|
FALL COMMUNITY READ">
|

|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|