Sharon M. Draper

Vier Jugendliche sind mit dem Auto unterwegs. Sie haben gefeiert - mit Alkohol. Da passiert Das Auto rast gegen eine Mauer. Einer der Jungen verbrennt. Für den Fahrer, den 17-jährigen Andy, beginnt damit ein Albtraum. Wie soll er mit dem Tod seines Freundes und mit seiner Schuld umgehen? Zuerst sieht es so aus, als könnte er sich wieder fangen. Er hat genügend seine Freundin, den Basketballtrainer, einen Psychologen. Doch seine Situation wird immer verzweifelter, und er entfernt sich immer mehr von denen, die ihn mögen. Bis es zur Katastrophe kommt.

"You’re so exotic!” “You look so unusual.” “But what are you really?” Eleven-year-old Isabella is used to these kinds of comments - her father is black, her mother is white - but that doesn't mean she likes them. And now that her parents are divorced (and getting along WORSE than ever), Isabella feels more like a push-me-pull-me toy. One week she’s Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son Darren living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she’s Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend John-Mark in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves. Being split between Mom and Dad is more than switching houses, switching nicknames, switching backpacks: it’s also about switching identities. If you’re only seen as half of this and half of that, how can you ever feel whole?

Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteen-year-old Amari has only one thing left of her own: hope. Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present. Survival seems all that Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the elusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?

He's a "lemon drop wrapped in licorice": tall, dark, handsome, and as smooth as his silk shirts and leather jacket. He can discuss everything from art to world events, he's traveled the world, and he owns a Jeep, a condo, and a jazz CD collection. But best of all, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan Hathaway, the new track coach and the principal's son, has his golden eyes set on Keisha Montgomery. In her senior year of high school, still recovering from the suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Keisha's thrilled to have someone treat her like a woman rather than a girl. As Jonathan tells her, she's a butterfly ready to try her wings -- much too mature for high school boys, whose only deep thoughts are words from rap songs. Jonathan makes her feel alive again; he seems like the answer to all her dreams and the cure to all her nightmares. Gifts wrapped with silver ribbons begin to mysteriously appear on her doorstep, and Keisha is swept off her feet. But events take a terrifying turn, and suddenly darkness overwhelms her life.... As Keisha struggles to put her world back in perspective, she learns the power and the danger of silence, and discovers the secret gifts that had been waiting for her all along.

A young girl who loves Double Dutch is caught in the crossfire of the secrets she, her best friend, and the school bullies are keeping in this emotional middle grade novel. Delia loves Double Dutch more than just about anything, and she’s really good at it—so good she and her teammates have a shot at winning the World Double Dutch Championships. Delia would die if she couldn’t jump—but she’s hiding something could keep her off the team next year. Delia’s friend Randy has a secret too, one that has him lonely and scared. And while Delia and Randy struggle to hide parts of themselves, their school is abuzz with rumors about what malicious mischief the terrible Tolliver twins—who just may have a hidden agenda of their own—are planning. Delia and Randy’s secrets collide on what should be the happiest day of Delia’s life, and the collision threatens to destroy their friendship. Why can’t life be as easy for Delia as Double Dutch?

Sylvia Patterson is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in September 1957, whether the citizens or governor of Arkansas like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world.

When Gerald was a child he was fascinated by fire. But fire is dangerous and powerful, and tragedy strikes. His substance-addicted mother is taken from him. Then he loses the loving generosity of a favorite aunt. A brutal stepfather with a flaming temper and an evil secret makes his life miserable. The one bright light in Gerald's life is his little half sister, Angel, whom he struggles to protect from her father, Jordan Sparks, who abuses her, and from their mother, whose irresponsible behavior forces Gerald to work hard to keep the family together. As a teenager, Gerald finds success as a member of the Hazelwood Tigers basketball team, while Angel develops her talents as a dancer. Trouble still haunts them, however, and Gerald learns, painfully, that young friends can die and old enemies must be faced. In the end he must stand up to his stepfather alone in a blazing confrontation. Sharon M. Draper has interwoven characters and events from her previous novel, Tears of a Tiger, in this unflinchingly realistic portrayal of poverty and child abuse. It is an inspiring story of a young man who rises above the tragic circumstances of his life by drawing on the love and strength of family and friends.

Melody es la más inteligente de toda la escuela… pero nadie lo sabe. Su memoria y capacidad son increíbles. La mayoría de la gente –maestros y médicos incluidos– cree que es medio retardada, y asiste a un aula especial donde le repiten el abecedario una y otra vez. Si pudiera contarles a todos lo que piensa y lo que sabe… Pero eso es imposible, porque Melody no puede hablar ni caminar ni escribir… ni casi nada. Fuera de mí habla de una vida extraordinaria, plena de curiosidad y perseverancia. Una historia de superación que demuestra lo que somos capaces de hacer por el solo hecho de tener la dignidad de ser humanos.

Şimdiye kadar tek kelime konuşmadım. Neredeyse on bir yaşındayım. İngiltere'nin saygın edebiyat ödüllerinden Coratta Scott King ödüllü yazar Sharon M. Draper'dan hüzün ve umut dolu soluksuz okunacak bir roman. Gerçek bir yaşam öyküsünden ilham alınarak kaleme alınmış. 11 yaşındaki Melody'nin hastalığının adı Spastik ikili kuadripleji yani beyin felci. Yürüyemiyor, konuşamıyor, tekerlekli sandalyeye mahkum. Hiçbir uzvuna komut veremeyen bu küçük kızın beyni ise mükemmel işliyor. Hikâye Melody'nin öğretmenlerine, arkadaşlarına, komşularına kısaca dış dünyaya kendini kanıtlama çabasını anlatıyor. İncelikli, naif, akıcı, komik ve ilham verici bir eser. Sesini asla unutamayacağınız bu cesur kızla tanışmaya hazır mısınız?

Scholastic's 1997 National Teacher of the Year, Sharon Draper, has written an unusual and fascinating book for middle-grade and YA girls that's part journal and part novel.Meet Jasmine---Jazzy, for short. She's a thirteen-year-old with lots of thirteen-year-old things going on in her life. Things she likes to write down in her journal. Jazzy wonders about who she is, her parents, her school, boys (of course)---normal stuff. But she also thinks about her body, getting older, and death. Jazzy is a teenager like most. But, by reading her entries, this journal not only gives the reader a chance to see that their feelings and emotions are sometimes shared by others, it also gives the reader a place to write what they might be feeling, as well.

Jericho, November, Arielle, and their friends must step up big time to prevent a deadly school tragedy in this harrowing conclusion to Sharon M. Draper’s Jericho Trilogy. Arielle Gresham, disliked and mistrusted by most of the students at her school, has a secret past, an unbelievably complicated present, and a shaky future. But no one knows or cares because she has managed to alienate anyone who could help her. She tries to cope with problems at school, but difficulties at home almost break her spirit. Then, as the school tries to deal with an outbreak of false fire alarms and a series of thefts, and Arielle discovers that one classmate is addicted to prescription drugs and another is a victim on vicious online bullying. Outward appearances are seldom what they seem to be—everyone is dealing with something, it’s all a matter of how you deal with it, Arielle is figuring out. But one kid can’t, and as he starts to crack, could he take the school tumbling down with him? A hero is needed. But what makes a hero?

New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper delivers a fresh, funny series starring oh-so-fabulous Sassy! Please see extended summary.

This book is designed for any teacher who has survived the first week of the first year of teaching. This collection of inspirational stories and essays is designed to remind teachers why they decided to teach in the first place, and to encourage them to stay in often difficult situations where they are needed. Provides a boast for teachers beleaguered by crowded classes, low pay, and crumbling infrastructure.

In this second novel in Sharon M. Draper’s Jericho Trilogy and Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Jericho and November are locked together in pain from the past and fear for the future, and it feels as though there’s no way to escape either. When November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can’t possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November’s life forever. She’s pregnant and now she’s faced with the biggest decision of her life. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh’s parents take the news? She’s never needed a friend more. Jericho Prescott lost his best friend when he lost his cousin, Josh, and the pain is almost more than he can bear. His world becomes divided into “before” and “after” Josh’s death. He finds the only way he can escape the emptiness he feels is to quit doing the things that made him happy when his cousin was alive, such as playing his beloved trumpet. At the same time, he begins playing football, where he hopes the physical pain will suppress the emotional agony. But will hiding behind shoulder pads really help? And will his gridiron obsession prevent him from being there for his cousin’s girlfriend when she needs him most?

Melody flies to London to speak at a convention about differently abled kids in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novels Out of My Mind and Out of My Heart.When Melody saves an elderly back-in-the-day actress’s life, the woman is so grateful—and impressed by Melody—that she nominates Melody to be a US spokesperson at an international symposium for kids with different abilities. To Melody’s utter shock and delight, she and two friends of her choice are chosen to participate—and this year’s symposium is in England! Melody finally gets to fly on an airplane, and even the airline’s somewhat clumsy handling of her wheelchair can’t dampen her excitement to be in London. There, Melody meets kids from all over the world who are rallying for greater accessibility and more thoughtful planning on how to make the world more equal for every kid, no matter the unusual challenges they face. As Melody’s time to speak approaches, she hopes she can find a way to make every word count and make an impact.

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this sequel to Out of My Mind.Melody is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream! By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

From multiple award-winning author Sharon Draper comes a story that will forever change how we all look at anyone with a disability, perfect for fans of RJ Palacio’s Wonder.Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom - the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she's determined to let everyone know it - somehow.

This gripping and chillingly realistic novel from New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper shows that all it takes is one bad decision for everything to change. Diamond knows not to get into a car with a stranger. But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night—a movie in need of a star dancer? What then? Then Diamond might make the wrong decision. It’s a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes—and now she’s being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she ever could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news. From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper, this is a riveting exploration of power: how quickly we can lose it—and how we can take it back.

Like Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers, Romiette Cappelle and Julio Montague face strong opposition to their budding romance, in their case, a dangerous gang's disapproval of their interracial relationship puts the two in mortal peril.

When the Ku Klux Klan's unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella's segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de force from Sharon Draper, the New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind.Stella lives in the segregated South; in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can't. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella's community - her world - is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don't necessarily signify an end.

According to Sharon Draper, 1997 Teacher of the Year, teaching is a vocation, not a job, and those who teach need to be reminded of the importance of the work they do. That is exactly what Teaching from the Heart does-offering inspiration and encouragement for anyone who may have lost sight of the rewards of the profession. Teaching from the Heart is neither a reference book nor a study guide; it is a book of gems to hold on to when a teacher's world seems to be nothing but rocks. It features uplifting essays, conversations, and poems that can provide a needed boost during a hurried lunch hour or between classes. The treatment is light, friendly, and understanding. It is the kind of book that a mentor teacher passes on to a student teacher, or a college professor assigns to his or her students as they begin their own teaching careers. It is the kind of book that will be cherished and shared by all teachers as well as anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a teacher.

After a car accident kills Robert, Andy's best friend and teammate on the Hazelwood High Tigers, Andy doesn't know if he can go on. He's consumed with guilt for driving the night of the accident after a long evening of drinking and partying. With perceptiveness and compassion, Sharon M. Draper portrays an African-American teenager who feels driven to consider suicide in the wake of a devastating tragedy.

Sixteen-year-old Jericho is awaiting initiation to the Warriors of Distinction, the oldest and most exclusive club in school—but how high a price will he have to pay to belong? Find out in this first novel in Sharon M. Draper’s Jericho Trilogy. When Jericho is invited to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, he thinks his life can’t get any better. As the most exclusive club in school, the Warriors give the best parties, go out with the hottest girls, and great grades are a given. When Arielle, one of the finest girls in his class, starts coming on to him once the pledge announcements are made, Jericho is determined to do anything to become a member… But as the initiation week becomes progressively harrowing, Jericho is forced to make choices he’s not entirely comfortable with. And one member seems to have it in for the sole female pledge in the group…a pledge who will stop at nothing to show she can handle the pressure. But when is she being pushed too far, and when should Jericho and his friends step in and risk losing their places in the pledging process? As Jericho becomes increasingly uneasy, his cousin Joshua breezes through the initiation, never thinking of the consequences, even when the fine line between fun and games, and life and death is crossed.

Sassy and her sparkle sack are back for another adventure with an ecology theme! It's summer vacation, and Sassy and her family are headed to Florida to visit Grammy for her birthday. A huge celebration is planned at Grammy's beach house. Sassy can't wait! But the weather reports say a hurricane is swirling in the Atlantic, and could be coming right toward Grammy's town. So much for family fun-everyone's too busy boarding up their houses and stocking up on food. To make matters worse, the local sea turtles' lives are threatened, there's no electricity, stores are closed, and there's no birthday cake.

Sassy and her sparkle sack are back -- this time in a kitchen caper! Sassy wants to cook a fancy meal and it turns out to be a disaster. The recipe goes wrong. The cooking is a mess. And -- the dog eats the cake. Thank goodness for friends and for all of the wonderful items Sassy stashes in her sack. Who knew stuff in a sack could save a dinner party?! Well, when you’re Sassy Simone Sanford, a little ingenuity goes a long way. Backmatter provides simple and safe recipes that kids can do with the help of an adult.

Sassy's newest adventure unfolds when she performs in the school musical! Sassy’s school is doing a musical performance that is going to be televised, and Sassy wants to sing with the choir. However, it's no secret that Sassy can't sing. But she has also been hiding a big secret . . . for the past year she has been taking pizcolo lessons, and she’s quite good at it. Instead of tuneless croaks, she produces lovely, lyrical tones from her silver instrument. But she has to prove to the music teacher not only that she’s needed in the show, but also that she can make a difference in the performance.