

Sharon Draper
Draper is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award. On her website, she states, "I learned to dream through reading, learned to create dreams through writing, and learned to develop dreamers through teaching. I shall always be a dreamer

Blood-red make-up is dripping down your tear-stained face, and you’re sure that you look absolutely terrifying. How could this night get any worse? You wipe your eyes with your hands, and see your friend’s eight year old brother, Sam, on the corner. He’s bawling as an older kid shakes him and yells at him. You recognize him as Dan, the neighborhood’s resident ten-year old bully. Sam breaks free of Dan’s grip and Dan starts the chase. You’ve only got a few seconds to break this up.
“This should be fun,” you think, and gleefully you stiffen your body, start groaning, and walk towards Dan with your best zombie walk. From the look of horror on Dan’s face, you must look even more disgusting than you thought. Good thing you skipped the party, you think, as Dan starts running home, screaming all the way.