Book World

Book Wor ld Summer 2021

How to Become an Aut hor, Page 8 Books or Movies, Page 14

Top Ten Banned Books, Page 20 Top Ten Favorite, Books, Page 26

1

Book World Dear Readers, We are glad you are joining us on this wonderful journey with you through our magazine! As you well know, this magazine is about books.

We will be exploring many different feature topics such as writers for young adults, diversity in comic books, what it takes to become an author, diary books, and more.

Creating this magazine was a long and tedious process, it took a lot of trial, error, and effort. We had to conduct interviews, do research, dig deep for answers, learn to write properly, and how to create and manipulate images! But in the end we put it all together to bring you our new magazine, Book World!

We are proud of all the work we put into our infographics and the interviews we conducted to create this magazine. In addition, we are very content that we had the opportunity to interview many well known people.

One thing that took a lot of work, when we were creating this magazine, was making our infographics. Our infographics were difficult to come up with and build. It took many hours and lots of brainstorming to make our beautiful infographics.

We thank you for choosing to read our magazine. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy what we made for you! And while you are at it, learn something new!

Sincerely, Isaac Padila-Rie, Zaina Khattary, Edwin Bardamiano, and Yulisa Berrun

2

Table Of Cont ent s

5

7

About Us

The Four Steps on how to Become an Author

22

Diversity in Comics

26 Top Ten Favorite Books

9

An Authors A to Z

28 Authors on the Run

13

Book or Movies

15 Writing for Teens to Make Them Dream

20

Top 10 Challenged Books in the United States

Front cover and inside cover by Zaina Khattary Back cover design by Issac Padila-Rie Table of contents graphic design by Edwin Bardomiano About Us page design by Yulisa Berrun

A BOUT US Zaina Khattary is a 9th grader at LASA. She wrote the Diversity in Comics feature story and created the infographic about banned books in the U.S. She spends a lot of her time drawing and listening to true crime podcasts. In the future, Zaina would like to illustrate graphic novels or work on animation for a company.

Edwin Bardomiano is a writer for Book World and a freshman for LASA Highschool. He has spent many hours reading manga and watching anime. He wrote the feature talking about what it takes to be an author and will be including tips and things to look out for when creating a story. In the future he would like to know how to use the piano and have his own restaurant with his two younger brothers.

5

Isaac Padilla-Rie is one of the creators and writers for Book World. He is a 9th grader at LASA. He has spent many hours playing sports and watching sitcoms. He also has a deep affection for animals. He once saved a baby squirrel from getting run over by a pickup truck. He wrote about writers for young adults and whether teens still like books as much as movies. In the future he wants to become a veterinarian and have his own chain of vet clinics, hospitals, stores, and his own T.V. show!

Yulisa Berrun is a freshman at LASA. She is one of the writers of this magazine for Book World.

She wrote the feature of Middle Reader Books.

She spends most of her time playing piano, drawing and writing to express her feelings. She really loves reading a lot of books when she feels like it. In the future she dreams of becoming a teacher, helping kids that have disabilities and writing a book about her life.

6

The Four Steps to Becoming an Author Many writers Have trouble with creating books and so Authors have given me tips or step on how to create these books.

Now it's the hard part now we take an idea form our list and expand that idea.

W henever you want to start writing a book it's important to take a moment and sit down to come up with ideas.

1 7

2

4

Graphics By Edwin Bardomiano

3

Now that were done with the expanding of the idea we can publish it to either your family or your friends.

W henever we expand this idea we want to make it interesting to both you and the reader.

We also want the story to make sense and no make it too fast or too slow.

8

An Aut hor's A t o Z An Insight Into the Experience of a young Adult Writer

By Edwin Bardomiano

Book

9

Background image courtesy of wikimedia commons

People have different

involved in their writing

feelings when it comes

and that is a part of

to writing, some people

writing that many of

feel overjoyed to write

them love.

and others don?t really like it. Some may write

?Once I've got that focus, there's this thing called like the flow,?

Aldama said. ?And once I'm in the flow, I can be writing and thinking and imagining for hours and hours and days and

Creating a book is a difficult process, and it can be even harder to face the audience's opinions and criticisms of someone?s work, according to Karyn Henley, award-winning author best known for The Beginner ?s Bible.

days, and sometimes

for fun and others might have to write because of an assignment or work but one thing is true writing is a daily part of everyone's lives.

Frederick Luis Aldama is an award winning author and a Latino literature, film, and comics expert. As a young adult writer, one of the things that people do is become really

even forget to take a

?Being critiqued and

break to eat. So I love

edited is extremely

writing because it takes

important, but it's hard

me into that really

to hear someone

special place that we

criticize your work, even

call the flow.?

Aldama said there are other reasons to be an author, one of the most important being self-expression, but that isn't the only thing that one can write about.

if they're kind about it,?

Henley said. ?Look out for people telling you that you're too young or that you don't know enough to write. If you like to write, go for it.?

?I wanted to write for a bigger audience,??

Usually when facing

Aldama said. ?And I also

criticism many want to

wanted to write about

learn from it. but

things that weren't being

sometimes it may be

written about, like

hard to follow through.

Latino/Latinx, and

According to Scott Ralph,

popular culture.?

an author and teacher

10

working on these books authors often

"Difficu l ties ar e distr action s.

Difficu l ties is th at l ife is con stan tl y th er e to in tr u de on you r focu s tim e."

Fr eder ick Lu is Al dam a. au th or

who wrote books for

authors suffer from

both children and young

writer 's block, when

adults, many new

faced with writer 's block there are many

follow a routine and set guidelines for themselves to ensure steady progress.

?The basic guideline is to make sure what I write is interesting and will keep the reader 's attention,? Henley said.

different ways that

These authors decided

people fight

to give some valuable

it.

information for both new authors and just

?I usually do

authors in general.

planning before I

?I would tell young

actually

writers to write, read,

write the

write, and read. And

book

continue to learn all they

because if I

can about writing,?

ever get

Henley Said.

stuck there's always something else to work on,? Ralph

Image courtesy of Scott Ralph

Said.

When

11

That?s one of many tips that she gave. Ralph also gave some wonderful advice for people to know.

Image courtesy of Frederick Luis Aldama

"Th er e's som e peopl e th at ar e goin g to tel l you , you can 't do it, n ever l isten ed to th ose peopl e."

Fr eder ick Lu is Al dam a, au th or

Said ?all that work, all that time, all the editing, all of the marketing, all of the design, all of the, everything, and suddenly you're holding it in your hands and it's something out of this world.?

This feeling of happiness is one that many writers carry when finishing their first book. This feeling is one that ?Something I recommend Young

many authors want to share with

writers do is to carry a little notebook

people and that?s why we want writing

with them everywhere because you

to be a daily part of our lives.

know, ideas are everywhere,? Ralph said.

Ideas come from everywhere so this is a good tip for people who want to write. Every writer remembers how they felt when their first book was published, after all, Aldama explained, it is a huge accomplishment.

?It felt out of this world because there's nothing like it in the world,? Aldama

12

Read the book or watch the movie first?

34 teens were surveyed on whether they read the book version of a movie before watching the movie. Most say that they sometimes read the book before watching the movie.

53% 23.5% 23.5%

Book s or Movies?

Do teens still enjoy books?

By Isaac Padilla-Rie 34 high school students were asked whether they prefer books or movies

Only 14 percent of teens say they prefer books instead of movies. 50 percent say they like them the same.

There are many reasons as to why books are not as popular anymore.

Since

T.V. was invented, fewer and fewer teens have been reading books.

Key Sometimes book sometimes movie.

Reads the book version first Watches movie version first

13

Shockingly, from 1970 to 2016 the number of teens who read dropped nearly 44%! One reason could be because it is faster and easier to process information on a screen than words on a paper.

Another reason why teens spend less and less time reading than watching is because of the creation of digital media. And because of its influence on them and society.

Sources: American Psychological Association

The Guardian

M ovies h ave been becom in g m or e an d m or e popu lar sin ce T.V. w as in ven t ed. Teen s ar e w at ch in g m ovies t oday m or e t h an ever .

In that survey, 35 percent preferred movies and 50 percent liked the the same.

55% of t een s say t h ey con sist en t ly w at ch m or e t h an t h ey r ead book s. M an y of t h ose t een s w at ch on t h eir m obile devices an d com pu t er s. Th ey also of t en u se st r eam in g ser vices.

Teen s spen d u p t o 9 h ou r s a day w at ch in g scr een s an d on ly 20 m in u t es t o an d h ou r r eadin g!

J.K. Row lin g's 9 book ser ies Harry Potter h ad 8 m ovies m ade f r om it .

Th e book s m ade 7 billion dollar s w or ldw ide. Th e m ovies m ade 8 billion dollar s w or ldw ide even t h ou gh t h ey cam e ou t year s lat er .

Th is su ggest s t h at m ovies m ak e m or e m on ey t h an book s. Th e am ou n t of pu blicit y t h ey get m igh t be on e r eason w h y t een s pr ef er m ovies over book s.

Forbes.com, businessinsider.com Teens spend much more time watching movies than reading books. There are many reasons why. Teens need a more balanced lifestyle to become mentally healthier. Parents can provide that by limiting screen time and encouraging kids to read.

Books or movies, which are more preferred?

34 teens were surveyed on whether they prefer reading books or watching movies. half of them said that they like them the same. But the majority of the rest of them said they prefer watching movies.

50% 1 5 % 35% Key likes reading and watching the same prefers reading books Prefers watching movies

14

Wr it ing For Teens To

Creators of young adult fiction and all a

By Isaac P Books have been around for thousands of

stocked with books from those two genres.

years. Many teens like to read books, but most

According to Houlihan, contemporary fiction is

teens don?t know how that book got on the

what is happening in everyday life. It is not a

shelf and into their hands. Some teens don?t

dystopia and it is usually set in modern day and

know why they like the book they are reading,

very realistic settings, and sometimes in a real city.

or anything about who wrote it.

There is no magic in this type of fiction.

Many teens enjoy reading, there are many

Another characteristic of this genre is that it usually has a social justice

people who write books for teens. Every teen

standpoint. the author usually holds

is different, every writer is different, and every

one or two marginalized identities.

book is different. Authors of young adult books write about all sorts of things. Being an author can have many benefits. But there are also some downsides to it. It is a long process to become an author and it is very difficult to get a book published let alone have it become

Fantasy

a bestseller. But those who do write books for

on the

teens write from many different genres.

other

Because many teens like different books. From science fiction to books about their heritage, the teen book preference is all over the place.according to a expert in young adult books, librarian Kathrine Houlihan, said the two most popular genres are the following two: ?I would say that two really popular genres that are kind of battling it out for dominancy are contemporary fiction and fantasy.?

Houlihan said.

15

Any libraries?young adult section is well

Young adult reading a book, courtesy of Isaac Padilla-Rie

o Make Them Dr eam

about them plus what teens like to read

Padilla-Rie hand, almost always contains magic. It is often set

She said sequels are very popular as well. Even

in unique, unrealistic settings, and it contains

more popular than standalone novels.

mythical creatures and other magical elements.

?Once you find an author that you like, you can

Houlihan believes that these two genres are the

hang out with that author and that world for a

most popular because of these reasons,

longer period of time when you get a sequel,?

?It has to be the right book and the right reader,?

Houlihan said. ?There is this saying among librarians that every book has its reader and that's true but I also think that every reader has their book.?

Houlihan said.

Houlihan also mentioned another aspect of fiction that is on the rise and has become more and more common to see in books for teens. ?I think queer fiction across all genres is very popular

Different teens have different preferences.

too,? Houlihan said. ?It is represented in the whole publishing industry and books by other marginalized identities and or gender identities underrepresented in

They all have different

the publishing industry. And so we are starting to see a

things they like in a

lot more diversity and so those books have been more

story.

popular.? Houlihan said .

Houlihan says that

There are numerous reasons why minorities are

crossovers are very

popular in books for teens now, but one of the biggest

popular as well, for many reasons such as the fact that they do not

reasons is what Kari Anne Holt, a published author and writer of House Arrest, Knockout, Rhyme Schemer, among many others, explained ?You need to be relatable to readers to make a good

force teens to

book. Otherwise no one is going to read it,? Holt said.

choose one or

Being relatable is a huge part of why teens read, and

the other. They

getting more teens to read, Houlihan explained. It?s why

can have both in

the publishing industry has grown over the past 20

one book and

years. According to Houlihan, around 300,000 books are

that book can apply to them better than a book

published every year, which gives many chances for a new perspective to be told. ?I will say that the book publishing industry has gotten

from just one

more robust this year than in the past 20

genre.

years and I have to say it is because they realized that there is a hunger for fiction

16

and non-fiction that is not written by straight, white people,? Houlihan said. ?So that is mostly the kind of books that have been published for, you know, the last 500 years or so.

And we have heard a lot of those stories and so we want to hear stories from all of the people who hold all of the different cultural identities,?

writes for both teens and adults. ?What I love about writing, pretty

?I went into writing in order to pass 7th grade English!?

much everything!? Korman said. ?It

Holt went into writing because of a

gives me the freedom to spend time

similar reason.

with my family; it gives me an opportunity to see the world ? I?ve toured in Europe and Asia, and loved it! It gives me the freedom to work when I feel like it, and goof off when

?At first I wanted to be an artist. But then I wrote a paper for my professor and he told me that I should consider writing instead,?

Holt said.

I don?t; it allows me to visit schools

Some teens feel alone, and like no

and libraries, mostly in Canada and

Once writers begin their careers,

one gets them, and when they find

the U.S., and meet my readers. Hey,

writers now are faced with the task

books that relate to them, it can

what?s not to love??

of becoming bestselling authors.

about themselves and their life.

Holt also loves writing because she feels she is

Books also can be attractive to teens

very good at it and

by making them feel emotions such

because she gets to see

as happiness, anger, and sympathy,

what her readers think of

while applying to them.

her work.

?Just in general what it's like to be a

Both of them started their

kid or the things that you wish you

careers differently than

can do or just what makes you

how some people might

happy or sad,? Holt said.

think. Some people

Many authors write for teens for that very reason but others write for

Courtesy of Isaac Padilla-Rie

make them feel better and happier

believe that an author ?s career starts off with a big epiphany, others think a

Gordon Korman signing his first contract, courtesy of gordonkorman.com.

role model inspired them. The start of Korman?s career was nothing like that.

different reasons.. Gordon Korman, a published author, who wrote Restart, Linked, and Wired,

17

among others. He loves writing so much that he

?I first went into writing in a 7th

?Becoming a bestselling author was

grade class in English,? Korman

easy at the start,? Koman said.

said. ?Our teacher asked for what

?When I was 12, I wrote a kids?book,

he called a ?novelette.?I guess he

and presto, it was a bestseller. After

wanted a story that didn?t end

that I was merely interesting, and it

after the first page or two. I got

took a lot of years to rack up a series

carried away and wrote 100

of hits that put me where I am today.

pages of what became my first

So my answer is: there?s no way you

novel,This can?t be happening at

can do anything, even write a great

MacDonald hall. That was 45

book, to make yourself a bestselling

years ago when I was 12. I?ve

author. You have to have a publisher

been writing ever since.?

The basic reason why Korman went into writing was to pass his english class.

who is devoted to you; you have to write some books that attract attention and nobody knows from one day to the next what topic will do that! You have to be lucky. So I

was a bestselling author at 12, and it probably took a good 25 years after that, slogging along, writing a lot, building a following, to hit the bestseller list on a regular basis.?

It would be an understatement to say that it is hard to become a bestselling author, but being an author does have a very big upside.

Both of the authors mentioned in this article say that they love to hear from their readers and get to know their opinions and both travel around doing book visits. Korman spoke at a national book conference

who wants to be a writer in life and is

?You n eed to be r el atabl e to r eader s to m ak e a good book .

Oth er wise n o on e is goin g to r ead it.?

doubting their ability.?On the whole, I would tell the novice to hang in there, to have faith in (their) abilities to tell a story in a compelling way, and to just do it,? Korman said. ?Everybody hits a brick wall now and then, but the important thing is to never give up."

-Kar i An n e H ol t, you n g adu l t au th or

and Holt did numerous zoom book visits during the pandemic. Many authors love seeing what their readers think of their books.

mentioned before in this article.

Earlier in this article, I mentioned that it is very difficult to be a

There are some young people out

teenager, anybody over the age of 13

there who want to follow in the

can relate to that, because we have

footsteps of the other authors

all been there. If there is anybody

courtesy of messengernews.com

18

T o p 10 C h al l en ged B o o k s i n t h e U .S. B y Z ai n a K h at t ar y

Books that are banned is schools, libraries, and book stores for racial issues, unpopular religious views, LGBTQ content, drug usage, promoting anti-police views, political views, and more. Harry Potter was banned because of witch craft, even though it was very popular series. Although the books are banned, it make it all the reader more eager to read it. When somethings is restricted one gets curious and wants to form their own opinion about the book. Below, are the top ten books banned in 2021.

10

Th e

Ab so l Pa u t e r t -T Tr im ue By Sh e e I n Di a rm r d an Ale i a n y o f xie a

M ar i e t t a Co l l i n s a n d An n t ed b y Je n n i f er Z i vo i n Hazzar d

, i l l u st ar

So m e t h in To w n : A g H a p p e n e d i n Ou r Ch i l d ' s S t o r y ab o Ra ci a l I ut

By M ar i n j u st i ce an n e Ce l an o ,

7

By Harper Lee

eck

Of M i ce a n d M en

By Jo h n Stein b

By Toni Morrison

6 To Kill a M ock in gbir d

19

9

Th e Blu est Eye

By An gie Th o m a

s

Th e H a t e U Gi v

e

8

3

4

Source : Banned Books Week

5

Geor ge1 By Alex Gin o

20

Ph ot o in cou r t esy of St even M iller

21

Diver sity in Com ics Minority Representation in Graphic Novels

By Zaina Khattary

M

ost older comics were written about and filled with white men as

the protagonists and antagonists, they also stereotyped women, different races, and LGBTQ people.

Often, people not part of the majority would be presented as weaker and in need of saving, or improper. However, in earlier comics, with the influence of social media, the voices of minority creators have been boosted and more racially diverse and LGBTQ characters? stories have been written about and shared. To people of minorities, it?s important to represent all types of people and tell their stories in all types of media.

Taproot, a fantasy story and love story between Blue (right), a ghost and Hamal (left), a human that can see ghost.

Art courtesy of Keezy Young and Roar Studio.

Terry Blas, a a writer and illustrator of comics, believes it is more accurate to have a diverse cast of characters. ?I can't write a story that takes place in Los Angeles and not have Mexicans in it,? Blas said.

22

?I also can't write a book and not

stories that

include queer characters. That's

feature all

not reflective of the real world

kinds of

or the world I live in. ... It's

people. This is

important for communities that

how we

are underrepresented to be

educate people

seen.?

about groups

Josh Trujillo, a writer and editor living in Los Angeles, said it?s important to tell racially diverse stories because society has neglected stories about being a minority. ?We have gone maybe thousands of years without telling racially diverse stories?

Trujillo said. ?We?ve lost so much because people are afraid to be more inclusive with their storytelling, and the stories have been worse because of it. We owe it to everyone to try and tell

they may never interact with, and create a more just society? Trujillo said.

Keezy Young, a comic artist and writer who lives in Seattle, Washington, said that as a

who aren?t

?I w an t t o cr eat e a w ider an d m or e diver se san dbox f or f u t u r e cr eat or s t o play in ."

Ter r y Blas, w r it er

represented as much in the media. Young wants to incorporate minorities who are usually unrepresented. ?The world is filled with all different kinds of people, and when some of those people don't ever get to see themselves represented on the page, you're not just telling

creator, one

them that you

should always

don't think they

be on the lookout for people

matter, you're also creating a world that doesn't reflect

Zain a's collect ion of com ic book s. Ph ot o by of Zain a Kh at t ar y.

reality,? Young said. ?I would add that I think this is something that should be approached thoughtfully and respectfully and with as much research and care as possible, of course, especially for white writers.?

For Blas, creating LGBTQ characters in comics is important because it reflects his own experiences and shows that the community exists, and to share people's experiences. ?It's important for me to have LGBTQ characters in comics to

23

show people that we exist and that we are a strong and

interesting community who

because they are queer or

deserves to have their stories

from a disadvantaged

told? Blas said. ?If we don't see

group,? Trujillo said.

ourselves reflected back to us in stories then the message we get is that we don't exist.?

For many people who look for characters who represent and are like them,

Trujillo loves to write LGBTQ

have felt disappointed with

comics because he wants to uplift

their findings. When

his community and to make

growing up Young

everyone included.

experienced this many

?I want to create a wider and more diverse sandbox for future creators to play in. It?s important to me that nobody ever feels like they can?t make comic books

times, and it motivated them to LGBTQ create fantasy stories with romance. ?I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if my favorite stories.

Superheroes, elves and dragons,

Dodge Cit y, a dr am a f illed st or y abou t t h e Jazz Pan das t h e w or st dodge ball t eam . Ar t cou r t esy of BOOM ! St u dio

demon hunters, mecha pilots, fairy

The world of comics is changing

queens, alien

because more creators are

bounty hunters,

opening their eyes to diversity

and so and so

and minority creators are seeing

forth--had

themselves in their own stories.

characters in them

?I desperately wanted to have the

that actually looked

heartbreak and all that other fun

or felt like I did,

stuff. (...) I think a lot of writing

who were still

comes from wishing to bring

allowed to go on

something into the world that

adventures and

wasn't there before, and so when

wield magic and

I started writing my own stories,

have whirlwind

naturally they tended to be about

romances that

those characters I never got to

ended in joy, "

see before,? Young said.

Young said.

Hu m ber t o Lopez (cen t er ) is a you n g cr im e-f igh t in g h er o w it h t h e pow er t o t r an sf or m in t o a din osau r . Ar t cou r t esy of M ar vel.

24

Gone With the Wind

Pride and Prejudice

A Silent Voice Series

The Fifty Shades of Grey Series

Tamerlane

Wicked Fox

The Witch Boy Series

Harry Potter Series

Percy Jackson Series

Sherlock Holmes

Top 10 Favor ite Books

Graphic by Yulisa Berrun

1

Sherlock Holmes has many authors but the main creator is Arthur Conan Doyle , who was a British writer and physician.

6

Edgar Allan Poe was a writer, poet, editor and literary critic , he has written many poems and shiort stories

2

Rick Riordan is the author of the Percy Jackson series, which is about a boy who realizes that he is the son of the Greek God Poseidon.

7

E.L. James wrote the best erotic romance trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey , Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

3

J.K Rowling is a philanthropist, film producer, television producer, screenwriter and the author of the Harry Potter series.

8

Yoshitoki Oima is a manga artist and author of A Silent Voice, which is about Shoya, a rough, mean spirited kid who rules his circle of friends.

4

Molly Knox Ostertag is a cartoonist and writer. She was named one of the Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 in 2020.

9

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels. She was the author of Pride and Prejudice.

5

Kat Cho is an international best-selling young adult books, she is the author of Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits.

10

25

Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind which was her only book that was published during her lifetime.

Sherlock Holmes was published on October 14, 1892 The Lightning Thief was published on July 1, 2005

Philosopher 's Stone was published on June 26, 1997

The Witch Boy was published on October 31, 2017

Wicked Fox was published on June 25, 2019

Tamerlane was published on July 1827

The Fifty Shades of Grey was published on June 20, 2011

A Silent Voice Book #1 was published on May 26, 2015 Pride and Prejudice was published on January 28, 1813 Gone With the Wind was published on June 30, 1936 26

Authors on the Run Middle Reader Writers Get Readers Imaginations Going

Jim Benton is proud that his Dear Dumb Diary Books are sold vending machines at elementary schools. Making books more accessible to children encourages more students to read. Courtesy of Umatilla Elementary School

By Yulisa Berrun

Books can take us all around the world or

Benton is the writer of the Dear Dumb Diary Books, It?s Happy Bunny,

can make us achieve something new. According to Jim Benton and Sharon Draper

?I would never stop

Franny K. Stein and more.

The hardest part of making the Dear Dumb

everything is possible .

writing even if I had

Jim Benton is a writer and

to, I enjoy writing.?

timeline, he had to write something for each day of

illustrator. He said that he was also a reporter and wrote for a

- Jim Benton, author

magazine, newspaper and made his own licensed

27

Diary books was the

the month for the diary.

His strategy for writing the Dear Dumb Diary?s is that

properties. Benton spends most

he would write the beginning and the end first,

of his time reading and writing.

that way it would be much easier for him to

Courtesy of Jim Benton

write what will be happening throughout the

of his favorite things about writing books, is

book.

that he would get emails from parents saying

Benton?s favorite book of his is always the one that he is working on. These days, he?s working

that their kids wouldn?t read until they read Benton?s books.

on children's books called. He mentioned that

Sharon Draper is a five-time winner of the

on the Dear Dumb Diary books, the font is

Coretta Scott King Award about the young and

handwritten.

adolescent African-American experience. She is

He really enjoys writing each and every one of the books, he wanted to make kids laugh. One

also an author and 1997 National Teacher of the Year winner, said that books have impacted her life in many ways.

Courtesy of Sharon Draper

28

?Books have taken me around the world. China, Japan, Russia, England, France and Egypt. I?ve met wonderful people.?

- Sharon Draper, author Draper believes that books are important. Her advice to readers who dream of becoming an author is to try to write a book on their own.

The most difficult part about writing is making sure that the character is an interesting and compelling main character. Draper really likes spending most of The National Cartoonist Society awarded Jim her time reading and writing. She says that her Benton both 2011 and a 2015 Reuben Award in favorite thing about writing is the creative process, researching, planning and thinking. Draper also

the Category of greeting cards. Courtesy of Jim Benton

faced many challenges when she first started writing. She first sent her manuscript to 25 publishing companies. She got 24 letters of rejection, but the last one was a yes.

Draper was a high school teacher and loved to teach her students to write. She started writing with them, then finally for them. She loves all her books that she has written.

?I do not have a favorite book. Each one is like one of my children. I love them all.?

- Sharon Draper, author

29

Upcom in g Rel eases

Franny K. Stein-Mood Science by Jim Benton, August 31, 2021

CATWAD-You're Making Me Six by Jim Benton, November 2, 2021

Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper, November 9, 2021

?I get really excited when I get emails from parents saying that their kids really love my books because they crack up every time they read them, and I am glad that my books are a start to read."

- Jim Benton , author

Graphic by Yulisa Berrun

30

Books Can Change The World