Virginia Hamilton

   Virginia Hamilton, well known children's literature author, died February 19, 2002 of breast cancer. She was the author of more than 35 books, from picture books to novels and biographies. She won a National Book Award in 1974 and the Newbery award in 1975 for her novel, M. C. Higgins, the Great. She was also the first children's author to receive a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant. In 1967, her first book, Zeely, revolutionized the conceptions of black characters in children's literature. For the first time, the story wasn't about an important racial issue like segregation or poverty; rather, it was a great story in a rural setting which happened to have black characters. Her most recent book, The Girl Who Spun Gold, is a version of Rumplestiltskin with an African folk-tale setting.

Virginia will be greatly missed. Following are selected books from her library of work. For more information visit Virginia Hamilton's web site.

Contributor: Carey Ahr

Reviews

Drylongso
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
   The author explains that in the Gullah language, "drylongso" is a black colloquial expression that means something rare has become so common that it is very ordinary. The boy, Drylongso, in Virginia Hamilton's latest book is neither common nor ordinary. Set west of the Mississippi River in 1975, this lengthy picture book tells the story of how one family copes with the dusty ravages of drought, and the young boy - half mythical, half folk hero - who appears as a harbinger of a better life. Jerry Pinkney's watercolors manage to glow through the gritty dust that muffles the family's farm life. Daughter Lindy's indomitable spirit is as refreshing and hopeful as spring rain. 1992, Harcourt Brace, Ages 8 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-15-224241-4

Dustland
Virginia Hamilton
   Dustland (Book Two of the Justice Cycle) brings young readers back into the adventures of Justice, her twin brothers Levi and Thomas, and friend Dorian. When the four link minds, they form a powerful force that enables them to travel into the future. Unfortunately, their first mind-jumping experience takes them to the barren world of the future named Dustland, where their very lives are at risk. In Dustland, Justice and her companions must help the three-legged human-like Slakers find water and a way out of the limitless dust. At the same time, Justice's survival is put to the test when her brother Thomas breaks the unit because he is jealous of her powers. Hamilton's story successfully blends a unique science fiction drama with a starkly realistic struggle between a brother and sister. 1998 (orig. 1980), Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $13.00, $12.88, $4.50, and $3.95. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
ISBN: 0-688-80228-1
ISBN: 0-688-84228-3
ISBN: 0-590-36217-8
ISBN: 0-15-224315-1

The Gathering
Virginia Hamilton
   In this third installment in Hamilton's "Justice Cycle," four time-traveling youths reunite to form the first unit, a four-way force which enables them to travel through time to a land ravaged by an evil force known as Mal. Together, Justice, her twin brothers Levi and Thomas, and their friend Dorian must save beings in the oppressive future known as Dustland and fight against Mal to save the earth. Only by working together can the first unit save Dustland and prevent the four youths from being sucked into the Crossover between times, an eternal prison. Although a little slow going at first, this book gathers speed and interest when the four youths gather the courage to fight Mal. 1998 (orig. 1981), Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $14.50 and $3.95. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
ISBN: 0-590-36216-X
ISBN: 0-15-230592-0

The Girl Who Spun Gold
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
   Hamilton spins an interesting variation on the Rumplestiltskin story. Set in Africa, Quashiba becomes the wife of a king (Big King) when her mother promises that her daughter can spin golden thread from ordinary cotton. Big King marries Quashiba and gives her everything she desires for a year, but then locks her up and demands that she produce gold. Lit'mahn enters and offers his help, but there is a catch, Quashiba must guess his full name within three nights or he will make her tiny and whisk her away with him. The tale follows its traditional form with Quashiba discovering Lit'mahn's true name. In a nice twist she also punishes Big King for his greed, but eventually forgives him. The Dillons have produced a book that truly gleams with gold and other rich colors. The exotic setting is a visual feast, and the colloquial retelling using lilting West Indian speech patterns make this book a great read aloud. 2000, Scholastic, Ages 5 up, $16.95. Reviewer Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-590-47378-6

Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
   This is a stunning collection made even more spectacular with the poignant illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. Hamilton takes children through animal and supernatural tales, biography and legend with a range of telling that is as diverse and powerful as the stories told. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $19.95. Reviewer Susie Wilde
4 15 ISBN: 0-590-47370-0

 

Jaguarundi
Virginia Hamilton
Paintings by Floyd Cooper
   My difficulties with this book stem, I think, from the fact that I don't know what it is supposed to be. Is it a folktale explaining how animals adapt to their environments, or how jaguarundis came to live in desert climates? Is it a metaphor for the search for freedom that has motivated countless groups of people to leave the safety of their homeland for the possibility of better times and situations? Is it an environmental plea? I don't know the answer to those questions, but I do know that the book does not succeed on all these levels simultaneously. It is difficult to connect with the characters and their problems-again perhaps because I had trouble simply identifying the basic problem. Also, the time lapse seemed confusing. An animal species adapted to life in the rainforest would need more time than Jaguarundi seems to have spent on his journey to be able to survive in a desert habitat. Stunning artwork and the illustrated animal glossary are definitely the bright spots here. 1995, Blue Sky, Ages 8 up, $14.95. Reviewer Judy Katsh
ISBN: 0-590-47366-2

Justice and her Brothers: Book One of the Justice Cycle
Virginia Hamilton
   Justice Douglas has always felt left out; her older, identical twin brothers have incredibly strong links to each other. While Levi is caring, Thomas is mean and dangerous. When she discovers the bond between her brothers involves potentially lethal extrasensory forces, Justice joins with her brothers to battle these terribly strong forces and the siblings are transported to a mysterious future world. This interesting novel combines all too real family problems with the world of science fiction. 1998 (orig. 1978), Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $7.95, $7.35, $4.95, and $3.95. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
ISBN: 0-688-80182-X
ISBN: 0-688-84182-1
ISBN: 0-590-36214-3
ISBN: 0-15-241640-4

The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl
Virginia Hamilton
   African and African-American folklore come to life in this fantasy by award winning author Virginia Hamilton. The story opens on Mount Kenya in Africa, home to the god child Pretty Pearl and all the other gods, including her brother John de Conquer. Curious about mankind, Pretty Pearl tells her brother what she has seen. "Well, it most strange," she said. "I spy de ones who out gatherin'. Some other ones come grab holt them, hit them and carry them off somewheres. Don't know where. It all seem most strange, though." Sympathetic to the plight of the humans she has seen, Pretty Pearl wants to help. First, however, her brother John de Conquer tells her she must learn patience and not interfere with human progress. Biding her time until a period after the Civil War, Pretty Pearl is finally given permission to descend to earth. Armed with talismans, spirits and the powerful de Conquer root, Pretty Pearl joins a group of independent blacks whose home is threatened by the coming of a railroad. This richly textured coming of age tale of the god child Pretty Pearl is absorbing and can be read and understood on many levels. 1983, HarperTrophy, Ages 11 up, $9.95, $9.89, and $5.95. Reviewer: Deborah Palgon
ISBN: 0-06-022186-0
ISBN: 0-06-022187-9
ISBN: 0-06-440178-2

Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon
   This groundbreaking work traces the history of slavery in America from the earliest slave trading to the Emancipation Proclamation and the growth of the Underground Railroad. The author presents personal accounts and individual profiles of well-known figures such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass and other lesser-known slaves such as Henry Box Brown, Jackson and Eliza. 1993, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 8 up, $18.00, $18.99 and $12.00. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-394-82873-9
ISBN: 0-394-92873-3
ISBN: 0-679-87936-6

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon
   This classic collection contains twenty-four tales, stories, and riddles about animals, fantasy and the supernatural handed down by African slaves before and during the Civil War period. These stories, born out of the sorrow of slaves, focus on freedom and triumph and bring hope to all who read them. Bruh Rabbit and the Two Johns are just some of the fascinating characters featured in this enchanting anthology. Dillon's mystical and inspiring black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement Hamilton's well-written prose. 1985, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 8 up, $18.00, $18.99 and $13.00. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-394-86925-7
ISBN: 0-394-96925-1
ISBN: 0-679-84336-1

Plain City
Virginia Hamilton
   Buhlaire Sims is a struggling adolescent. She has a mother who works out of town most of the time and she lives on the wrong side of town with two aunts, one bossy and the other blind. She looks different, does not make friends easily, is tormented by a boy named Grady, and sorely misses having a father whom she believes was killed in Vietnam. This is a compelling story of growing up, searching for truth, coping with mental illness, and extended families. It received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. 1993, Scholastic, Ages 11 up, $13.95 and $4.50 Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner
ISBN: 0-590-47364-6
ISBN: 0-590-47365-4

A Ring of Tricksters
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Barry Moser
   This is the third collaboration by this author and illustrator and they continue to charm readers with outstanding folktales and matching illustrations. There are similarities here to their previous works, When Birds Could Talk & Bats Could Sing and In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World. This collection contains stories that are drawn from distinct geographical regions, but they share common roots. The American Trickster tales feature Buh Rabby, sometimes called Brer Rabbit, and other smaller creatures who use their wits to best those larger and more powerful. These tales have their roots in the African culture of the slaves in the Southern US. Another set of tales from the West Indies feature Anansi, the spider, which is also rooted in African culture. What makes the circle complete are the African trickster tales, which may have returned to the continent via freed slaves. They are entertaining and the dialect is not overwhelming. The artwork by Moser is filled with humor. The way his animal characters displays the full range of human emotions is testament to his prodigious talent. This is a book to be savored and begs to be read aloud. The stories are appropriate for younger children to listen to, while older kids can read them on their own. Notes provide background and information about the stories. 1997, Scholastic, Ages 6 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-590-47374-3

Second Cousins
Virginia Hamilton
   Twelve-year-old Cammy Coleman has so many relatives it's hard to keep them straight. It works out better to call them all second cousins. And now, second cousins she never even knew she had are gathering in town for the big reunion. It's hard to get excited about anything since the awful accident last year when Cammy and her cousin Elodie witnessed the drowning of another cousin, Patricia Ann. The only calming influence in Cammy's life is Gran Tut, but she's staring off into memories much of the time. Cousins flood into town; Cammy befriends a girl about her age who calls herself Fractal. Fractal teaches Cammy about fractal computer art, graphics, and the internet. But what is it that everyone seems to know about Fractal except Cammy? What is the strange bond they seem to share? In this touching story, a follow-up to the novel, Cousins, Virginia Hamilton makes visible the invisible thread that weaves families together, and she makes a little less mysterious the "sweet mystery, the way they could be at once close with far relatives." 1998, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Ages 11 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
ISBN: 0-590-47368-9

Updated 2002

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