Remembering Virginia

Virginia Hamilton died at 12:25 AM
Tuesday morning, February 19, 2002

The family of Virginia Hamilton thanks everyone for their wonderful comments and warm wishes. You may also get in touch with the family by email.

Reprinted by permission Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.
From the Spring 2003 Ohioana Quarterly

One of my earliest memories was curling up underneath my Mom and listening to her read one of her books to me. My favorite, Time Ago Tales of Jahdu. I swear for years, I really thought she was Mama Luka. Whenever she read that book to me I became Jahdu. I was transported right into the book, into the story, my mother’s voice guiding me through. That is the power of words, the power of a masterfully written story, told by a master storyteller – told by my Mom.

I think her greatness as a writer was only eclipsed by her greatness as a mother. Raising both me and my sister Leigh to be truly free thinkers. Fostering our creativity at every turn. Our house buzzed twenty-four hours a day with imagination, Mom and Dad each going into their respective study to work in the morning, my sister and I playing in our fantasy worlds, around the house. Then at dinner, Mom and Dad would talk about the day’s writing, how each of their projects was going. Leigh and I would talk about our day, too, what we learned, what games we played, the meal always ending with lots of laughter. I think of all that creativity, swirling between father and mother, brother and sister.