Tonya Bolden

“I hope my readers leave my books with a greater love for reading and knowledge-seeking, and also as stronger thinkers, with a more vigorous curiosity.”—Tonya Bolden

Tonya Bolden is the editor of 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


As a child I absolutely adored books. I loved the journeys they allowed, what they taught me about the world, how they gave my imagination a workout. The physicality of the book, I loved that too. Still do. As a child I wrote poems and stories just because. As a teen I wrote reams of poetry. In my student life, when it came to papers, writing was never the agony for me that it was for many of my classmates.

“Writing is rewarding on several counts. There’s the learning: As all the books I write require research, I am constantly learning. There’s the clarifying: Through writing I come to terms with and gain insights on my own experience and sensibilities, along with the historical events that have shaped me. On the unselfish level, it is through writing that I am able to teach.

“When as a child I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, most often my response was ‘teacher.’ When I went to graduate school (Columbia University), it was with the idea that I would become a college professor. While there I took a few courses at Teachers College because for a minute I thought perhaps I’d become an elementary or secondary school teacher. In the end, I decided to pursue writing instead. Now, when I look at what the majority of my books are about, I realize that I ended up being a teacher.”

For more information on Tonya Bolden, visit her Web site at www.tonyabolden.com


PRAISE

ROCK OF AGES
A Tribute to the Black Church

“Powerfully written and illustrated, this insightful portrait of an institution that might otherwise be overlooked is one you won’t want to miss.”—Starred, School Library Journal

“A book to read aloud in the classroom, at home, and in Sunday school.”—Starred, Booklist


33 THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW
Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women

“Adolescent girls (and many adult women) will find healthy doses of wisdom, humor, cheerleading and inspiration in these 33 works.”—Publishers Weekly


33 THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WOMEN’S HISTORY
From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A.

“The tone throughout is positive and informative, empowering teens with neglected facts about and contributions of women to the history of the United States.”—School Library Journal

Author Bookshelf
		33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History Edited by Tonya Bolden Trade Paperback Here’s the perfect book for anyone interested in learning more about girls and women in the United States from the 18th century to the present. Featuring contributions from a wide variety of women, including well-known nonfiction writers, a children’s librarian, historians, and many more, this latest addition to the 33 Things... Read More
		33 Things Every Girl Should Know Written by Tonya Bolden eBook Natalie Merchant. Sigourney Weaver. Tabitha Soren. Wendy Wasserstein. Rebecca Lobo. Lauren Hutton. Anita Roddick. Lynda Barry. These are among the thirty-three extraordinary women who lend their diverse voices to this outstanding collection of stories, songs, poems, comics, and essays that will give every adolescent girl reason to feel hopeful about making... Read More
		33 Things Every Girl Should Know Written by Tonya Bolden Trade Paperback Natalie Merchant. Sigourney Weaver. Tabitha Soren. Wendy Wasserstein. Rebecca Lobo. Lauren Hutton. Anita Roddick. Lynda Barry. These are among the thirty-three extraordinary women who lend their diverse voices to this outstanding collection of stories, songs, poems, comics, and essays that will give every adolescent girl reason to feel hopeful about making... Read More
		FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America 1932-1939 Written by Tonya Bolden Hardcover FDR’S New Deal, which followed the 1929 stock market crash, was a hugely influential moment in the history of the United States, encompassing everything from the arts to finance, labor to legislation, and some think it helped bring the country out of the Great Depression. Here, Tonya Bolden, writing in her... Read More
		FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America 1932-1939 Written by Tonya Bolden Hardcover Library Binding FDR’S New Deal, which followed the 1929 stock market crash, was a hugely influential moment in the history of the United States, encompassing everything from the arts to finance, labor to legislation, and some think it helped bring the country out of the Great Depression. Here, Tonya Bolden, writing in her... Read More
		Cause Written by Tonya Bolden Hardcover After the destruction of the Civil War, the United States faced the immense challenge of rebuilding a ravaged South and incorporating millions of freed slaves into the life of the nation. On April 11, 1865, President Lincoln introduced his plan for reconstruction, warning that the coming years would be “fraught with... Read More
		The Champ Written by Tonya Bolden Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Trade Paperback Muhammad Ali is one of the world’s best-known figures, and this incredible biography delves into precisely why. From his unlikely beginnings as a skinny, young Cassius Clay learning to box at a local gym to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world at the famous “Rumble in the Jungle,” where even... Read More
		The Champ Written by Tonya Bolden Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Hardcover Muhammad Ali is one of the world’s best-known figures, and this incredible biography delves into precisely why. From his unlikely beginnings as a skinny, young Cassius Clay learning to box at a local gym to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world at the famous “Rumble in the Jungle,” where even... Read More
		Rock of Ages Written by Tonya Bolden Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Trade Paperback In her moving homage to the Black Church, Tonya Bolden has written a poem spanning centuries of oppression, freedom, prejudice, and joy. From times when slaves worshipped secretly in fields at night to the grand city churches of today, the Church has been there to help its community, inspire its congregants... Read More
		Take-Off (Bk & CD) Written by Tonya Bolden Hardcover The 1940's was a time when society thought it improper for women to make a sax wail or let loose hot licks on skins, but with the advent of World War II and many men away fighting the war, women finally got their chance to strut their stuff on the bandstand... Read More
		Take-Off (Bk & CD) Written by Tonya Bolden eBook The 1940's was a time when society thought it improper for women to make a sax wail or let loose hot licks on skins, but with the advent of World War II and many men away fighting the war, women finally got their chance to strut their stuff on the bandstand... Read More