FALL COMMUNITY READ, 2008

 

The Grove Hill Arts Council has selected Ted Dunagan's book, A Yellow Watermelon, for the 2008 Community Read.  Ted M. Dunagan was born in 1943 in Coffeeville, Alabama. After attending Georgia State University, he served as a member of the Army's 101st Airborne Division and Special Forces Training Group. After a career in the cosmetics and fragrance industry, Mr. Dunagan is now retired.  He lives in Monticello, Georgia with his wife and writes features and columns for The Monticello News.

"In the best Southern literary tradition, A Yellow Watermelon explores poverty and racial segregation through the eyes of an innocent boy. In rural south Alabama in 1948, whites picked on one side of the cotton field and blacks on the other. Where the fields meet, twelve-year-old Ted meets Poudlum, a black boy his own age, who teaches him how to endure the hard work while they bond and go on to integrate the field. Through Poudlum and Jake, an escaped black convict, Ted learns of evil forces gathering to deprive Poudlum’s family of their property and livelihood. The white boy and the black boy encounter danger and suspense while executing a plan to save Poudlum’s family, set Jake onto a river of freedom, and discover a great, yet simple secret of enlightenment."

From the Georgia Writers Association Website

http://www.georgiawriters.org/content/view/237/89/
 

The Grove Hill Book Club has also selected A Yellow Watermelon as its August read and copies of the book will be placed in all area libraries.  

 

 

Noted Author Ted Dunagan Speaks at WHMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Poudlum's Great- Granddaughter with Ted Dunagan

 

 Clarke County native and author, Ted Dunagan was a special guest of the Wilson Hall Middle School eighth grade reading students on Thursday, October 2nd.  The students were attentive and well informed and very excited to meet the author of "A Yellow Watermelon" - Clarke County's Community Read Book for 2008.  The eighth grade had recently finished reading and studying this book in their classes.

Mr. Dunagan talked about the writing process and read excerpts from his book to the assembled students, teachers, and special guests.  He told them that a sequel is in the works and will be published soon.  After his talk, he opened the floor for questions from the students and they had plenty!  Everyone really enjoyed getting to meet and talk with him.  As Mr. Dunagan was leaving the school, he commented to the principal Mr. Bagley, how well-behaved and mannerly our students were. 

Thanks to Mrs. Annell Gordon for arranging this occasion and for providing the Peach Nehi's and Moon Pie snacks for everyone - a favorite snack of the protagonist of the novel!  WHMS hopes to have additional speakers and assemblies throughout the year to enrich their studies.