Malorie's+2nd+Page

__Malorie Sloan__** 
 * __Christopher Paul Curtis__

Have you heard of the biography of Christopher Paul Curtis?This is an interesting book of a imaginative, hard working man wrote by Ann G. Gaines.This non-fiction book explains Christopher Curtis's childhood, education, and middle age career. In 2000, Christopher won a Newbery Medal and a Coretta Scott King award, both for an outstanding children's book. He is truly an inspiration to all.

Christopher Paul Curtis was born on May 10, 1953 in Flint, Michigan. His parents were Herman and Leslie Curtis and he was one of five children. In 1971, Curtis graduated from high school and went to work at Fisher Body plant, an automobile factory his father worked at.  He worked there for 13 years, writing in his journal on his brakes to help his boring job. One morning he got up and realized this job didn't provide enough for him and his goals. He met his future wife at a basketball game in Canada. Twice he entered writing contest at the University of Michigan. He didn't know how the results would turn out so he didn't get his hopes high. One of his essays he entered won the Avery Hopwood Prize. His first fiction book, //The Watson's Go To Birmingham - 1963,// got published by Delacorte, the contest he entered with his novel. This book won a Newbery Honor. After this book he wrote and published //Bud, Not Buddy//, a story about a boy living in the depression. The morning of January 17, 2000 Curtis received two surprising phone calls. The first told him he'd won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature-the first African-American that has been awarded with that honor. The second call came in and said //Bud, Not Buddy// had been awarded with Coretta Scott King Award, named in honor of the leader Martin Luther King.

Christopher Curtis is a very important person. He followed his dreams and never gave up. He set his mind to something and he accomplished his goals. Curtis contributed greatly known children's books and he is great role model to people that think they are stuck in life. He was able to do something he had always wanted and people these days should look up to this intelligent, creative, and hard working man.

Christopher Curtis contributed to his career by creating his first novel, //The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963//. This novel was published in 1995. He didnt expect what was coming his way. After his first novel he created //Bud, Not Buddy//. This funny but serious novel got published in 1999. Curtis got two phone calls on January 17, 2000 saying he got the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature and the other saying //Bud, Not Buddy// recived the Coretta Scott King award. Most importantly, he was the first African-American to recive the Newbery honor.

Christopher Curtis took risks for himself and his family.The part that I admire most about Christopher Paul Curtis's life is when he relized he wanted to reach his goals and persue his life to the extent. Curtis thought of his-self as an average male working in a factory that didn't get a lot out of his job. Until, one day, he stopped working and started to persue his soon to be outstanding writing career. This part of his life inspires me to never stop beiliving in myself, taking risks, and following my dreams.

This biography gives a honest account of Christopher Paul Curtis. It explains how his life was before he decided to produce his dreams. I decided this biography is a true accont because not only does it tell about Curtis's high-points in life, but it also explains some of his low-points in life before his writing experiences. This biography is very helpful and motivating to the readers who haven't discovered their goals in life. Christopher Paul Curtis was an extremely effective and concentrated person!