Best Selling Books by Virginia Hamilton

Rev. and updated information on author and illustrators on jacket and end of book.

DIVA beautiful ghost appears to a troubled teen and shows her the heartbreaking secrets of her family’s past/divDIV /div DIVFifteen-year-old Teresa has fallen in love—with a ghost. The handsome man that she’s passed on the street a few times captures her attention, and she thinks he notices her too. But when the man suddenly appears inside her home, hovering in the air and passing through solid furniture, Teresa realizes this isn’t going to be a typical crush. The ghost is Brother Rush, a man tied to Teresa’s past, who has come to show her the ways her life has special meaning, and that her problems at school and at home are not what they seem./div

Nineteen stories focus on the magical lore and wondrous imaginings of African American women.

An illustrated collection of twenty-five myths from various parts of the world explaining the creation of the world.

“THE PEOPLE COULD FLY,” the title story in Virginia Hamilton’s prize-winning American Black folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. And it is a moving tale of those who did not have the opportunity to “fly” away, who remained slaves with only their imaginations to set them free as they told and retold this tale. Leo and Diane Dillon have created powerful new illustrations in full color for every page of this picture book presentation of Virginia Hamilton’s most beloved tale. The author’s original historical note as well as her previously unpublished notes are included. Awards for The People Could Fly collection: A Coretta Scott King Award A Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare An ALA Notable Book An NCTE Teachers’ Choice A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year

Elizabeth and her brother live on a farm for a summer—and learn a whole new way of living and dreaming Elizabeth likes to invent stories. When she travels to her uncle’s farm for a summer, she starts by making up new names for herself and her younger brother: “Geeder” and “Toeboy.” As “Geeder” explores the farm on her own and with her brother, she encounters mysteries that capture her imagination, among them a tall, proud woman who looks just like an African queen that Elizabeth has read about in a magazine. Elizabeth spins tales about the people and places around her, but she comes to realize that sometimes the truth is more interesting than make-believe.

Hamilton’s classic coming-of-age tale: The National Book Award– and Newbery Award–winning novel about a young man who must choose between supporting his tight-knit family and pursuing his own dreams Mayo Cornelius Higgins perches on top of a homemade forty-foot tower, considering two destinies. Behind him is his family’s beloved house at the foot of a mountain that strip mining has reduced to loose rubble. In front of him, the beautiful Ohio River Valley and the great world beyond. As M.C. weighs whether to stay with the family and home he loves or set off into the world on his own, there appear on the horizon two strangers who will make his decision all the more difficult.

A monumental collection by one of America''s greatest authors of children''s literature — and the launch of a new imprint, ReLIT, that republishes lost classics for a modern readership! Virginia Hamilton (1936-2002) was not only one of the most magnificent writers who ever lived — winning honors such as the Newbery Medal, Newbery Honor, National Book Award, and the Coretta Scott King Award for classics like The House of Dies Drear, The People Could Fly, M. C. Higgins the Great, and Her Stories — she was one of the greatest thinkers we ever had on children''s literature. Born to a family of storytellers, she wove into her books and thoughts a deep concern with memory, tradition, and generational legacy, especially as they helped define the lives of African Americans from the days of slavery onward. Hamilton described her work as ''''liberation literature.'''' This landmark book — since fallen out of print and now lovingly restored and repackaged in this gorgeous edition — brings together her essays, speeches, and interviews into one thought-provoking, incisive, inspiring whole. Presented in a high quality flexibound binding, Liberation Literature also features a foreword by Laura Pegram, founder of Kweli; an introduction by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, the "mother of" multicultural children''s literature; and a full-color frontispiece portrait of Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Caldecott Medalists Leo & Diane Dillon. It is a must-have for anyone interested in writing, the history of African American representation, children''s literature, and literature overall.

An American Library Association Notable Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year:Twelve-year-old Arilla goes on a quest to discover who she is and where she fits into her family—and the world Arilla Adams is tired of being the moon to her older brother’s sun. Sixteen-year-old Jack has rejected being part of an interracial family and identifies only with his Native American heritage. But Arilla, also part African American and part Native American, isn’t so sure where she belongs. She knows there are people who care about her. Old James False Face tells her stories. Her mom, who’s as beautiful as a queen, wants Arilla to learn to dance. And her classmate Angel Diovalad, the star of the girls’ basketball team, tells her secrets about the boy she loves, whom she meets with on the sly. Arilla also has secrets: She sneaks out to the roller rink to practice figure skating. And she’s afraid of horses. But she’s about to discover her inner courage on a daring rescue mission that will transform her relationship with her family and earn her the name Arilla Sun Down.

In a gorgeous tale of an unexpected friendship, ten-year-old Dreenie feels both intrigued and frightened when she thinks about the girl nicknamed Bluish, whose leukemia is making her pale and causing her to use a wheelchair.

A bittersweet story of a 12-year-old girl''s search for the truth about her own past and her missing father.

A black family tries to unravel the secrets of their new home which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.

DIVJunior Brown is a musical prodigy losing touch with reality and everyone around him—except for one important friend/divDIV /div DIVJunior Brown is different than the other kids in his eighth-grade class. For one, he weighs three hundred pounds. He’s also a talented musician with a serious future as a professional pianist—if he survives middle school. With an overbearing mom, disappointed teachers, and fellow students who tease him mercilessly, Junior starts to slip away into his own mind. His last hope may be his only friend, Buddy Clark, a boy in his class without a home or family who has already learned some of life’s toughest lessons./div

The “unforgettable” novel from the Newbery Medal–winning author tells the true story of a runaway slave whose capture and trial set off abolitionist riots (Kirkus Reviews). Anthony Burns is a runaway slave who has just started to build a life for himself in Boston. Then his former owner comes to town to collect him. Anthony won’t go willingly, though, and people across the city step forward to make sure he’s not taken. Based on the true story of a man who stood up against the Fugitive Slave Law, Hamilton’s gripping account follows the battle in the streets and in the courts to keep Burns a citizen of Boston—a battle that is the prelude to the nation’s bloody Civil War.

Publisher Description

DIVCammy’s only trouble in life is a cousin named Patty Ann who overshadows her in every way—until suddenly, Patty Ann is no longer around/divDIV /div DIVCammy has a happy life and a great family, except for one little problem: a cousin who thinks she’s better than everyone else. It’s true that Patty Ann is beautiful, talented, and bright, but to Cammy she’s also vain, conceited, and mean-spirited. Sometimes Cammy wishes that Patty Ann would disappear, just vanish in a puff of smoke. But when the unthinkable happens and Patty Ann is lost forever, Cammy struggles to atone for her bad feelings toward someone so close./div

DIVTheir psychic power brought them to Dustland together. But will that same power tear them apart?/divDIV /divDIVUsing their psychic abilities, Justice, the Watcher, Dorian, the healer, Thomas, the magician, and Levi, the sufferer, have formed their unit. Together, they mind-travel to a strange future world called Dustland. Together, they can survive anything. But when tensions run high between Thomas and Justice, will Thomas leave them stranded in this desolate land? With the future of their unit uncertain, the children are threatened by an even greater danger: Mal, the evil entity that controls Dustland. Will the unit be restored in time to fight against this new threat? /divDIV /divDIVDustland is the second book of Virginia Hamilton’s dystopian fantasy series, the Justice Trilogy, comprised of Justice and Her Brothers, Dustland, and The Gathering./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Virginia Hamilton including rare photos from the author’s estate./div

The friendship of twelve-year-old cousins Cammy and Elodie is threatened when the family reunion includes two other cousins near their age and Elodie is tempted to drop Cammy for a new companion.

DIVDIVThomas must keep the treasure of Dies Dear from landing in the wrong hands, but there are many secrets beneath Drear House, and not everyone can be trusted/divDIV /divDIVThomas Small and his best friend Pesty Darrow have been keeping the secret of the vast treasure that’s hidden in Mr. Pluto’s cave, once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Pesty also has to keep the treasure a secret from her family, who want it for themselves. And there are plenty more secrets in the underground passageways—hidden rooms, Indian legends, and terrifying ghosts. Now Thomas thinks that Pesty might be keeping some secrets from him, too. If they can’t trust each other, how will they ever protect the treasure?/divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Virginia Hamilton including rare photos from the author’s estate./div/div

A girl and her twin brothers discover their special powers in the first of a fantasy series by the Newbery Medal–winning author of M.C. Higgins, the Great. For Justice and her identical twin brothers Levi and Thomas, the summer begins like any other. But as the slow days pass, Justice begins to notice a strange energy between her brothers, beyond their normal twin connection. Thomas becomes increasingly bossy and irritable, while Levi seems weak and absentminded. And there are changes happening within Justice, as well. Soon she discovers that she possesses a mysterious, extraordinary ability. Will Justice and her brothers uncover the secret behind their newfound powers? Justice and Her Brothers is the first book in Virginia Hamilton’s compelling dystopian fantasy series, the Justice Trilogy, comprised of Justice and Her Brothers, Dustland, and The Gathering. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Virginia Hamilton including rare photos from the author’s estate.

Twelve-year-old Jason describes the wonderful Christmas of 1890 that he and his family celebrate in their home in Springfield, Ohio.

As a great wall of dust moves across their drought-stricken farm, a family''s distress is relieved by a young man called Drylongso, who literally blows into their lives with the storm.

Twelve trickster tales that show the migration of African culture to America via the West Indies.

An American Library Association Notable Book: In rural Ohio in 1938, twelve-year-old Willie Bea prepares for Halloween—and an alien invasion! Halloween is Willie Bea’s favorite holiday. Her relatives always visit, and everyone cooks, bakes, and tells stories. Best of all, the kids get to dress in costume and go trick-or-treating. But this Halloween is different. When Willie’s glamorous aunt Leah, who reads palms and wears sweet-smelling perfume, hears on the radio that aliens are coming to Earth, the entire family is petrified. Will the aliens come to their small Ohio town? What will they do when they arrive? Inspired by Orson Welles’s historic War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which terrified people across the country, Newbery and Coretta Scott King Award winner Virginia Hamilton tells a gripping, imaginative, and humorous story about a Depression-era family on their day of reckoning.

DIVDIVJustice and the First Unit travel to Dustland once again. Can they destroy evil and save the future world? /divDIV /divDIVKnowing they have unfinished business in the future, Justice, the Watcher, Thomas, the magician, Levi, the sufferer, and Dorian, the healer, again combine to form their unit and time-travel to Dustland. The unit hopes to guide the beings of Dustland out of the dangerous, barren place in the hopes of finding a safer home. But neither the unit nor the inhabitants of Dustland are truly safe as long as the sinister Mal remains in power. Will the unit be able to overcome Mal once and for all? /divDIV /divDIVThe Gathering is the third and final installment of Virginia Hamilton’s dystopian fantasy series, the Justice Trilogy, comprised of Justice and Her Brothers, Dustland, and The Gathering./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Virginia Hamilton including rare photos from the author’s estate./div/div

Now available in this summer reading program edition, this Newbery Award-winning novel tells the story of M.C. Higgins, who saves his home and family from the slag heap of an Ohio strip mine when two strangers enter his life.

The Friends, Foes, and Crisis Jam (BJAM)

Characterizes the American black experience and the fight for civil rights, describes the enormous influence of Dr. Du Bois as a civil rights activist, and explains why he was ignored for many years by the majority of Americans.

After his grandfather leaves his family and returns to a dangerous situation on his home island in the Caribbean, fourteen-year-old Junius decides to follow him in search of his lost heritage.