Angela Johnson
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Brief Biography
Angela Johnson is originally from Tuskegee, Alabama, but relocated to Ohio during her childhood. She briefly attended Kent State University, deciding to leave because of writer’s block. She worked as a child development worker for Volunteers in Service to America before pursuing writing full-time. Johnson's literary achievements span picture books, young adult novels, poetry, and short story collections. She is a three-time recipient of the Coretta Scott King award for her young adult novels and has been honored with the Alabama Author award twice. She earned her most prestigious accolade, the five-year MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, in 2003. She continues to write and was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in 2023.
Publications
Tell Me a Story, Mama. New York; Orchard Books, 1989.
When I Am Old with You. New York; Orchard Books, 1990.
Do Like Kyla. New York; Orchard Books, 1990.
One of Three. New York; Orchard Books, 1991.
The Leaving Morning. New York; Orchard Books, 1992.
Julius. New York; Orchard Books, 1993.
The Girl Who Wore Snakes. New York; Orchard Books, 1993.
Toning the Sweep. New York; Scholastic, 1993.
Joshua by the Sea. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Mama Bird, Baby Birds. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Rain Feet. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Joshua's Night Whispers. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Humming Whispers. New York; Orchard Books, 1995.
Shoes Like Miss Alice's. New York; Orchard Books, 1995.
The Aunt in Our House. New York; Orchard Books, 1996.
Daddy Calls Me Man. New York; Orchard Books, 1997.
The Rolling Store. New York; Orchard Books, 1997.
Gone From Home: Short Takes. London; Doring Kindersley Publishing, 1998.
Heaven. New York; Simon & Schuster, 1998.
Songs of Faith. New York; Orchard Books, 1998.
The Other Side: Shorter Poems. New York; Orchard Books, 1998.
Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street. New York; Random House, 1999.
The Wedding. New York; Orchard Books, 1999.
Those Building Men. New York; Scholastic, 1999.
When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street. New York; Random House, 1999.
Down the Winding Road. London; Doring Kindersley Publishing, 2000.
Looking for Red. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2002.
A Cool Moonlight. New York; Puffin Books, 2003.
I Dream of Trains. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Running Back to Ludie. New York; Scholastic, 2003.
The First Part Last. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Violet's Music. New York; Random House, 2004.
Bird. New York; Puffin Books, 2004.
A Sweet Smell of Roses. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Just Like Josh Gibson. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Lily Brown's Paintings. New York; Orchard Books, 2007.
Wind Flyers. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Sweet, Hereafter. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2009.
The Day Ray Got Away. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2010.
Lottie Paris Lives Here. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2011.
A Certain October. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2012.
Lottie Paris and the Best Place. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2013.
A Girl Like Me. Minneapolis, Minn.; Millbrook Press, 2020.
When I Am Old with You. New York; Orchard Books, 1990.
Do Like Kyla. New York; Orchard Books, 1990.
One of Three. New York; Orchard Books, 1991.
The Leaving Morning. New York; Orchard Books, 1992.
Julius. New York; Orchard Books, 1993.
The Girl Who Wore Snakes. New York; Orchard Books, 1993.
Toning the Sweep. New York; Scholastic, 1993.
Joshua by the Sea. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Mama Bird, Baby Birds. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Rain Feet. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Joshua's Night Whispers. New York; Orchard Books, 1994.
Humming Whispers. New York; Orchard Books, 1995.
Shoes Like Miss Alice's. New York; Orchard Books, 1995.
The Aunt in Our House. New York; Orchard Books, 1996.
Daddy Calls Me Man. New York; Orchard Books, 1997.
The Rolling Store. New York; Orchard Books, 1997.
Gone From Home: Short Takes. London; Doring Kindersley Publishing, 1998.
Heaven. New York; Simon & Schuster, 1998.
Songs of Faith. New York; Orchard Books, 1998.
The Other Side: Shorter Poems. New York; Orchard Books, 1998.
Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street. New York; Random House, 1999.
The Wedding. New York; Orchard Books, 1999.
Those Building Men. New York; Scholastic, 1999.
When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street. New York; Random House, 1999.
Down the Winding Road. London; Doring Kindersley Publishing, 2000.
Looking for Red. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2002.
A Cool Moonlight. New York; Puffin Books, 2003.
I Dream of Trains. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Running Back to Ludie. New York; Scholastic, 2003.
The First Part Last. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Violet's Music. New York; Random House, 2004.
Bird. New York; Puffin Books, 2004.
A Sweet Smell of Roses. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Just Like Josh Gibson. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Lily Brown's Paintings. New York; Orchard Books, 2007.
Wind Flyers. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Sweet, Hereafter. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2009.
The Day Ray Got Away. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2010.
Lottie Paris Lives Here. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2011.
A Certain October. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2012.
Lottie Paris and the Best Place. New York; Simon & Schuster, 2013.
A Girl Like Me. Minneapolis, Minn.; Millbrook Press, 2020.
Themes
Angela Johnson writes short stories, poetry, children's books, and young adult novels marked by their vivid imagery and memorable characters. Her works are about the lives and struggles of African Americans and are often set in Alabama. Major themes in her works include coming of age, family, and belonging.
Publisher
Alabama Authors of the 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org
Collection
Citation
Johnson, Angela, “Angela Johnson,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed September 19, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/616.