Muckers (31 page)
Authors: Sandra Neil Wallace
And finally, and perhaps most of all, to the late Mr. Lewis McDonald, Jerome High principal and chief secret keeper of his students’ hopes and dreams. You defined the course of their lives by standing up for civil rights at a time when teachers could be fired for it. If I could, I’d write and tell you that I found it—that precious box—and cherished every letter. And that I keep copies of them close by, next to a handful of rocks I pilfered from the schoolyard. And that because of them, the Jerome Muckers won’t be forgotten.
SANDRA NEIL WALLACE
, a former ESPN sportscaster, may have snagged her greatest lead yet in uncovering the inspirational achievements of the Jerome Muckers football team. She discovered the story while sifting through a box of letters and other memorabilia. The trail of letters led her to write
Muckers
.
Wallace was named an outstanding newcomer to the children’s literature scene by the
Horn Book
following the publication of her first novel,
Little Joe
. The book was a finalist for the South Carolina Children’s Book Award and a U. S. Department of Agriculture selection for its Ag in the Classroom program.
Muckers
is her first book for young adults. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, author Rich Wallace.
Visit Sandra Neil Wallace at
sandraneilwallace.com
.