We Need Diverse Books Announces Winner of Short Story Contest
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In memory of the late author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Walter Dean Myers, the contest was open to unpublished writers of non-majority backgrounds. First place winner Kelly Baptist will be awarded $1000 and publication alongside esteemed authors in the WNDB Middle Grade Anthology, to be published by Crown Books for Young Readers in January 2017.
I immediately responded to the strong voice and characterization in ‘The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.’ I was also impressed with the way Ms. Baptist created a realistic family and school dynamic. Most powerful of all, Ms. Baptist shows how words are transformative. (We Need Diverse Books)