Angela Johnson: Poetic Prose

by KaaVonia Hinton

Angela Johnson's career as an award-winning young adult novelist almost did not happen. Like so many would-be writers, she had decided to pursue a more financially stable teaching. But in the end, Johnson abandoned the familiar€”and seemingly more secure€”and became an author. Her first picture book, Tell Me a Story, Mama, conveyed Johnson's talent as a writer and left readers hoping that more books were forthcoming. And come they did. Her picture books were concise, poetic, and memorable. But some wondered, could she write compelling YA literature?Her first book for adolescents, Toning the Sweep, proved that indeed she could. Sparse, poetic language similar to that found in her picture books made its way into her YA novels, and it caused quite a stir amongst critics. Now, with over forty books to her credit€”including board books, middle grade novels, and young adult literature€”Angela Johnson, who refers to her writing as unschooled a

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2006