Virginia Hamilton (1934–2002)
Author of M. C. Higgins, the Great
About the Author
Virginia Hamilton was born March 12, 1934. She received a scholarship to Antioch College, and then transferred to the Ohio State University in Columbus, where she majored in literature and creative writing. She also studied fiction writing at the New School for Social Research in New York. Her show more first children's book, Zeely, was published in 1967 and won the Nancy Bloch Award. During her lifetime, she wrote over 40 books including The People Could Fly, The Planet of Junior Brown, Bluish, Cousins, the Dies Drear Chronicles, Time Pieces, Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl, and Wee Winnie Witch's Skinny. She was the first African American woman to win the Newbery Award, for M. C. Higgins, the Great. She has won numerous awards including three Newbery Honors, three Coretta Scott King Awards, an Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. She was also the first children's author to receive a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant in 1995. She died from breast cancer on February 19, 2002 at the age of 67. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: virginiahamilton.com
Series
Works by Virginia Hamilton
M. C. Higgins, the Great 2 copies
A Lesson plan book for Cousins (Innovations, experiencing literature in the classroom) (1991) 1 copy
Virginia Hamilton papers 1 copy
Virginia Hamilton Classroom Discussion Book on 'Cousins', and Author Interview on Cassette (1992) 1 copy
South through the jungle 1 copy
Associated Works
Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Travel and Adventure from National Geographic (2006) — Contributor — 100 copies
A Newbery Zoo: A dozen animal stories by Newbery Award-winning authors (1995) — Contributor — 31 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Hamilton, Virginia Esther
- Birthdate
- 1934-03-12
- Date of death
- 2002-02-19
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA
- Place of death
- Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Cause of death
- cancer
- Places of residence
- Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA
New York, New York, USA - Education
- Antioch College
Ohio State University
New School for Social Research - Occupations
- writer
professor - Relationships
- Adoff, Arnold (spouse)
Adoff, Jaime (son) - Awards and honors
- Ohioana Book Award (Juvenile Literature, Body of Work ∙ 1984)
Ohioana Book Award (Career Medal ∙ 1991)
Regina Medal (1991)
Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1992)
May Hill Arbuthnot Lecturer (1993)
MacArthur Fellowship (1995) (show all 8)
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (1995)
Virginia Hamilton Lecture in Children’s Literature (1984; now a Conference)
Members
Discussions
Found: YA Fiction 90s Mystery w/ Golden Triangles in Name that Book (December 2023)
YA haunted slave escape tunnels in Name that Book (October 2018)
Reviews
Cousins (rev) (pb) by Virginia Hamilton
This book was okay but just seemed very old and too detailed about death. I like how the family comes together and shows you a lesson to never wish bad things on people. It’s a good book to have and allow the kids to read and see what they learn from it.
The People Could Fly gives us a glimpse into what life was like during slavery. This myth describes the suffering that happened and the need for an escape from the suffering. This book would make a great discussion starter for middle school students. The story is told in African American dialect so it may be hard to follow for younger children. Also, it is very discriptive of the suffering that happened during slavery. This book would be best suited for older, mature children.
This is a story about a legend from the slavery era. It explains that before the people from Africa were taken into slavery they had wings and could fly. When they were captured they had to shed their wings because there was not enough room on the boat. After going through the pain and misery of slavery they forgot they had ever been able to fly. Sarah, a slave that has undergone so much that she can handle no more, is urged by an elder, Toby that she can fly without the wings. He whispers the magic words to her and she and her baby are able to fly away. As the misery continues for the slaves all around, Toby helps many of them remember that they can fly away to "Free-dom." When the overseer sees Toby helping the slaves to freedom, they try to kill him. Toby flys away, and tells those who cannot fly that they must find another way to freedom. This is a powerful story that elicits great emotion and inspires hope.… (more)
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Statistics
- Works
- 57
- Also by
- 4
- Members
- 14,109
- Popularity
- #1,634
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 282
- ISBNs
- 431
- Languages
- 7
- Favorited
- 8