Awards – WhatchYAreading? <http://whatchyareading.net/2012/02/13/seals-of-approval-a-guide-to-young-adult-book- awards/>.