Jacqueline Woodson
Born: February 12, 1963 – Columbus, Ohio, United States
Jacqueline Woodson is an American author whose fiction and memoir center Black girlhood, family, memory, and belonging across children’s, young adult, and adult literature. Her notable books include Brown Girl Dreaming, Another Brooklyn, and Red at the Bone; she has won the National Book Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and multiple Coretta Scott King Awards.
Biography & Author's Journey
Jacqueline Woodson, born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1963, spent part of her childhood in Greenville, South Carolina, before moving to Brooklyn at seven. A slow reader who nevertheless loved language, she has often marked two early turning points: a fifth-grade teacher who praised her writing, and the dawning sense that books rarely reflected the Black families and neighborhoods she knew. After graduating from Adelphi University, she worked with homeless and runaway children and wrote material for reading tests, experiences that strengthened her commitment to literature that recognized young people’s lives. ((https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacqueline-Woodson?utm_source=openai))
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Community Voices
"Jacqueline Woodson is an elegant, daring, and restlessly innovative writer"
— Robert Polito
"All Jacqueline Woodson’s books feature lyrical language, powerful characters, and an abiding sense of hope"
— IBBY
"To say it has been a big year for National Book Award–winning author Jacqueline Woodson would be an understatement"
— Publishers Weekly
"I have admired Jacqueline Woodson’s work for years"
— Carla Hayden
"Jacqueline Woodson introduces us to resilient young people fighting to find a place where their lives can take root"
— ALMA Jury
"We couldn’t be more pleased with the selection of Jacqueline Woodson as the next ambassador"
— Carl Lennertz
"Jacqueline Woodson has established herself as an eloquent voice in contemporary children’s literature"
— Rita Auerbach
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
