The Author: Sharon M. Draper
Sharon M. Draper, born on April 11, 1952, is an author, as well as an educator. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Victor Mills, and Catherine Mills. She was the oldest child of three. In all of her years in school, she was a straight-A student, and almost already had an outstanding career. She breezed through high school, while taking honors, and advanced classes, and graduated a Merit Scholar. After college, she became an english teacher in Cincinatti, Ohio for 35 years. In 1994, she wrote her first book, titled Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs, and ever since continued to be a blossoming writer. In 1997, she was named the U.S. teacher of the year by President Bill Clinton. From then on, she was the spokesperson of the teaching profession, and went around the world telling people about her experiences and methods of teaching. Sharon Draper has written many successful books, such as the Jericho Trilogy, the Hazelwood Trilogy, Copper Sun, Romiette and Julio, Double Dutch, the Sassy series, Fire From the Rock, the Ziggy and the Black Dinosaur Series, We Beat the Streets, and my favorite, Out of My Mind. Now, she lives with her husband, Larry Draper, and has 4 children.