Sharon M. Draper is a professional educator, as well as an accomplished writer of over thirty award-winning books for adolescents and teachers, including Copper Sun, Winner the 2007 Coretta Scott King Award and the highly acclaimed Jericho and Hazelwood trilogies. She served as the National Teacher of the Year, has been honored at the White House six times, and is a New York Times bestselling author. She was selected by the US State Department to be a literary ambassador to the children of Africa as well as China.