The Books Briefing: The Writers Whom History Forgot
In 1928, Gay Neck, which depicts the adventures of a young boy and his carrier pigeon, became the first novel written by a person of color to win the prestigious Newbury Medal. Yet nearly a century later, the book and its author, Dhan Gopal Mukerji, are largely overlooked, seldom referenced even in discussions about diversity in children’s literature.Mukerji is not the only author to have found great success and then seemingly disappeared from historical memory.