Sharon M Draper

Sharon M. Draper is an American children's and young adult author, professional educator, and the 1997 National Teacher of the Year, recognized as a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award and a New York Times bestselling author. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she earned a bachelor's degree in English from Pepperdine University and a master's from Miami University of Ohio, teaching high school English for over 30 years while writing acclaimed books like Out of My Mind, Copper Sun, and the Hazelwood and Jericho series that address themes of racism, abuse, and disability for young African-American readers.