Angela Johnson
The Accidental Genius
By Sue Corbett
Angela Johnson did not finish college. If you're passing through Kent, Ohio, the town she calls home, you might see her waiting for the public bus, because she doesn't drive. She got her first big career break through a babysitting job.
Does this read like a thumbnail biography of a MacArthur "genius" grant winner? Because it is.
Johnson, 42, learned in November she'd won a MacArthur Fellowship - the so-called "genius" grants which award $500,000 with "no strings attached" to support the work of creative individuals.
Then last month her novel, The First Part Last, won the Printz Award from the American Library Association for the best young adult novel of the year. The same day it also won the Coretta Scott King Award for the best book of the year by an African American writer.
Surely, now, she'll get a car? Go on vacation? Buy a luxurious home in a warmer clime?
"Absolutely not," she said. "Nothing has changed. I'm just as neurotic as I ever was and probably more reclusive."
Humble, too. When she saw the MacArthur Foundation name and telephone number on the caller ID readout last November, she recognized the name right away.
"I am a prisoner of public television, after all, so I know who John D. and Catherine are," she said. "But my first was, 'I didn't know the MacArthur Foundation did telephone solicitations.'"
When she told her agent, Barry Goldblatt, he remembers saying, "'This is the perfect award for you. You don't have to speak, you don't have to appear in person.' The worst part was she had to have her photograph taken."
She only has to write, which is what Johnson would be doing anyway.
Richard Jackson, the Simon & Schuster editor who published Johnson's first work - a picture book -- in 1989, says the quality that makes her writing unique is her "vivid visual sense," and the careful relationships Johnson crafts between her well-drawn characters. It's her people, Jackson says, "and the potential, often realized, of tenderness between them."
Her current editor, Kevin Lewis, says Johnson has an uncanny ability to create characters that are at once unique and universal, like Bobby, the teen father who is the central character in The First Part Last. "A reader might begin (the book) thinking that they have nothing in common with Bobby, but by the end they realize that the list of things people share - things like family, friends, struggle, change, love, loss, dreams and so on -- is much more profound than the list of our differences."
If you can call a babysitter job a break, Johnson's came as a college student two decades ago at Kent State. (The degree she never got was in special education.) She struck a key friendship with a writer who hired Johnson to pick up her son from preschool.
The writer, who had just two picture books published at the time, was Cynthia Rylant, who went on to win the Newbery Medal for Missing May in 1993.
"She asked to look at a piece of my work but she was dealing with a writer who wasn't very cooperative," Johnson said. "I guess maybe a year or two later, I gave it to her and without my knowing, she sent it to an editor. "
Up to that point, Johnson's family had been long on storytellers and short on published writers. Johnson had been scribbling in a diary since third grade, but had practical reservations, like being able to pay the rent, about pursuing writing as a career.
At Rylant's urging, she turned her focus to writing for young readers, which seemed natural since Johnson had planned on working in a field - teaching - that would allow her to be around kids.
Rylant also sold Johnson the Kent house she now calls home -- when Rylant and her significant other, Dav Pilkey, left Ohio for the Pacific Northwest.
That's right. Johnson lives in the former home of Pilkey - best known as the author of the Captain Underpants books.
"My goddaughter lives in the room that was his office and she thinks that's something - to live in Captain Underpants' old office," Johnson said.
Though Johnson's lived all but the first 15 months of her life in Ohio, she was born in Alabama and her southern roots show in her writing - with her lyrical evocations of life away from the bright lights.
The First Part Last, (Simon & Schuster, $15.95) however, is set in New York City - a place Johnson knows only from visiting. A prequel to her novel Heaven, which won the Coretta Scott King Award in 1999, The First Part Last, is about Bobby, who fathers a child with his beloved girlfriend, Nia, and winds up with sole custody of the baby while he's finishing high school and worrying about college.
There is a tragic element to The First Part Last, but what resonates most is not the drama but the love - between Bobby and Nia, between Bobby and his separated-but-amiable parents, and most of all between Bobby and Feather, his baby girl. This is characteristic of all of Johnson's work, populated as it is by families who have the same stresses and strengths as real ones.
"I am what I write," Johnson said. "I grew up in a town of 2,500 people, in a Leave-it-to-Beaver type household. No one locked their doors," she said. "There are always issues when it comes to race, but there's also a world outside everyone being inner-city poor. There's an African-American middle class. People who go to museums. That's where I'm writing from."
Though Johnson is writing a third book with the characters from Heaven and The First Part Last, she is broadening her canvas, too. Her most recent picture books - I Dream of Trains and Just Like Josh Gibson (both Simon & Schuster, $15.95), reach into African-American history for stories about the legendary train engineer, Casey Jones, and the Negro League All-Star, Josh Gibson.
She credits Lewis, her editor, with pushing her in a new direction. Lewis says it seemed natural to match historical storylines with a writer who could humanize them for children, so as to create a stronger and more emotional connection with history.
"One of the most important things that children get from this is the understanding that we live history every day, and that 100 years from now our descendants could be telling stories about our lives," Lewis said. "That can only inspire us in the choices we make."
In all, Johnson has now written almost 40 books. Not bad for a writer whose first manuscript had to be pried from her hands and mailed off secretly.
Goldblatt, the agent, says he thinks she may even be warming up to the spotlight.
"She's grown so much, it doesn't terrify her like it used to," he said. "At least I hope that's true, because I'd hate it if she wasn't having as much fun with all this success as the rest of us are."
Sue Corbett is the children's book editor for the Miami Herald and the author of 12 Again, a novel for young readers.
For more about Angela Johnson visit her website.
Reviews
The Aunt in Our House
Angela Johnson
Pictures by David Soman
As real life family configurations become more and more varied, it's nice to see picture books mirroring that trend. Here's an intact family that's loving and open-minded enough to welcome an adult newcomer to the fold. Why she's come and for how long is unclear both to the family and to the readers. But for now, and however much longer, she's welcome in their home and in their hearts. It's a loving and lovely book with multi-racial illustrations that reflect that tone. 1996, Orchard Books, $15.95 and $16.99, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Judy Katsh (Childrens's Literature)
ISBN: 0-531-09502-9
ISBN: 0-531-08852-9
Casey Jones
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Loren Long
Our young narrator, thinks about Casey Jones while picking cotton in the Mississippi heat, listening for the whistle as he dreams about trains. In his mind he rides the engine with Casey across the miles. Johnson's poetic prose depicts the dreams that lift his life. With his papa, the boy visits the scene of Casey's famous wreck. Through daily drudgery his father encourages him to see "the big wide world" beyond some day. He knows he will leave, but he will remember. Long supplies a visual tone poem with his double-page paintings. These are dramatic, theatrical settings. Some are close-ups of the characters but others are more panoramic, describing wooded landscapes and the humans playing their parts. Muted colors, many dark scenes, sculptural shapes all help create a visual spirituality. A note fills in historic background, including the fact important to blacks at the time that Casey worked side by side with black Sam Webb, whom he told to jump before the crash. 2003, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $16.95, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Childrens's Literature)
In 1900, an African American Mississippi boy dreams of leaving, of being somewhere else, as he picks cotton with his family. Evoking this feeling is the lonesome and exciting passage of Casey Jones, Sim Webb, and their locomotive that frequently passes by the farm. While he works, the boy imagines driving the train and blowing the whistle. One April day, he learns of Casey's death, and he and his father walk to the place where the wrecked train came to rest and Casey was found still holding the brake. Papa explains to the grieving boy that there will be other trains, and other places the boy will see. The boy continues dreaming and as the last picture reveals, he will head out to find "my place in the big wide world." While the publisher suggests this book for five-to-seven-year-olds, it will take some adult patience and maturity to help children understand all that Johnson has aimed for. This is especially true for those who developmentally can't imagine ever leaving their families to adventure. An author's note explains how Casey's black assistant, Webb, was undoubtedly an inspiration to African Americans who were looking to leave the South for better jobs during the ensuing Great Migration. Long's richly tinted acrylic illustrations lushly depict the scenery in summer and winter, show the rushing train from a variety of perspectives, and dramatically place the people and action on the page. The inviting deep color has the texture of pastels lavishly used. Without the author's note, the story is enigmatic rather than expository, but with it, the book evokes a coming change and the boy's anticipation. In the final illustration, two smoky question marks curl from the smokestacks of the departing train as the now-adult boy leaves, as if to ask: what will happen next? What does the future hold? 2003, Simon & Schuster, $16.95, Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, October 20, 2003; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-689-82609-5
A Cool Moonlight
Angela Johnson
Eight-year-old Lila has a rare allergy to the sun called xedorema pigmentosum. Although she cannot go out during the day or go somewhere that has strong artificial light, the imaginative and life loving girl finds ways to enjoy her limited world. For example, one of her biggest thrills is to ride along with her teenage sister in her beat up old car. She also joyously plays in her back yard at night and is often joined by two magical girls, Elizabeth and Alyssa. The two friends wear fairy wings and always seem to knowingly appear when needed. No one but Lila can see Elizabeth and Alyssa and how they sparkle and glow. The two create a sun bag for Lila, so she can dance in the sun--one of Lila's biggest dreams. When Lila turns nine, she accepts she will be a moon girl instead of a sun goddess, and she also develops a strong friendship with a neighbor boy. Because of the positive changes in her life, the two magical beings only visit her in dreams. Johnson brilliantly tells Lila's tale of acceptance and growth. The book's first person narration and superbly crafted dialogue lovingly captures the soul of an eight year old. The reader does not feel sorry for the girl but instead becomes engrossed in her magical world of moonlight dances and fireflies. 2003, Dial Books, $14.99, Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Patricia Silverberg (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Parent's Choice Award Silver 2003 Fiction United States
ISBN: 0-8037-2846-8
Daddy Calls Me Man
Angela Johnson
Paintings by Rhonda Mitchell
Noah's yearning for big shoes should strike a chord within the hearts of young readers. However, they will discover, along with Noah, that it is not special shoes but love and caring for his baby sister that makes him a man in Dad's eyes. Vivid paintings bring this story to life. 1997, Orchard Books, $15.95 and 16.99, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist forPre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
ISBN: 0-531-30042-0
ISBN: 0-531-33042-7
Down the Winding Road
Angela Johnson
Illustrations by Shane Evans
It is the last day of summer vacation and the family is loaded up in the car to head down the winding road, out of the city and into the rolling country hills where the old ones live. The old ones are eagerly awaiting the yearly visit and greet the youngsters warmly, with smiles and hugs. Shane Evans' illustrations poignantly capture the personalities of the older generation, with smiling eyes and compassionate gestures. The youngsters, curious buy shy, enjoy the company of their relatives in a day complete with family ritual as well as special treats. The story is a poetic reflection, simple and meandering as a winding road. Johnson's sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the small joys of family gatherings may be lost on young readers. 2000, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc, $15.99, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Jessica Becker (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-7894-2596-3
The First Part Last
Angela Johnson
This tender story of a teenage father in New York City resonates with the realities of issues facing young people today. Bobby Morris, a sixteen-year-old senior, is trying to cope with taking care of his infant daughter while finishing his high school education. With literary artistry, the author--a two time Coretta Scott King Award winner--weaves a story that alternates skillfully between present and past. Chapter by chapter, the reader learns more and more about Bobby, the reasons he has ended up with the child, and the tragic whereabouts of the baby's mother. The language is teen-friendly--filled with images of the city--and sparse enough to make it a fast read for busy middle and high school students. A spin-off story from Johnson's novel, Heaven, it will be appreciated by that cadre of readers. Good messages for adolescents dealing with the pressures of teenage relationships, and eye-opening truisms about having and caring for babies. 2003, Simon & Schuster, $15.95, Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Jane Harrington (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2004 Top Ten; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, June 16, 2003; Cahners; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2003; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2004 Author United States
Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2004 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Language Arts Grades 7-12 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-689-84922-2
Gone from Home: Short Takes
Angela Johnson
Looking for something to grab those middle-school students who think they don't like to read? Well, "everybody's got a story" according to the girl who talks to the guy who collects empty egg cartons. There's Greg's friend Mick, who's likely going to be the next Dr. Doolittle but you never know if doing the deeds to get there may involve some jail time or being on a television talk show. And you might think you recognize Batgirl, the girl in Cleveland who will tell you how she got her name, but really likes hanging with her friend at the mall. This collection of short stories written in the first person will draw readers in, and give them the feeling that these are people they might really meet in the 'hood, at the mall or around the corner. Angela Johnson's Heaven has been given a Coretta Scott King Award , and Gone From Home is worthy of some awards as well. Absolutely top-notch! 1998, DK Publishing, $15.95, Ages 11 to 16. Reviewer: Leslie Hauschildt (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1998; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 1998; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 1998; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-7894-2499-1
Heaven
Angela Johnson
As a novelist, Johnson has the talent for realistically portraying the complex and often imperfect nature of family communication. In this story, Marley discovers that the people she always thought of as her parents are really her aunt and uncle, who took her in when her mother was killed and her father began a roaming life. Marley's world is turned upside down. As she struggles to put things right again, she seeks out the help of her friends and tries to talk about her family. Her ideas and emotions are awkwardly expressed, which adds to the realism of the story. The characters are complex and compelling: artist friend Bobby, who is raising his daughter Feather with Marley's help, the roaming uncle/father who sends letters to his "Sweet Marley" and travels everywhere in his pickup truck with his dog Boy, and Shoogy Maple, the self-destructive ex-beauty queen who rebels against the facade of perfection in her family. The resolution of the novel comes too quickly, which undermines the psychological complexity of the story, but the book is strong enough to stand against this flaw. 1998, Simon and Schuster, $16.00, Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye, Ph.D. (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Best Books for Young Adults, 1999; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001;
National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 1999 Author United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Georgia Children's Literature Awards, 2000; Nominee; Georgia
South Carolina Book Awards, 2001; Nominee; South Carolina
ISBN: 0-689-82229-4
Just like Josh Gibson
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Beth Peck
A young girl is inspired by her grandmother's story of how she grew up loving baseball, but had to stay "outside the fence" when the boys played because "girls in the forties didn't play baseball." When given the chance, however, she could really hit and throw, always imagining she was Josh Gibson, hero of the Negro League. One day the boys' team is short a member and calls on her. Even in her pink dress and Mary Janes she comes through just like her hero. The grandmother still has the ball from that game, along with the memories of the cheers. But although the race barrier in baseball has fallen, the author notes, the gender barrier still exists. See the new Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen by Marissa Moss, illustrated by C.F. Payne (Simon & Schuster, 2004) for an interesting comparison. Peck uses pastels effectively to create the vivacity of youngsters at play. Double-page scenes depict the events of the brief text but extend them with simple settings that are proper backdrops for the drama of youthful energy and spiritual assurance. The vigorous strokes of chalk create emotionally charged reality. The author has added facts about the life of Josh Gibson. 2004, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $15.95, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Childrens's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689-82628-1
Looking for Red
Angela Johnson
This lyrical and engaging novel is divided into four spare, but compelling, parts-- missing, looking, listening, and moving on--all stages that accompany loss. Michaela's teenaged brother, Red, is gone. How Mike, her family, and Red's two closest friends are affected in the aftermath of his disappearance is the focus of this mysterious story. Mike dwells upon her own daily childhood memories of her brother, fishing with him and listening to his tales of mapmakers and sea monsters. She also sees regular apparitions of him leaning against their shed. Is Red really gone? What's the true story behind his death that only Mike, Mona, and Mark know? Anticipating the answers to these questions will keep readers involved to the end. The book combines a powerful mixture of slow-paced remembrance with a page-turning need for answers. "It's like walking barefoot in a room full of glass, when someone you love goes away," says Mike. Readers will often feel the same way as they share her painful, but healing, journey. 2002, Simon & Schuster, $15.95, Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Betty Hicks (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Winner 2003 Grades 7-12 United States
ISBN: 0-689-83253-2
Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by John Ward
Charlene, or "Charlie," moves to a new house on Magnolia Street. In a series of entertaining stories, she makes friends and becomes more familiar with her neighborhood. Charlie's first friend, Billy, joins in to investigate her brother's story that maniac monkeys have taken away the neighborhood children. Later, a sculptor neighbor makes a statue of Charlie jumping rope. All is well until Charlie tries to make the statue jump rope, too. Charlie and Billy go to another neighbor's house under the false pretense of reclaiming Billy's favorite baseball cap. They are charmed by the neighbor and captivated by his hundreds of fish tanks. Charlie and Billy later perform an archeological dig on a vacant lot and discover a time capsule containing old toys, coins, and a note directing whoever discovers the box to share the find, add their own treasures and bury it again. Another day, Charlie entertains Billy's relatives while he and his family are out, only to discover that they are someone else's relatives and had come to Billy's house by mistake. The stories are sweet, but perhaps a bit too innocent to be believable. This is not likely to be a book kids will read over and over again. 1999, Alfred A. Knopf, $16.00 and $17.99, Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Julie Steinberg, J.D. (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-679-89053-X
ISBN: 0-679-99053-4
One of Three
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by David Soman
The story, narrated by the youngest child in the family, tells of the joy of being one of three sisters-the places they go and the things they do together. Although the youngest girl is not included in all the things her sisters do, she is still "one of three," with her Mother and Father being the other two. 1995, Orchard Books, $5.95, Ages 3 mo. to 5. Reviewer: P. Barry (Parent Council Volume 3)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 0-531-07061-1
The Other Side: Shorter Poems
Angela Johnson
This deceptively simple book of poems offers wry, insightful glimpses into the character of the people and locale of Shorter, Alabama, which was torn down to make way for a dog track. The young Afro-American poet claims to both love and hate this southern rural town where she grew up, but it is primarily love that comes across in the free verse. As she chronicles stories of her family, friends, and self in an immediate vernacular voice, weaving its way through concise vignettes, there is a wistful sense of loss of the way of life once embedded in the "red, red dirt of Alabama." The personal black-and-white photos included in the book invite the reader to make connections between the people in the poems and those in the pictures, but much remains slightly out of focus. The book jacket of photos superimposed on a green padlocked fence is emblematic of these locked-away memories. Likewise, while these poems communicate both to children and adults, life on "the other side" ultimately remains out of reach. The childhood experiences should be of particular interest to children, and the young author can be an inspiration to aspiring writers. 1998, Orchard Books, $15.95, Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D. (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 1999; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 1999 United States
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Winner 1999 United States
ISBN: 0-531-30114-1
ISBN: 0-531-33114-8
The Rolling Store
Angela Johnson
Paintings by Peter Catalanotto
Johnson, who is a past winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, writes a wonderful story linking the past with the present. Two friends recreate a "rolling store" on a wagon as one tells the other a story of the traveling store from the days when her granddaddy was young. The store was a source of great happiness and adventure for the granddaddy as it was the only shopping opportunity available then. The man who brought the traveling store to town sang a familiar song, which alerted the townspeople of his arrival. The illustrator has intricately woven the girls' present playtime activities with images of the grandfather's memories of the past. The result is a charming experience for readers of all ages. Enjoy it with a grandchild or friend as it is bound to spark a discussion of the way things used to be. 1997, Orchard, $16.99 and $15.95, Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Susan Hoyle Fournier (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education; United State
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 0-531-30015-3
ISBN: 0-531-30015-X
Running Back to Ludie
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Angelo
A poetic voice can soften a tough subject as it does in Angela Johnson's Running Back to Ludie, a slim volume of thirty-six poems. The narrator's mother, Ludie, has left years ago, but through poems we learn her daughter's mixed feelings, amplified when she's invited to visit. With a series of spare, poignant stanzas of free verse, Johnson shows the narrator's hurt in the context of her daily life; the mix of commonplace poems with those steeped in feelings and thoughts become an analogy for the young girl's life. At first the dissimilarity seems distracting, but in these different lights and situations, we begin to know a girl who sees with depth and sensitivity, whether she is considering mundane or tender subjects. Her tangle of feelings before, during and after she sees her mother are balanced with her everyday life. She still "Put (s) my shoes on the/same and still/thought mashed potatoes/were good." But her surroundings measure her change as she's "Put a picture of her (Ludie)/smiling into the sun on my/corkboard/and even mentioned her to/some kids I didn't know that well." 2001, Orchard, $15.95, Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-439-29316-2
Shoes Like Miss Alice's
Angela Johnson
Paintings by Ken Page
Miss Alice comes to take care of Sara while her mother is gone. Sara is sad, but Miss Alice puts on her dancing shoes and soon Sara is dancing along. When Sara gets blue again, it's time for walking shoes. Miss Alice even has special nap shoes. Sara is delighted when her mother returns and dances around, imagining her shoes are like Miss Alice's. Paintings reflect Sara's reluctance and final yielding to Miss Alice's loving care. 1995, Orchard, $16.99 and $15.95, Ages 3 to 9. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen (Childrens's Literature)
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 1996; Nominee; Kentucky
ISBN: 0-531-06814-5
ISBN: 0-531-08664-X
Songs of Faith
Angela Johnson
Doreen feels beset by changes in this story about her experiences of personal turmoil during the summer of 1975. Her parents have finalized their divorce and her father has moved to Chicago. The change in society, as divorce and separation become almost commonplace, provides the background to Doreen's attempts to cope with the changes in her own life. The shadowy presence of the societal upheaval caused by the Vietnam War is also a factor, not just in Doreen's life, but in her friends' lives as well. When Viola, Doreen's best friend, moves away, Doreen wishes people would be like the maple tree in the back yard. It has been there forever and she wants people to do what it does--stay. Her mother reassures her that some kinds of love you can never tear away. Doreen is close to her brother Robert, who befriends a newcomer to town, Jolette. Jolette compulsively jumps rope. Robert stops talking and his reason for doing so is similar to Jolette's reason for jumping rope. It is a child's way of trying to bring about results in a situation in which he feels powerless. 1998, Orchard Books, $15.95, Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-531-30023-4
ISBN: 0-531-33023-0
The Leaving Morning
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by David Soman
When you've lived somewhere for a long time, moving away can be very hard to do. It's painful to say good-bye to family, friends, and well-loved neighbors. The Leaving Morning, by Novello author Angela Johnson, is a wonderfully written story of what happens to two children whose family is moving from their neighborhood. From packing belongings to saying good-bye to their friends and neighbors, these sisters handle the moving process with the love and support of their parents. Even though moving away is painful, they still feel excitement as they watch the moving men haul their possessions on the truck. David Soman's paintings beautifully show the sadness of change and the anticipation of the adventures yet to come. Category: African-American; Realistic Fiction. Grade Level: Primary (K-3rd grade); Adult/Parent. 1992, Orchard Books, under 40 pages, Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Annie (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))
ISBN: 0-531-07072-7
Those Building Men
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Those "shadowy building men"--many, perhaps most, of their names are lost to history but the works they left testify to their strength and vision. These were men who dug, sawed, hammered and hauled to build a modern industrial nation. The author's spare yet eloquent poem brings these Native American, Asian, African and European men to life. The simple language captures the enormity of their tasks and honors the sacrifices they made in pursuit of a common goal. It pays tribute to their strength and courage in the face of danger, boredom and isolation. The illustrator's rich watercolors lend force to the poem. A National Book Award winner, Moser captures the wildness of the North American landscape and the immensity of the builders' undertakings--bridges, railroads, canals and skyscrapers. He puts faces on those anonymous building men, imbuing each portrait with both humbleness and dignity. Like the men themselves reviewing their accomplishments, the reader finishes this book shaking his head and thinking, "Ain't that something." 2001, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $16.95, Ages All. Reviewer: Stephanie Farrow (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
ISBN: 0-590-66521-9
Toning the Sweep
Angela Johnson
This story describes the transition three generations of African-American women experience as they reconcile themselves with the past and enter a new era. Emily and her mother, Diane, travel to the California desert to see her grandmother, Ola. Ola has been diagnosed with cancer and is moving to Cleveland to live the remainder of her life with Emily and her parents. In 1964 Ola came to California to escape the memories of her husband's brutal murder. The arid California landscape comforted Ola because it was nothing like Alabama, the scene of this tragedy. Diane, however, hates the desert as it serves as a constant reminder of her father's senseless murder. Emily, like Ola, finds solace and joy in the beauty of the desert environment. Every summer of her life she has joined Ola in California, and Emily realizes this trip marks the end of this part of her life. The poignant story dramatizes the different periods we experience in our lives. The recognition that a significant portion of her life has come to an end leads Emily to search for a way to acknowledge this event. "Toning the sweep" refers to a ritual in which mourners hammer on metal and the rhythmic beat recognizes death and speeds the soul on its journey to heaven. Emily and Diane reenact this ritual for Emily's grandfather. However, it is clear that this ritual is also recognizing the end of their lives in "the desert" and the beginning of their journey in Cleveland. Johnson's understated and unsentimental prose draws the reader to the characters and the story. Although this novel's intended audience is YAs this reviewer highly recommends that librarians remember to suggest this book to adults. The storyline and characters will touch readers. This struggle to reconcile ourselves with the end of life's different periods is something we all can identify with. Category: Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JSA--Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 1993, Scholastic, Point Signature, 103p. 18cm., $3.95. Ages 12 to adult. Reviewer: Ann M. Burlingame (KLIATT Review, November 1994 (Vol. 28, No. 6)) (Childrens's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 1994; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 1993; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1993; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Eureka! California in Children's Literature, 2003; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Second Edition, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for Children, 1993; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 1997; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, May 1993; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 1993; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books for Young Adults, 1993; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 1994 Black Author United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
South Carolina Book Awards, 1996; Nominee; South Carolina
ISBN: 0-531-05476-4
ISBN: 0-531-08626-7
ISBN: 0-590-48142-8
Violet's music
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Violet entered the world loving music. She began with banging a rhythm on her bed and shaking her rattle with a beat. None of the other babies joined in. She got a horn for her second birthday and tooted from morning till night. She thought she might find some fellow music lovers in kindergarten, but her classmates liked different activities. Violet continued to enjoy making music by herself, but she was constantly on the outlook for others who might share her interest. She looked around everywhere she went. Then one day several summers later, she was playing her guitar in the park when she heard a drum beating over by the fountain. Then she heard the smooth sound of a saxophone by the jungle gym. Someone started singing by the flower garden. And a band was born. Violet discovered that just like her, Angel, Randy, and Juan had been looking for musicians all of their lives. Violet is depicted as an adorable African-American girl. The boisterous pictures feature dynamic characters representing a variety of ethnic groups. Young children will appreciate the subtle message about following your dreams and not becoming discouraged when it appears that others do not share your vision. 2004, Dial, $16.99, Ages 3 to 7. Rreviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Childrens's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8037-2740-2
When I am old with You
Angela Johnson
Pictures by David Soman
Novello author Angela Johnson does it again with a terrific story that can be enjoyed by all generations! In When I Am Old With You, a little boy recounts to his grandfather all the things they will do when he is older. Illustrator David Soman's brush paints beautiful images of a little boy's celebration of his grandfather. From sitting in rocking chairs, talking about everything to taking trips to the beach, the boy and his grandfather are always happy together. This book is a definite " must have" for all home libraries! A wonderful book to read to Grandma, Grandpa, or other favorite adults. Category: African-American; Read Aloud. Grade Level: Preschool; Primary (K-3rd grade). 1990, Orchard Books, under 40 pages, Ages 3 to 9. Reviewer: Annie (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 0-531-05884-0
ISBN: 0-531-08484-1
When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street
Angela Johnson
Illustrated by John Ward
In this sequel to her Maniac on Magnolia Street, Johnson walks readers through a summer in which nothing much happens. Charlie and her best friends Lump and Billy go fishing, discover a magician neighbor, make friends with a new gardening neighbor named Ashley, and help an elderly fruit seller who has a mule cart from which he sells. The last three chapters of this seven-chapter book are told in improbably long nine-page letters from each character, two from the boys at camp, and one to both of them from Charlie. An episodic plot, more telling than showing by incident, and little thematic development beyond Charlie's growing appreciation for her brother make this a pleasant but not very compelling read and an additional purchase at best. 2001, Knopf, $16.99 and $14.95, Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Childrens's Literature)
ISBN: 0-679-89077-7
ISBN: 0-679-99077-1
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 0-531-05884-0
ISBN: 0-531-08484-1
Added 04/23/04
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