Penguin Young Readers and We Need Diverse Books has established a partnership. The two organizations will host a writing contest to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Ethnically diverse writers can submit in their middle grade stories (for readers ages 8 to 14) beginning in April 2016.
Here’s more from the press release: “In 1974, the Council on Interracial Books sponsored a writing contest seeking out diverse voices. Mildred D. Taylor was the winner of the African-American segment for the manuscript that became Song of the Trees (Dial, 1975), her first book. It introduced the Logan family and was followed by Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976), which won the Newbery Medal.”
Earlier this week, the publisher released a 40th anniversary edition of Taylor’s book earlier this week. It features new content from Taylor, a foreword written by Jacqueline Woodson, and illustrations by Kadir Nelson. Click on this link to learn more information and read all the rules about the contest.