Sharon M. Draper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon M. Draper
Draper at BookExpo America in 2018
Born	(1948-08-21) August 21, 1948 (age 76) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater	Pepperdine University (BD) Miami University of Ohio (MA)
Notable awards	National Teacher of the Year (1997) Margaret A. Edwards Award (2015) Charlotte Huck Award (2016)
Relatives	Victor D. Mills (father) Catherine Gachett Mills (mother)
Website
Official website: https://sharondraper.com/

Sharon Mills Draper, born on August 21, 1948, is a famous American writer for children and young adults. She was also a dedicated teacher and was even named the National Teacher of the Year in 1997. She has won the Coretta Scott King Award twice for her books. These awards recognize outstanding books by African American authors and illustrators.

Draper is well-known for her book series like Hazelwood and Jericho. Some of her popular standalone books include Copper Sun, Double Dutch, Out of My Mind, and Romiette and Julio.

Sharon Draper's Early Life and Education

Sharon Draper was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents were Victor D. Mills and Catherine Gachett Mills. She is the oldest of three children. As a child, she loved playing the piano and reading. By the age of eleven, she had read almost every children's book in her local library. Because of this, she received a special library card to check out books for adults.

Draper went to Pepperdine University and earned her Bachelor's Degree in English. Later, she received her Master of Arts degree in English from Miami University of Ohio in 1974. After finishing her studies, she started teaching in Cincinnati public schools.

Becoming a Writer

Sharon Draper's writing journey began in 1990. One of her ninth-grade students challenged her to "write something." She decided to enter a short story called "One Small Torch" into a writing contest. This contest was held by Ebony magazine.

Draper won the contest, receiving five thousand dollars. Her story was also published. Roots author Alex Haley wrote to congratulate her. This letter helped her realize that she could truly be a writer. In 2000, she stopped teaching to focus more on her writing. Today, Sharon Draper lives in Cincinnati with her husband and their four children.

Awards and Special Recognition

Sharon Draper has received many awards for her writing and her work as an educator.

Awards for Her Books

Sharon Draper has won the Coretta Scott King Author Award twice. She won in 1998 for Forged by Fire and in 2007 for Copper Sun. She also received two Coretta Scott King Author Honor Awards. These were in 2004 for The Battle of Jericho and in 2008 for November Blues.

In 1995, she won the first-ever John Steptoe Award for New Talent for her book Tears of a Tiger.

Specific Book Achievements

• Tears of a Tiger (1995): This book was recognized as one of the best of the year by several groups. These include the Children's Book Council and the New York City Library.
• Forged by Fire (1997): This book won the Coretta Scott King Award. It was also named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
• Darkness Before Dawn: This book was an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick. It also won the Buckeye Book Award in 2005.
• Romiette and Julio: This book was listed as an ALA Best Book. It was also chosen as a Notable Book for a Global Society.
• Out of My Mind (2010): This book won many awards from different states. It was chosen by readers in Washington, Illinois, California, and Nevada.
• Double Dutch (2002): This book was honored as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book. It was also named one of the top ten sports books for young adults.
• The Battle of Jericho (2003): This book received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. It was also listed as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.
• We Beat the Street (2005): This book appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
• Copper Sun (2006): This book won the Coretta Scott King Award. It was named one of the Top Ten Historical Fiction Books for Youth. It was also part of an international reading project called Reading Across Continents.
• November Blues (2007): This book received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor.
• Stella by Starlight (2015): This book won the 2016 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award.
• Blended (2018): This book became a New York Times Best Seller.

Personal Awards and Honors

Sharon Draper was named the National Teacher of the Year in 1997. The Ohio State Department of Education also recognized her as an Ohio Pioneer in Education.

She received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in 1997. She was also honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement. She received awards from Howard University and Pepperdine University.

In 2006, she was one of four authors chosen to speak at the Library of Congress's National Book Festival. She also represented the United States at the National Book Festival in Moscow. In 2015, she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association.

Sharon Draper's Published Works

Draper in 2015

Hazelwood High Trilogy

• Tears of a Tiger (Simon & Schuster, 1994)
• Forged by Fire (S&S, 1997)
• Darkness Before Dawn (S&S, 2001)

Jericho Series

• The Battle of Jericho (S&S, 2003)
• November Blues (S&S, 2007)
• Just Another Hero (S&S, 2009)

Sassy Series

• Sassy: Little Sister Is Not My Name (Scholastic Press, 2009)
• Sassy: The Birthday Storm (Scholastic, 2009)
• Sassy: The Silver Secret (Scholastic, 2010)
• Sassy: The Dazzle Disaster Dinner Party (Scholastic, 2010)

Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs Series

• The Buried Bones Mystery (S&S, 1994)
• Lost in the Tunnel of Time (S&S, 1996)
• Shadows of Caesar's Creek (S&S, 1997)
• The Space Mission Adventure (S&S, 2006)
• The Backyard Animal Show (S&S, 2006)
• Stars and Sparks on Stage (S&S, 2007)

Out of My Mind Trilogy

• Out of My Mind (S&S 2010)
• Out of my Heart (S&S 2021)
• Out of my Dreams (S&S 2024)

Standalone Novels

• Romiette and Julio (S&S, 1999)
• Jazzimagination: a journal to read and write (Scholastic, 1999)
• Drum Beats (Scholastic, 2001) cowritten with Charlene Potts
• Double Dutch (S&S, 2002)
• Copper Sun (S&S, 2006)
• Fire from the Rock (Dutton Children's Books, 2007)
• Panic (Atheneum Books, 2013)
• Stella by Starlight (Atheneum Books, 2015)
• Blended (Atheneum Books/Caitlyn Dlouhy, 2018)

Non-Fiction Books

• Teaching from the Heart: reflections, encouragement, and inspiration (Heinemann, 2000)
• Not Quite Burned Out, But Crispy around the Edges: inspiration, laughter, and encouragement for teachers (Heinemann, 2001)
• We Beat the Street (Dutton, 2005)

Poetry Collections

• Let the Circle Be Unbroken: collected poetry for children and young adults (Sharon M. Draper, 1997)
• Buttered Bones (Sharon M. Draper, 1997)

Important Themes in Draper's Books

Many of Sharon Draper's books explore serious and important themes. These include topics like loss and sadness. Draper has explained that she uses these themes because they reflect "the realities of life" for many young people.

Exploring Disabilities

One key theme in Draper's books is about young people living with disabilities. For example, her book Out of My Mind tells the story of a young girl with cerebral palsy. This book helps readers understand what it might be like to live with a physical challenge.

Focus on Identity and Relationships

Another important theme in Draper's books is identity and relationships. In Romiette and Julio, an African American girl and a Hispanic boy start dating. They face challenges from their families and from a local group. This story encourages discussions about different cultures and understanding others.

In Forged by Fire, many characters are African American. However, Draper focuses more on their actions and personal growth. This shows readers that a person's background is just one part of who they are. Other novels by Draper that explore identity include Fire from the Rock, Stella by Starlight, and Blended.