Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston

From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature.

Zora was a girl who hankered for tales like bees for honey. Now, her mama always told her that if she wanted something, "to jump at de sun", because even though you might not land quite that high, at least you'd get off the ground. So Zora jumped from place to place, from the porch of the general store where she listened to folktales, to Howard University, to Harlem. And everywhere she jumped, she shined sunlight on the tales most people hadn't been bothered to listen to until Zora. The tales no one had written down until Zora. Tales on a whole culture of literature overlooked...until Zora. Until Zora jumped.

Author: Alicia D. Williams
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Published: 01/12/2021
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.28lbs
Size: 11.10h x 10.20w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781534419131
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.1
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511912 / Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2020
Publishers Weekly 12/07/2020
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2021 - Book Of Special Distinction
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2021 pg. 129
School Library Journal 02/01/2021 pg. 89
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2021 pg. 128
Booklist 05/21/2021

About the Author
Alicia D. Williams is the author of Genesis Begins Again, which received a Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, was a William C. Morris Award finalist, and for which she won the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent. A graduate of the MFA program at Hamline University, and an oral storyteller in the African American tradition, she is also a teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jacqueline Alcántara is the illustrator of the critically acclaimed The Field and Freedom Soup. Her favorite days are spent drawing, painting, writing, and walking her dog. In 2016, she was awarded the inaugural We Need Diverse Books Illustrator mentorship. Find out more at JacquelineAlcantara.com.