Jess Mowry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jess Mowry
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| Born | March 27, 1960 near Starkville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Notable awards | PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award (1991) |
Jess Mowry (born March 27, 1960, near Starkville, Mississippi) is an American author. He writes books and stories for children and young adults. He has written many books and short stories. These tales are often about Black children and teens.
His stories cover different types of settings. Some are in busy inner-city neighborhoods. Others take place in the forests of Haiti. Many of his novels are set in Oakland, California. They explore topics like growing up and facing challenges in life.
Contents
Jess Mowry's Early Life
Jess Mowry was born in 1960. His father was African-American and his mother was Caucasian. When Jess was very young, his father took him to Oakland, California. His father worked hard to support them. He was a crane operator, truck driver, and scrap-metal salvager.
Jess's father loved to read. He introduced Jess to books at a young age. Jess went to public school. Even though he loved reading, he wasn't an amazing student. He left school at age thirteen, during eighth grade.
After leaving school, Mowry worked with his father. They worked in the scrap-iron business. Later, as a teenager, he moved to Arizona. There, he worked as a truck driver. He also operated heavy equipment. He even lived and worked in Alaska. He was an engineer on a tugboat. He also fixed aircraft on Douglas C-47 cargo planes.
How Jess Mowry Became an Author
In the early 1980s, Mowry returned to Oakland. He started working with kids at a youth center. He would read to them. Often, he made up stories for them. This was because there weren't many books that inner-city kids could truly connect with. Later, he began to write these stories down.
In 1988, Mowry sent one of his stories to a magazine. It was called Zyzzyva. The editor, Howard Junker, didn't publish that first story. But he asked to see more of Mowry's work. He published the second story Jess sent. Mowry bought an old Underwood typewriter for just eight dollars. Within a year, his writing appeared in many magazines. These magazines were in the United States and other countries.
Jess Mowry's Books and Awards
In 1990, Mowry's first collection of stories came out. It was called Rats in the Trees. This book won a special prize. It was the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award. The book was also published in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.
In 1991, his first novel was published. It was named Children of the Night. Then, in 1992, his second novel came out. It was called Way Past Cool. This book was very popular. It was published in many countries. These included the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Japan.
Way Past Cool was even chosen to be a movie. Mowry helped write the movie script. The film, with the same title, was made in 2000. Other novels by Mowry followed. Some of them are Six Out Seven, Babylon Boyz, and Skeleton Key.
What Jess Mowry Writes About
Mowry's characters are very diverse. Some are young people in Oakland facing tough situations. Others are learning about Voodoo in New Orleans. He also writes about teenage airplane pilots. Some stories feature young people in Africa who are part of conflicts.
Jess Mowry explains his writing this way: "Almost all my stories and books are for and about Black kids. They are not always cute and perfect. My characters often act like real kids. They might sweat or use strong language sometimes. Just like real young people, some might be overweight. Or they might not fit typical ideas of beauty. They often live in challenging places. Sometimes they are forced into difficult ways of life."
Jess Mowry became known in the mid-1990s. He is seen as a very original and important Black writer. He prefers to keep a low profile. He focuses on helping young Black people. He wants to improve their lives and how they see themselves.
Jess Mowry lives in Oakland, California.
