Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson (born June 18, 1961) is an American writer of children's books and poetry, with over 40 books to her credit since beginning her writing career in 1989. Her children's picture books are simple yet poetic stories about African-American families, friendships, and common childhood experiences such as moving. Her books for older children revolve around similar themes but also explore deeper issues such as teen pregnancy and divorce. Her characters are realistic and the treatment sensitive, positive, and hopeful. Many of Johnson's books have connections to Alabama and Alabama history.

Early life Johnson was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up in Windham, Ohio, with her brother and parents. She began writing in the fourth grade when her mother gave her a diary for Christmas. Encouraged to write by her parents, in high school Johnson wrote "punk" poetry that was not accepted by her school's literary guild. She says this fueled her writing rather than discouraging it. During high school Johnson wished to be a teacher or lawyer. She attended Kent State University after graduating high school and studied special education, though she left before earning her degree to focus on her writing.

Johnson began her career publishing picture books in 1989. In 1993 she branched out into books for young adults, publishing Toning the Sweep. Johnson continues to write across age groups which is rare for authors today. Johnson describes her work as "character driven" and says that she struggles more with the formulation of plot than the development of characters. She has won the Coretta Scott King Award three times, for Toning the Sweep in 1994, Heaven in 1999, and The First Part Last in 2004. She is also a two-time runner-up for When I Am Old With You in 1990 and The Other Side, Shorter Poems in 1999. She won the Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association in 2004, recognizing The First Part Last as the year's "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". In 2003, Johnson received a MacArthur Fellowship. In 2018, Johnson was awarded the Margaret Edwards Award for her "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature."

In 2013, the Vermont College of Fine Arts and Barry Goldblatt Literary (an organization that works to foster the careers of children's and young adult authors) announced the creation of a scholarship named after Johnson. The scholarship awards $5000 to up to two students of color attending the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults program. Goldblatt chose to name the scholarship in honor of his first client, Angela Johnson.

At Kent State University, Johnson was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2007 and received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2013.

She received the 2021 Harper Lee Award.

Selected works

Picture books for primary grades (K-2) Tell Me a Story, Mama (1989) When I am Old With You (1990) Do Like Kyla (1990) One of Three (1991) The Leaving Morning (1992) Julius (1993) The Girl Who Wore Snakes (1993) Mama Bird, Baby Birds (1994) Joshua's Night Whispers (1994) Rain Feet (1994) Joshua By The Sea (1994) Shoes Like Miss Alice's (1995) The Aunt in Our House (1996) The Rolling Store (1997) Daddy Calls Me Man (1997) The Wedding (1999) Down the Winding Road (2000) Those Building Men (2001) I Dream of Trains (2003) Just Like Josh Gibson (2004) Violet's Music (2004) A Sweet Smell of Roses (2005) Lily Brown's Paintings (2007) Wind Flyers (2007)

Chapterbooks for intermediate grades (3-5) Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street (1999) When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street (2000) Looking For Red (2002) Bird (2004)

For older children and young adults Toning the Sweep (1993) Humming Whispers (1995) Songs of Faith (1998) Heaven (novel) (1998) The Other Side, Shorter Poems (1998) Gone From Home: Short Takes (1998) Running Back to Ludie (2001) The First Part Last (2003) Cool Moonlight (2003)

Recent Sweet, Hereafter (2010) Day Ray Got Away (2010) Lotte Paris Lives Here (2011) Certain October (2012) Lottie Paris and the Best Place (2013)