Awards
Winner of the 2004 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults
Winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award for Best African-American Children's Writer
Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing.andlt;BRandgt; It's not going to happen....andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy -- impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption. andlt;BRandgt; With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.
Review
"Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant." School Library Journal
Review
"Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again." Booklist
Review
"Each nuanced chapter feels like a poem in its economy and imagery; yet the characters...emerge fully formed." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing.
It's not going to happen...."
Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption.
With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Eleanor Crowe has a mind of her own and no one is going to tell her what to do. But when she finds herself pregnant, she realizes that her options are limited: go to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry Lam, the babys father, and live with his parents at their summer camp for overweight children.
Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised to discover that she actually enjoys working with the kids at campif not for her mother-in-laws constant disapproval. When her baby is born, unexpected emotions and situations spin out of control, and Elly has to call on her stubbornness and determination to step up and become an advocate for her futureand for the life she has created.
Synopsis
A thought-provoking and courageous new novel by National Book Award winner Han Nolan. Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteenyear-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the babyand#8217;s father and work at his familyand#8217;s summer camp for overweight kids. Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herselfand#8212;and for the new life she has created.
Synopsis
This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing. It's not going to happen....
Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy -- impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption.
With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.
Synopsis
Lionel and Anisa are the best of friends and have seen each other through some pretty tough times--Anisa's dad died and Lionel's dad left, which is like a death for Lionel. They stick together no matter what. So when Lionel suggests a detour through a local construction site on their way home, Anisa doesn't say no.
And that's where Lionel and Anisa make a startling discovery--a baby abandoned in a port-o-potty. Anisa and Lionel spring into action. And in saving Baby Doe, they end up saving so much more.
Danette Vigilante crafts an accessible, heartfelt and much needed story for the middle grade market featuring Latino characters.
About the Author
Angela Johnson has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Heavenandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Toning the Sweepandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt; was also the recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award. She is also the author of the novels andlt;iandgt;Looking for Redandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;A Certain Octoberandlt;/iandgt;. Her books for younger readers include the Coretta Scott King Honor Book andlt;iandgt;When I Am Old with Youandlt;/iandgt;, illustrated by David Soman; andlt;iandgt;Wind Flyersandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;I Dream of Trainsandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Loren Long; and andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris Lives Here andlt;/iandgt;and its sequel andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris and the Best Placeandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Scott M. Fischer. Additional picture books includeandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;A Sweet Smell of Rosesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Just Like Josh Gibsonandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Day Ray Got Awayandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;All Different Nowandlt;/iandgt;. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio. Visit her at AJohnsonAuthor.com.