New Releases by Sharon Bell Mathis

Traces the life of the blind musician emphasizing his strength and determination to overcome the many obstacles on his road to success.

Illustrated by George Ford In a beautiful new edition of this 1973 multiple award-winning biography, young readers learn the rags-to-riches story of legendary musician Ray Charles''s life - from age 7, when he loses his sight completely, to age 40, when he performs to dazzled audiences world-wide and participates in the fight for racial justice. A new introduction by the author sets the context for Charles''s journey to stardom, and an afterword updates his life to the present.

In her diary Ebonee Rose records her passion for running, her desire to be like the great African American women athletes who have come before her, and her preparations for the All-City Meet.

Poems about injury, playing against cousins, winning and celebrating.

A sixteen-year-old girl''s first celebration of Kwanza gives her a sense of the past and strength to deal with her troubled mother and her own blindness.

Michael''s love for his great-great-aunt who lives with them leads him to intercede with his mother, who wants to toss out all her old things.

Joe''s decision to leave home is prompted by despair over his Mother''s blindness to his younger brother''s talents and his older brother''s drug addiction.

A little girl helps her friend''s family fight for their rights when the landlord tries to evict them.

The daughter is hopeful, the son skeptical, when their mother returns home after years of absence.