Mary Monroe facts for kids

Mary Monroe is a New York Times bestselling African-American fiction author. Her first novel, The Upper Room, was published in 1985. She is best known for her novel God Don't Like Ugly, which came out in 2000. She also writes a popular series of books about the characters from that first story.

About Mary Monroe

Mary Monroe was born on December 12, 1949, in Toxey, Alabama. She was the third of four children in her family. She spent her early life in Alabama and Ohio. In 1973, she moved to Richmond, California. Mary was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. She taught herself how to write and never went to college or took writing classes.

Her first novel, The Upper Room, was published in New York in 1985. It was also published in London in 1986. Her second novel, God Don't Like Ugly, came out in 2000. In 2001, this book won a special award called the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award for Best Fiction of the Year.

Mary Monroe is a successful author and a mother of two children. She lives in Oakland and continues to write popular books. She enjoys traveling the world. She often gets ideas for her stories from her own life and the people she meets.

Awards and Honors

Mary Monroe has received several important awards for her writing:

• PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award in 2001.
• Best Southern Author Award for her book Gonna Lay Down My Burdens in 2004.
• Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
• J. California Cooper Memorial Award in 2017.
• Her God Don't Like Ugly Series appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list in September 2006.

Book Highlights

God Don't Like Ugly

Many readers feel that Mary Monroe tells this story through the eyes of a young girl. This helps to bring a hopeful feeling to some difficult events. People often say that the characters in this novel are very well-written. This makes readers feel connected to the story.

She Had It Coming

A common thought about this novel is how it shows that secrets can really hurt friendships. Mary Monroe creates many surprising twists and turns in the story. Some of these betrayals feel very real, while others might make you wonder!

Deliver Me From Evil

Some readers think that the way this story is told gives a different view of the characters. These characters might seem a bit tricky or selfish based on their actions. Mary Monroe leaves some details about the "evil" unclear. This allows readers to think about what it means for themselves. Others find the story fun, even if some parts are repeated. Critics agree that the characters are quite interesting and that readers will be surprised by them.

God Don't Make No Mistakes

One review highlights that Mary Monroe uses humor in this book. This humor adds new layers to the lives of everyday people. It makes them seem very interesting to readers.