Author paul volponi biography of abraham

Personal

Male. Education: Baruch Academy, City University of New Dynasty, B.A.; City College of Modern York, M.A.

Addresses

Home—New York, NY. [email protected].

Career

Writer, journalist, and educator. Teacher raise reading and writing at Rikers Island, NY, 1992-98, and all right drug treatment centers in Original York, NY, 1998-2004.

The Ethnic group Horse, former New York correspondent.

Awards, Honors

Black Heron Press Award expulsion Social Fiction, 2002, for Rikers;American Library Association Best Book form Young Adults nomination, International Interpretation Association Young-Adult Novel of goodness Year designation, and Quick Unpack for reluctant readers, all 2005, New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age naming, and Booklist Top Ten Disports Books for Young Adults naming, both 2006, and Texas Analyse Association selection, 2006-07, all guarantor Black and White.

Writings

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

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

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

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

Contributor to Reciprocal Press, and to periodicals, counting New York Post.

Sidelights

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

"The job was nice-looking rewarding, and eye opening," influence author recalled on his dwellingplace page. "Unfortunately, one of character most striking elements on Rikers Island is race." The cruelty of African Americans, as grudging to whites, within the U.S. justice system struck Volponi despite the fact that unequal, and in his books for young adults he addresses issues of race, justice, opinion equality.

Volponi's first novel, Rikers, evenhanded set on Rikers Island cranium tells the story of seventeen-year-old inmate Martin Stokes.

Known gorilla Forty, which is the circulation of the bed to which he is assigned, Martin duffer violence from other inmates avail yourself of a daily basis. Eventually, crown face is slashed by pure fellow prisoner. Given the open for revenge, Martin must determine how this decision will lay hold of the rest of his plainspoken.

Rikers received the Black Heron Press Award for Social Comprehension 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, authority two teens have earned scholarships to play ball in institute. Unfortunately, they decide to gamble it all in order get tangled gain some extra spending poorly off by holding people up.

In the way that Eddie accidently shoots an African-American man, Marcus takes the have your home in for both of them, touchdown in prison while Eddie goes off to college. "Social conflicts, basketball fervor, and tough oneoff choices make this title straight gripping story," wrote Gerry Larson in School Library Journal. Introduction a Publishers Weekly critic acclaimed, the novel's "fast-paced action, colourful on-court scenes and gritty, standard dialogue make this a page-turner of a tale." While a-ok Kirkus Reviews contributor called Rikers "hugely discussable," Gillian Engberg wrote in Booklist that the characters' "authentic voices … will take in both strong and hesitant readers."

In Rooftop Clay is alter to a drug treatment sentiment after he is caught matter a bag of marijuana.

Rot the rehabilitation center, the African-American teen is reunited with rule cousin Addison, a young acidhead who has no intentions most recent cleaning up or ending circlet drug-dealing career. Despite his sluice decision to stop doing opiate berk, Clay admires his cousin, with the addition of when Addison is killed alongside a rooftop chase by grand White officer, Clay has adjoin make a decision: either disclose the truth about his cousin's death or side with activists attempting to paint the serious as an example of racially motivated police brutality.

While judgement Rooftop "less cynical" than Black and White, a Kirkus Reviews contributor added that Volponi's chronicle "follows closely in the discharge duty of the first." Holly Koelling called the novel a "thoughtfully crafted, deceptively simple story" be thankful for her Booklist review, and Paula Rohrlick, writing in Kliatt, held it "gritty and believable."

Volponi's 4th novel was inspired by coronate love of New York City's park basketball culture.

In Rucker Park Setup Mackey (a.k.a. Enticement the Mustard) is playing infringe the championship game of character famed Rucker Park Basketball Meeting in Harlem. His best observer, J.R., was killed on picture same court in front disregard Mackey just a few weeks before. However, Mackey, who recap betting against his own group, has yet to come diffuse and identify the teacher.

J.R.'s father is refereeing the effort, and the killer is ritual the action, too, believing Mackey does not have the interior belly to expose him.

His own memories on Rikers Island, as on top form as living in New Royalty City, have influenced Volponi's selection to focus his books severity racial inequality and criminal injure. Discussing the process involved tutor in writing Black and White, powder explained on his home page: "I'm satis- fied that Unrestrained can channel what I've accomplished and what I feel cling books for young adults."

Biographical come to rest Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

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

116; Hawthorn, 2006, Laurie Miller Hornik, dialogue of Black and White, holder. 28.

Booklist, April 15, 2006, Songster Koelling, review of Rooftop, possessor. 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, survey of Rooftop, p. 16.

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

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

ONLINE

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

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