[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fwQXjTcQRovkS8OoIWspzEvAS7MZ5bBxufkx5cnUr1g8":3,"$fZjcrYq1NOTHT1d6Nlh74NcARlHSm4hyxYATwzQ4wtnY":51},{"author":4,"tags":50},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":10,"bio_jsonld":11,"slug":48,"image_url":49},11054,"Kwame Alexander","K",34,"The late twentieth century saw a growing number of writers working in children's and young adult literature, a field that draws on many different creative traditions. Born on August 21, 1968, in Manhattan, Kwame Alexander is a United States citizen who works in English as both a poet and a writer for younger audiences.\n\nAlexander was educated at Virginia Tech and went on to write for children and young adults. His career spans two related but distinct roles: that of a poet and that of a writer producing books for younger readers. Working across those two categories places him in a part of the literary world where poetry and writing for children and teenagers can occupy the same creative space.\n\nAs a children's writer, a young adult author, and a poet, Alexander works across a range of forms and age groups. Writing for children and teenagers calls for different things than writing for adults, and doing that work as a poet adds another dimension to what he produces. His output in English reflects a sustained engagement with both identities — the poet's and the author's — within a single career.\n\nThe most concrete recognition attached to Alexander's name is the Newbery Medal, an honor he received for his work in children's literature. That award represents a formal acknowledgment of his writing by those who evaluate literature for young readers. The Library of Congress catalogs his work under the authorized label \"Alexander, Kwame,\" a matter-of-fact record of how his career has been documented institutionally. Between the Newbery Medal and that catalog entry, the public record of Alexander's work as a children's writer and poet is clearly established.","The late twentieth century saw a growing number of writers working in children's and young adult literature, a field that draws on many different creative traditions. Born on August 21, 1968, in Manhattan, Kwame Alexander is a United States citizen who works in English as both a poet and a writer for younger audiences.",{"@graph":12,"@context":47},[13,24],{"@id":14,"name":6,"@type":15,"sameAs":16,"birthDate":22,"description":23},"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18977657","Person",[14,17,18,19,20,21],"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Alexander","https://viaf.org/viaf/9448414/","https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97027662","https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1606245A","https://d-nb.info/gnd/1050905261","1968-08-21","American children's writer, poet",{"@type":25,"author":26,"headline":29,"isBasedOn":30,"mainEntity":31,"reviewedBy":32,"articleBody":9,"dateCreated":33,"dateModified":34,"additionalProperty":35,"creativeWorkStatus":46},"Article",{"name":27,"@type":28},"Editorial Team","Organization","Kwame Alexander — biography",[14,17,19,20],{"@id":14},{"name":27,"@type":28},"2026-05-24T02:39:39.705369+00:00","2026-05-24T02:47:29.102788+00:00",[36,40,43],{"@type":37,"value":38,"propertyID":39},"PropertyValue","Q18977657","wikidata",{"@type":37,"value":41,"propertyID":42},"1.000","factscore",{"@type":37,"value":44,"propertyID":45},"claude-sonnet-4-6-r1","draftModel","AI-drafted, auto-published","https://schema.org","kwame-alexander",null,[],{"quotes":52,"pagination":116},[53,61,67,73,79,85,91,97,103,110],{"id":54,"quote_text":55,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":58,"source":59,"quote_tag":60,"commentary":49},3206726,"There should be a statute of limitations on unrequited love.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":62,"quote_text":63,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":64,"source":65,"quote_tag":66,"commentary":49},3206723,"Because it turns out forever is like the mall – right around the corner.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":68,"quote_text":69,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":70,"source":71,"quote_tag":72,"commentary":49},3206718,"Look at the mirrors in your friends eyes. That’s all anyone ever needs. Too see beauty and reflection in others. Those are real mirrors.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":74,"quote_text":75,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":76,"source":77,"quote_tag":78,"commentary":49},3206710,"It’s as awkward as things can get. But I hear grace can feel that way at first.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":80,"quote_text":81,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":82,"source":83,"quote_tag":84,"commentary":49},3206705,"Never let anyone lower your goals. Others’ expectations of you are determined by their limitations of life.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":86,"quote_text":87,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":88,"source":89,"quote_tag":90,"commentary":49},3206698,"Don’t you see I need to be here so they can fix the damage that’s been done to my heart? Who’s gonna fix the damage that’s been done to mine?",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":92,"quote_text":93,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":94,"source":95,"quote_tag":96,"commentary":49},3206692,"It’s about soldiers who don’t think for themselves, they just follow orders. The song got him into a lot of trouble. Like what? Ironically, he was banned from Ghana. And because of the song, the very soldiers he spoke out against were ordered to kill his mother. Did they? The zombies did.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":98,"quote_text":99,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":100,"source":101,"quote_tag":102,"commentary":49},3206689,"You can get used to things going well, but you’re never prepared for something going wrong.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"id":104,"quote_text":105,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":106,"source":107,"quote_tag":108,"commentary":109},3206687,"Did y’all arrest Uncle Bob’s turkey? It was just criminal what he did to that bird, wasn’t it? You.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nKwame Alexander, the American poet, novelist, and playwright, is known for his lyrical and often humorous style. This quote is likely from one of his books, such as \"He Said, She Said\" or \"Booked\", where he weaves together stories and characters to explore complex social issues. The era of Alexander's life that is relevant to this sentiment is his early adulthood, when he was experimenting with language and narrative.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, the quote appears to be a lighthearted joke about a character's misdeed. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a nuanced commentary on the human condition. Alexander is highlighting the way we often shift blame and responsibility, even when it comes to our own actions or the actions of those close to us. By using the phrase \"you\" in the final sentence, Alexander is drawing attention to the way we point fingers at others, while conveniently ignoring our own complicity.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's fast-paced, socially networked world, it's easy to get caught up in the blame game. To apply this mindset, recognize when you're shifting responsibility onto others, and instead, take ownership of your actions and their consequences. By acknowledging your own role in a situation, you can begin to break down the barriers that prevent meaningful change and growth.",{"id":111,"quote_text":112,"author_id":5,"source_id":56,"has_image":57,"author":113,"source":114,"quote_tag":115,"commentary":49},3206679,"Own the sadness, don’t let it own you.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":48,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":49},{},[],{"currentPage":117,"totalPages":118,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":119},1,4,10]