Sharon M. Draper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharon M. Draper
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Draper at BookExpo America in 2018
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| Born | August 21, 1948 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) |
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| Official website: https://sharondraper.com/ | |
Sharon M. Draper is a famous American writer. She writes books for children and young adults. She was also a teacher and was named the National Teacher of the Year in 1997. Sharon Draper has won the Coretta Scott King Award twice. This award celebrates amazing books by African American authors. She is known for her popular book series like Hazelwood and Jericho. Some of her well-known books include Copper Sun, Double Dutch, Out of My Mind, and Romiette and Julio.
About Sharon Draper
Sharon Draper was born on August 21, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents are Victor D. Mills and Catherine Gachett Mills. She is the oldest of three children. When she was young, Sharon loved to play the piano. She also loved to read books. By the time she was eleven, she had read almost every children's book in her local library. Because she read so much, she got a special library card. This card let her check out books meant for adults!
Her Education and Teaching Career
Sharon Draper went to Pepperdine University. There, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in English. Later, she got her Master of Arts degree in English from Miami University of Ohio in 1974. After finishing college, she started teaching in Cincinnati public schools. She became well-known for a challenging research paper she gave to her older students. It was even called the "Draper Paper."
How She Started Writing
Sharon Draper is married and has four children. Her writing journey began in 1990. One of her ninth-grade students dared her to "write something." She decided to enter a short story contest. The contest was held by Ebony magazine. Her story, called "One Small Torch," won the contest! She received five thousand dollars and her story was published.
One of the people who congratulated her was Alex Haley. He was the author of the famous book Roots. Sharon Draper says that his letter helped her realize she could be a writer. In 2000, she stopped teaching to focus more on her books. Today, Sharon Draper lives in Cincinnati with her husband.
Awards and Special Honors
Sharon Draper has won many awards for her writing and her teaching.
Awards for Her Books
- Tears of a Tiger won the John Steptoe Award for New Talent in 1995. Many groups, like the Children's Book Council, called it one of the best books of the year.
- Forged by Fire won the Coretta Scott King Award in 1997. It was also named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
- Darkness Before Dawn was an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick. It also won the Buckeye Book Award in 2005.
- Romiette and Julio was chosen by the International Reading Association as a Notable Book for a Global Society.
- Out of My Mind has won many awards. These include the Sasquatch Reading Award and the California Young Reader Medal in 2013.
- Double Dutch was honored as one of the top ten sports books for young adults by the ALA.
- The Battle of Jericho received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2004.
- We Beat the Street appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
- Copper Sun won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2007. It was also named one of the Top Ten Historical Fiction Books for Youth. This book was even chosen for an international reading project. Students in the US, Nigeria, and Ghana read it and shared their ideas.
- November Blues received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2008.
- Stella by Starlight won the 2016 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award.
- Blended was a New York Times Best Seller in 2019.
Awards for Her Work as an Educator
- Sharon Draper was named the National Teacher of the Year in 1997.
- The Ohio State Department of Education called her an Ohio Pioneer in Education.
- She received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in 1997.
- In 2015, she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association. This award celebrates authors who have written books that have helped young adults grow and understand the world.
Sharon Draper's Books
Sharon Draper has written many books for young readers. Here are some of her most popular series and standalone novels.
Hazelwood High Trilogy
These books tell stories about students at Hazelwood High.
- Tears of a Tiger (1994)
- Forged by Fire (1997)
- Darkness Before Dawn (2001)
Jericho Series
This series follows the lives of characters in the town of Jericho.
- The Battle of Jericho (2003)
- November Blues (2007)
- Just Another Hero (2009)
Sassy Series
These books are about a character named Sassy.
- Sassy: Little Sister Is Not My Name (2009)
- Sassy: The Birthday Storm (2009)
- Sassy: The Silver Secret (2010)
- Sassy: The Dazzle Disaster Dinner Party (2010)
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs Series
This series features Ziggy and his friends solving mysteries.
- The Buried Bones Mystery (1994)
- Lost in the Tunnel of Time (1996)
- Shadows of Caesar's Creek (1997)
- The Space Mission Adventure (2006)
- The Backyard Animal Show (2006)
- Stars and Sparks on Stage (2007)
Out of My Mind Trilogy
This series tells the story of Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy.
- Out of my Mind (2010)
- Out of my Heart (2021)
- Out of my Dreams (2024)
Other Popular Novels
- Romiette and Julio (1999)
- Double Dutch (2002)
- Copper Sun (2006)
- Fire from the Rock (2007)
- Panic (2013)
- Stella by Starlight (2015)
- Blended (2018)
Non-Fiction Books
- Teaching from the Heart: reflections, encouragement, and inspiration (2000)
- Not Quite Burned Out, But Crispy around the Edges: inspiration, laughter, and encouragement for teachers (2001)
- We Beat the Street (2005)
Poetry Books
- Let the Circle Be Unbroken: collected poetry for children and young adults (1997)
- Buttered Bones (1997)
Themes in Her Books
Sharon Draper often writes about real-life challenges that young people face. She includes important topics like dealing with loss or difficult family situations. She believes these topics are part of life for many young people.
Young People and Disabilities
One major theme in Draper's book Out of My Mind is about young people living with disabilities. The story is about a young girl who has cerebral palsy. It helps readers understand what it might be like to live with a disability.
Race and Identity
Another important theme in Sharon Draper's books is race. In Romiette and Julio, an African American girl and a Hispanic boy start dating. They face challenges from their families and a local gang. This story helps readers think about complex issues like gang violence and relationships between different cultures.
In Forged by Fire, many characters are African American. However, Draper focuses more on their actions and who they are as people. This helps readers see that race is just one part of a person's identity. Other books by Draper that explore race include Fire from the Rock, Stella by Starlight, and Blended.
