5 Jacqueline Woodson Miracle’s Boys Picture Books Becoming the Author Motivating Young Writers Influences

Jacqueline Woodson Silvia Agosto Jaye Byer Pam Claywell Pat Hackett Copyright Protected by D.Salina

Who is Lafayette’s brother after he comes home from Rahway ? 1 New Charlie

Copyright Protected by D.Salina Loss, grief, survival, family struggle 2 What are the themes of Miracle’s Boys?

Copyright Protected by D.Salina What it was like being a woman writing from a male perspective? 3 I found it very challenging to imagine myself as a boy. However, I was influenced by my two brothers, one who is like Ty’ree and the other similar to Charlie and Lafayette.

Copyright Protected by D.Salina What is the setting for Coming On Home Soon? 1 World War II Midwest

Copyright Protected by D.Salina History books did not record the experiences of black women during World War II. What are Jacqueline Woodson’s reasons for writing Coming On Home Soon? 2

Copyright Protected by D.Salina The fence that stretched through town. What is the metaphor for racial segregation in The Other Side? 3

Copyright Protected by D.Salina People need to see themselves in the books that they read. Why Jacqueline Woodson become a writer? 1

2 “Every time I write, I write because I have all these questions and I start thinking, What if, how do I, what would that mean, who would I become? It is so important that I show people that they can be writers. As someone who grew up to be a writer I feel like a lot of my characters are writers or have stories to tell”. Copyright Protected by D.Salina What would you tell students’ who have lost their desire to read and or write?

Copyright Protected by D.Salina “My work is always emotionally autobiographical-every feeling my characters have had is a feeling I have had”. Did you share any of your characters struggles growing up? 3

Copyright Protected by D.Salina Daughter, mother, African American, female, tomboy, sexual preference, outsider. What issues of identity influence my writing? 3

Copyright Protected by D.Salina For me realistic fiction means writing about the real world and real issues and seeing yourself in the pages. How do you explain your choice of controversial topics? 2

Copyright Protected by D.Salina How has spirituality influence your writing? 1 I grew up in a pretty religious family as a Jehovah's Witness, I am very grateful for my religious background. I was forced to study the Bible which taught me to focus. That ability to concentrate transferred to my writing.

Copyright Protected by D.Salina I am usually writing more than one book at a time. A picture book and a novel. When I need a break from one I go to the other. How my writing process works? 1

Copyright Protected by D.Salina My first book, Last Summer With Maizon was more autobiographical, and now I am able to make connections beyond my experiences with others who have experienced exclusion or oppression. How has Jacqueline Woodson’s writing changed over time in terms of the depth and range? 2

Copyright Protected by D.Salina Margaret A Edwards Award, Newbery Honor Medal, National Book Award, and Coretta Scott King Award What are honors and awards received by Jacqueline Woodson? 3