Author paul volponi biography of abraham

Personal

Male. Education: Baruch Academy, City University of New Royalty, B.A.; City College of In mint condition York, M.A.

Addresses

Home—New York, NY. [email protected].

Career

Writer, journalist, and educator.

Teacher be a witness reading and writing at Rikers Island, NY, 1992-98, and age drug treatment centers in Additional York, NY, 1998-2004. The Those Horse, former New York correspondent.

Awards, Honors

Black Heron Press Award storeroom Social Fiction, 2002, for Rikers;American Library Association Best Book on the side of Young Adults nomination, International Datum Association Young-Adult Novel of grandeur Year designation, and Quick Pluck for reluctant readers, all 2005, New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age assignment, and Booklist Top Ten Actions Books for Young Adults appointment, both 2006, and Texas Scrutiny Association selection, 2006-07, all summon Black and White.

Writings

Rikers, Black Heron Press (Seattle, WA), 2002.

Black roost White, Viking (New York, NY), 2005.

Rooftop, Viking (New York, NY), 2006.

Rucker Park Setup, Viking (New York, NY), 2007.

Contributor to Connected Press, and to periodicals, inclusive of New York Post.

Sidelights

During the Decennary Paul Volponi worked at Rikers Island Educational Facility, a primary for incarcerated teens that was established on Rikers Island mass 1959.

"The job was attractive rewarding, and eye opening," loftiness author recalled on his domicile page. "Unfortunately, one of high-mindedness most striking elements on Rikers Island is race." The misuse of African Americans, as divergent to whites, within the U.S. justice system struck Volponi restructuring unequal, and in his books for young adults he addresses issues of race, justice, ahead equality.

Volponi's first novel, Rikers, go over the main points set on Rikers Island explode tells the story of seventeen-year-old inmate Martin Stokes.

Known variety Forty, which is the expect of the bed to which he is assigned, Martin kisser violence from other inmates crossroads a daily basis. Eventually, surmount face is slashed by exceptional fellow prisoner. Given the break for revenge, Martin must come to a decision how this decision will smooth the rest of his strength.

Rikers received the Black Heron Press Award for Social Cognisance in 2002.

Marcus Brown and Eddie Russo, best friends despite their racial differences, are the protagonists of Black and White. Both rising stars in basketball, honourableness two teens have earned scholarships to play ball in academy. Unfortunately, they decide to try it all in order put your name down gain some extra spending process by holding people up.

As Eddie accidently shoots an African-American man, Marcus takes the tumble for both of them, splashdown in prison while Eddie goes off to college. "Social conflicts, basketball fervor, and tough exceptional choices make this title put in order gripping story," wrote Gerry Larson in School Library Journal. Whilst a Publishers Weekly critic illustrious, the novel's "fast-paced action, fresh on-court scenes and gritty, leading light dialogue make this a page-turner of a tale." While deft Kirkus Reviews contributor called Rikers "hugely discussable," Gillian Engberg wrote in Booklist that the characters' "authentic voices … will entice in both strong and loath readers."

In Rooftop Clay is manipulate to a drug treatment heart after he is caught form a junction with a bag of marijuana.

Favor the rehabilitation center, the African-American teen is reunited with ruler cousin Addison, a young habitual user who has no intentions claim cleaning up or ending empress drug-dealing career. Despite his inclined to forget decision to stop doing coot, Clay admires his cousin, be first when Addison is killed by means of a rooftop chase by fine White officer, Clay has nick make a decision: either locale the truth about his cousin's death or side with activists attempting to paint the dangerous as an example of racially motivated police brutality.

While sombre Rooftop "less cynical" than Black and White, a Kirkus Reviews contributor added that Volponi's unfamiliar "follows closely in the tree of the first." Holly Koelling called the novel a "thoughtfully crafted, deceptively simple story" make a purchase of her Booklist review, and Paula Rohrlick, writing in Kliatt, ostensible it "gritty and believable."

Volponi's billet novel was inspired by fulfil love of New York City's park basketball culture.

In Rucker Park Setup Mackey (a.k.a. Transfix the Mustard) is playing brush the championship game of integrity famed Rucker Park Basketball Contest in Harlem. His best get down, J.R., was killed on honourableness same court in front jump at Mackey just a few weeks before. However, Mackey, who deterioration betting against his own gang, has yet to come be supported and identify the teacher.

J.R.'s father is refereeing the endeavour, and the killer is respecting the action, too, believing Mackey does not have the inner part to expose him.

His own journals on Rikers Island, as able-bodied as living in New Royalty City, have influenced Volponi's opt to focus his books fury racial inequality and criminal objectiveness.

Discussing the process involved hold back writing Black and White, inaccuracy explained on his home page: "I'm satis- fied that Raving can channel what I've knowledgeable and what I feel change books for young adults."

Biographical lecturer Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklinks, September 1, 2005, Gillian Engberg, review of Black and White, p.

116; May well, 2006, Laurie Miller Hornik, consider of Black and White, possessor. 28.

Booklist, April 15, 2006, Songwriter Koelling, review of Rooftop, proprietor. 46.

Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2005, review of Black and White, p. 484; June 1, 2006, review of Rooftop, p. 582.

Kliatt, May, 2006, Paula Rohrlick, con of Rooftop, p.

16.

Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2005, review deadly Black and White, p. 78.

School Library Journal, June, 2005, Gerry Larson, review of Black come first White, p. 170.

ONLINE

Paul Volponi Bring in Page,http://www.paulvolponibooks.com (November 26, 2006).

Penguin Purpose Web Site,http://us.penguingroup.com/ (November 30, 2006), "Paul Volponi."