2006 ALA Annual Conference

Quiet (and not so quiet) Heroes in Literature
Saturday, June 24
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Bridge Room

There are many quiet heroes among us whether struggling with a personal challenge,making a difference in far away places, or changing the course of history. Join FOLUSA as we present authors who show how one person or even a rag-tag fleet of soldiers can make a difference. Barbara Hoffert, Editor of the Book Review, Library Journal, will introduce the authors and moderate the panel discussion. A book signing will follow.

James Nelson, author of Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Ragtag Fleet that Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution
James L. Nelson, a former sailing vessel seaman and boatswain, is the author of two series of novels about the great sailing navies: Revolution at Sea and Brethren of the Coast. His most recent novel is Glory in the Name: A Novel of the Confederate Navy. He also wrote the nonfiction title Reign of Iron: The Story of the First Battling Ironclads. (Photo Credit: JLN Boucher)

Joanne Oppenheim, author of Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference
Joanne Oppenheim has written over fifty books for and about children. Dear Miss Breed came about when Joanne was planning her high school reunion and began searching for Ellen Yukawa, a Japanese American friend. Through her search she discovered the website of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and the letters to Miss Breed. With the National Museum’s help, Joanne eventually found her friend and discovered that Ellen had spent the war years at Poston as well, before moving to Joanne’s hometown in 1945. Eager to write about and share these stories, for three years Joanne Oppenheim worked on this book, locating and interviewing many of Miss Breed’s “children.” Joanne hopes that her readers view this story, not as an isolated event of the past, but rather as an event to keep in our collective memory to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. (Photo Credit: Stephanie Oppenheim)

Gilbert Tuhoboyne, author of This Voice in My Heart: A Genocide Survivor's Story of Escape, Faith, and Forgiveness
Gilbert Tuhabonye is a survivor. More than ten years ago the centuries-old battle between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes of Africa came to his school. Gilbert was the lone survivor of the attack at his school. Today, Gilbert is a world-class athlete, running coach, and celebrity in his new hometown of Austin, Texas. The road to this point has been a tough one, but he uses his survival instincts to spur him on to the goal of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic summer games. This Voice in My Heart portrays not only the horrific event, but the transformative power of real forgiveness and the gift of faith in God. This riveting story will touch you from its first page and offer inspiration for years to come.