Sharon M. Draper

Sharon M. Draper (born August 21, 1948) is an American educator, poet, and award-winning author of books for children and young adults. A former high-school English teacher and the 1997 National Teacher of the Year, Draper has written numerous acclaimed novels including Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, Copper Sun, Out of My Mind, Blended, and Stella by Starlight. Her work often addresses difficult themes such as racism, disability, grief, and family, and she is a multiple recipient of Coretta Scott King awards and the Margaret A. Edwards Award.