Julius Lester is a best-selling author of books for young people, as well as an author for young adults. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 27, 1939, Lester grew up amid the African-American traditions that form the basis for much of his work. He wrote his first book for young adults To Be a Slave at the suggestion of an editor. In an effort to fill some gaps in American history as taught in America's schools, this nonfiction work offers an account of the lives of American slaves. The book became a bestseller, attracting a worldwide audience and winning a 1969 Newbery Honor. Much of Lester's subsequent writing for young adults has focused on African-American folk tales, but the stories of Long Journey Home: Stories from Black History are inspired by factual accounts of the African-American experience. Long Journey Home won the 1972 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award...