Amy's Extraordinary Alabama: Alabama Children's Authors

By Amy

I love children's books. There's just something about them. As I was walking through my son's school the other day I saw a poster with youth and children's books by Alabama authors and thought I would do some searching for other Alabama children's authors. This post isn't to be taken as reviews of these books, but just bringing attention in case you would like to check out these Alabama authors. Once I discover more Alabama authors I'll be sure and let you know.

But before you check out these two tell me - do you have a favorite Alabama author?

Alabama Moon by Watt Key. You can also check out his Facebook page here. Alabama Moon is on a reading level of ages 9 - 12.

Synopsis from the publisher: For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. When Moon’s father dies, Moon follows his father’s last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn’t know or understand; he’s become property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there.

Irene Latham is the author of Leaving Gee's Bend. You can follow her on twitter here. Leaving Gee's Bend is on a reading level of ages 9 -12.

Synopsis from Latham's website:

Ludelphia Bennett may be blind in one eye, but that doesn't mean she can't put in a good stitch. In fact, Ludelphia sews all the time, especially when things are going wrong. But when Mama gets deathly ill, it doesn't seem like even quilting will help. Mama needs medicine badly - medicine that can only be found in Camden, over forty miles away. That's when Ludelphia decides to do something drastic - leave Gee's Bend.

Beyond the log cabins, orange dirt, and cotton fields of her small sharecropping community, Ludelphia discovers a world she could never have imagined. Fancy houses, cars, and even soda pop! But there's also danger lurking for a young girl on her own, and Ludelphia begins to wonder if she'll ever see Gee's Bend or her Mama again. Despite the twists and turns, Ludelphia weathers each challenge in a way that would make her mama proud, and may even save the day not just for Mama, but her entire town.

Set in 1932 and inspired by the rich quilting history of Gee's bend, Alabama, LEAVING GEE'S BEND is a heart-touching tale of a young girl's unexpected adventure.