Ronald L. Smith facts for kids
Ronald L. Smith is a talented author who writes exciting books for young readers. He has written several popular novels, including Hoodoo (published in 2015), The Mesmerist (2017), Black Panther: The Young Prince (2018), The owls have come to take us away (2019), and Gloom Town (2020). For his book Hoodoo, Smith received a special honor called the American Library Association's Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. This award celebrates new authors who show great promise in children's literature.
About Ronald L. Smith
Early Life and Travels
Ronald L. Smith was born in Maine. His family was in the military, which meant they moved around a lot. As a child, he lived in many different places, including Japan, Alabama, Michigan, Washington, DC, South Carolina, and Delaware. Moving often allowed him to experience many different cultures and places.
From a young age, Smith loved reading fantasy and science fiction books. These stories sparked his imagination. Before he started writing children's books, he worked in advertising. This job helped him develop his writing skills. Eventually, he decided to focus on writing fiction for kids.
His Books and Awards
Ronald L. Smith published his first book, Hoodoo, in 2015 with Clarion Books. This story takes place in Alabama during the 1930s. Hoodoo was very well-received and earned Smith the American Library Association's Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. This award is given to new authors or illustrators of African descent for their outstanding work in children's books.
Smith's second book, The Mesmerist, was published in 2017, also by Clarion Books. This exciting tale is set in London around the turn of the century.
In January 2018, Smith released a special children's novel for Marvel Comics. This book, called Black Panther: The Young Prince, features Marvel's famous superhero, Black Panther. It came out just before the popular Black Panther movie. Reviewers praised the book, noting that fans would enjoy hints about T'Challa's future as the Black Panther. Even kids who weren't big comic book fans could relate to T'Challa dealing with middle school challenges. They also appreciated his cleverness when facing enemies. The School Library Journal even listed Black Panther: The Young Prince as a "must-purchase" book for all libraries.
Where He Lives Now
Today, Ronald L. Smith lives in Baltimore. He continues to write engaging stories that capture the imaginations of young readers.
