Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Add The Mighty Miss Malone to bookshelf
Add to Bookshelf

Look Inside

The Mighty Miss Malone

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis

By Christopher Paul Curtis
Read by Bahni Turpin

By Christopher Paul Curtis
Read by Bahni Turpin

Best Seller
Paperback $8.99

Mar 12, 2013 | ISBN 9780440422143 | 9-12 years

Hardcover $15.99

Jan 10, 2012 | ISBN 9780385734912 | 9-12 years

Ebook $8.99

Jan 10, 2012 | ISBN 9780375897368 | 9-12 years

Audiobook Download $22.00

Jan 24, 2012 | 475 Minutes | 9-12 years

All Formats
+
    The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
    Paperback $8.99
    Mar 12, 2013 | ISBN 9780440422143

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (3) +
    • $8.99

      Mar 12, 2013 | ISBN 9780440422143 | 9-12 years

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • $15.99

      Jan 10, 2012 | ISBN 9780385734912 | 9-12 years

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Jan 10, 2012 | ISBN 9780375897368 | 9-12 years

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Jan 24, 2012 | ISBN 9780307968234 | 9-12 years

      475 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About The Mighty Miss Malone

    The dramatic and unforgettable story of a girl and a family caught up in the turbulent days of the Depression from Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott Kind Award-winner Christopher Paul Curtis.

    “We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful.” This is the motto of Deza Malone’s family, but the road is getting rocky.

         Deza is the smartest girl in her class, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression hit Gary, Indiana hard, and there are no jobs for Black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. While Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, Deza and Mother continue on, clinging to the hope that they will find Father.

         The twists and turns of the Malone’s journey reveal not only the devastation of the Depression but also the enduring strength of family bonds and the mighty heart of young Deza Malone.

    About The Mighty Miss Malone

    In the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award–winning Bud, Not Buddy, Bud met a girl named Deza Malone in a Hooverville. This is her story.
     
    “We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.
     
    “Witty and moving.” —The Wall Street Journal
     
    “The fluidity of the writing, the strong sense of place and time combined with well-drawn characters will captivate and delight. . . . a fitting literary companion to Bud Caldwell.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
     
    “Curtis threads important bits of African-American history throughout the narrative. . . . Some readers will feel they are due a bit of happiness; others will be struck by how little has changed in 75 years for the nation’s have-nots.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

    About The Mighty Miss Malone

    In the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award–winning Bud, Not Buddy, Bud met a girl named Deza Malone in a Hooverville. This is her story.
     
    “We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.
     
    “Witty and moving.” —The Wall Street Journal
     
    “The fluidity of the writing, the strong sense of place and time combined with well-drawn characters will captivate and delight. . . . a fitting literary companion to Bud Caldwell.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
     
    “Curtis threads important bits of African-American history throughout the narrative. . . . Some readers will feel they are due a bit of happiness; others will be struck by how little has changed in 75 years for the nation’s have-nots.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

    About The Mighty Miss Malone

    In the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award–winning Bud, Not Buddy, Bud met a girl named Deza Malone in a Hooverville. This is her story.
     
    “We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.
     
    “Witty and moving.” —The Wall Street Journal
     
    “The fluidity of the writing, the strong sense of place and time combined with well-drawn characters will captivate and delight. . . . a fitting literary companion to Bud Caldwell.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
     
    “Curtis threads important bits of African-American history throughout the narrative. . . . Some readers will feel they are due a bit of happiness; others will be struck by how little has changed in 75 years for the nation’s have-nots.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Listen to a sample from The Mighty Miss Malone

    About Christopher Paul Curtis

    Christopher Paul Curtis won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his bestselling second novel, Bud, Not Buddy. His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, was also singled out for many awards, and has been a… More about Christopher Paul Curtis

    About Christopher Paul Curtis

    Christopher Paul Curtis won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his bestselling second novel, Bud, Not Buddy. His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, was also singled out for many awards, and has been a… More about Christopher Paul Curtis

    About Christopher Paul Curtis

    Christopher Paul Curtis won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his bestselling second novel, Bud, Not Buddy. His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, was also singled out for many awards, and has been a… More about Christopher Paul Curtis

    About Christopher Paul Curtis

    Christopher Paul Curtis won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his bestselling second novel, Bud, Not Buddy. His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, was also singled out for many awards, and has been a… More about Christopher Paul Curtis

    Product Details

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Fiction

    Paperback | $8.99
    Published by Yearling
    Mar 12, 2013 | 320 Pages | 5-3/16 x 7-5/8 | 9-12 years | ISBN 9780440422143

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Fiction

    Hardcover | $15.99
    Published by Wendy Lamb Books
    Jan 10, 2012 | 320 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | 9-12 years | ISBN 9780385734912

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Fiction

    Ebook | $8.99
    Published by Wendy Lamb Books
    Jan 10, 2012 | 320 Pages | 9-12 years | ISBN 9780375897368

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Fiction | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $22.00
    Published by Listening Library
    Jan 24, 2012 | 475 Minutes | 9-12 years | ISBN 9780307968234

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    Best of the Year:
    Publishers Weekly
    Kirkus Reviews

    “Witty and moving.” —The Wall Street Journal
     
    “The fluidity of the writing, the strong sense of place and time combined with well-drawn characters will captivate and delight. . . . a fitting literary companion to Bud Caldwell.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
     
    “Curtis threads important bits of African-American history throughout the narrative. . . . Some readers will feel they are due a bit of happiness; others will be struck by how little has changed in 75 years for the nation’s have-nots.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

    Awards

    National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold Award WINNER

    ALA Notable Children’s Book NOMINEE

    Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award NOMINEE 2013

    Missouri Mark Twain Award NOMINEE 2015

    New York State Charlotte Award NOMINEE 2014

    Rhode Island Children’s Book Award NOMINEE 2015

    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award NOMINEE

    Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Award NOMINEE 2014

    ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings SELECTION 2013

    NAACP Image Awards FINALIST

    Author Q&A

    An excerpt from Christopher Paul Curtis’s Afterword in his novel, THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE:
     
    Even though Deza is a fictional character, many of her woes are based on the lives and struggles of very real children. A particularly rich and heartbreaking source was the collection of letters children sent to President Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
                               
    Authors are frequently asked what they want a particular book to accomplish. What I want The Mighty Miss Malone to do is, first, to provide an enjoyable read. Second, as with all of my books, I want this to be a springboard for young people to ask questions and do more research on some of the themes the book explores, in this case the Great Depression and poverty in general. And third, I hope that Deza can serve as a voice for the estimated fifteen million American children who are poor, who go to bed hungry and whose parents struggle to make a dignified living to feed and care for them. After writing that last sentence, I can’t help feeling this: the fact that in late 2011 I can write that there are fifteen million poor children in this country is, to quote the Mighty Miss Malone, “A tragedy, a true tragedy.”

    -Christopher Paul Curtis
     
    (Figures are from the National Poverty Center of the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy—2009 Poverty Thresholds.)

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Brightly

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

         An online magazine for today’s home cook

    TASTE

    An online magazine for today’s home cook