Woodson's seventh grade English teacher returned her first short story to her with the comment, "You are the real thing" (1). Jacqueline Woodson: "The Real Thing" explores how Woodson became "the real thing," why she deserves to be acknowledged as one of the finest writers for young adults today, who her literary mentors have been, and how her family history has helped to shape her as an artist, beginning with the success of her first novel, Last Summer with Maizon.

Part 1 Preface Part 2 Chronology Chapter 3 Chapter 1 On Becoming-and Staying-a Writer Chapter 4 Chapter 2 On Being Powerless and Invisible: The Dear One andHush Chapter 5 Chapter 3 On Being Homeless: I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, Lena and Locomotion Chapter 6 Chapter 4 On Being Friends: The Margaret and Maizon Trilogy Chapter 7 Chapter 5 On Being Different: From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun and The House You Pass on the Way Chapter 8 Chapter 6 On Maturing as a Writer: If You Come Softly, Miracle's Boys, Autobiography of a Family Photo, the Short Stories, and Children's Books Part 9 Selected Bibliography Part 10 Index Part 11 About the Author