The Delany Sisters Reach High

by Amy Hill Hearth

A new children's biography of the Delany sisters, written by award-winning journalist Amy Hill Hearth and illustrated by award-winning artist Tim Ladwig The Delany sisters took the world by storm with their best-selling biography, Having Our Say, by Amy Hill Hearth. Now their story takes a new form--a biography written especially for children ages 8-12. Reach High introduces children to the childhood of two very special African American sisters. Sadie was the first African American high school teacher in New York City, and Bessie was only the second African American woman licensed to practice dentistry in the state. Reach High introduces children to the childhoods of these two extraordinary women who, in spite of the tremendous obstacles they faced, followed the advice of their father, strove tirelessly, and realized their ultimate goals. Sadie and Bessie both lived to be over 100 years old and have become inspirations to all who read their story.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

"I'm a risk taker with my writing," Amy Hill Hearth (pronounced HARTH) says about her work. "I like to try new genres because I love to be challenged. Following my instincts without thinking of sales potential usually works out for me, anyway." Indeed, Amy's first book, which shocked the publishing world with its completely unexpected success, was the international bestselling oral history, HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS' FIRST 100 YEARS, a N.Y. Times bestseller for more than two years which was adapted for Broadway and film. That book is still going strong, with new audiobook and ebook editions published Jan. 3, 2023. Since the 1993 publication of HAVING OUR SAY, Amy has written ten more books and won many national awards, with genres ranging from Southern fiction and oral histories for adult readers to biographies for young readers. Next up is Amy's first historical thriller, SILENT CAME THE MONSTER, a novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks which will be published May 16, 2023. What her books have in common, she says, is that they are "stories from the past that resonate today." This reflects Amy's lifelong passion for American history as well as a lifelong fascination with the complexities of human nature and interactions. Born in Pittsfield, Mass., Amy has lived in various locations in her life, including Columbia, SC as a child, and, for the last 25 years, at the Jersey Shore.