Columbus students will have the opportunity to be the very first children anywhere to get Linda Williams Jackson’s new book — and at no cost.

While “The Lucky Ones” does not go on sale until later this month, Columbus Municipal School District is giving away free signed copies to the first 100 students from district schools who attend a program with the author Monday.

Williams Jackson will appear at Joe Cook Elementary at 5 p.m. Monday for a book reading and discussion open to the public.

Williams Jackson is a Mississippi native. Originally from the small town of Rosedale in the Delta, she now resides in the Memphis suburb of Southaven.
“The Lucky Ones” is her third book for readers aged 8-13. Her previous books “Midnight Without a Moon” and “A Sky Full of Stars” both deal with the murder of Emmett Till.

In “The Lucky Ones,” 11-year-old Ellis Earl Brown dreams of becoming a teacher or lawyer, but the poverty his large family faces affords little means to achieve his goals — until his teacher Mr. Foster takes him under his wing.

Mr. Foster not only gives Ellis Earl a ride to school and extra food for his family, but also exposes him to Black role models such as Thurgood Marshall and Marian Wright. They ultimately get the chance to witness Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s famous tour of living conditions in the Delta in 1967.

“I had many teachers like Mr. Foster,” Williams Jackson said. “I grew up in an impoverished community, and without teachers like my own real-life ‘Mr. Fosters,’ many of us wouldn’t have made it past high school. I’m so grateful for good teachers.”

A discussion guide for educators is available at the author’s website, jacksonbooks.com.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What did you do before you became a writer, and what led you to write for children?
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, before I pursued writing in earnest — meaning I wanted to actually get published — I worked in Information Technology. I also taught high school algebra for a short stint as well as ran a daycare center. But my most important job — the one which I gave up all the other jobs to do — was a stay-home mom, which I still am.

I think I write for children by default, mainly because I am always around children. As with my own children and my multitude of nieces and nephews, I love telling stories. So naturally, I am a storyteller who loves recounting stories from the past, hence, a children’s book author of historical fiction.

You grew up in a large family like the one in “The Lucky Ones.” What are some of the ways that the book’s family reflects your own?
Like my main character, Ellis Earl Brown, I grew up in a large family “out in the country” with a single mom who had to raise her own children as well as a grandchild. We would also have frequent guests in our already crowded home, not just nieces and nephews, but also cousins who would come to stay for long stretches of time. It would take an entire page to write about all the similarities between my fictional family in “The Lucky Ones” and my real family.

Ellis Earl, the 11-year-old main character, is a sweet and smart kid but a bit of a know-it-all, which sometimes causes him strife with his family and classmates. Why did you take his character in that direction?
From the start, I envisioned Ellis Earl as a bit of a know-it-all because he’s so ambitious, and those two traits just sort of go hand in hand. I wanted him to be sort of “unlikeable” but also sweet and caring at the same time. I think many kids will be able to identify with Ellis Earl, and I hope they will learn a lesson from him as well. Spoiler alert: He learns to tamper it down a bit.

Why did you choose Robert F. Kennedy’s visit to the Delta to be the touchstone for the book’s plot?
“Who is RFK?” is the actual question that inspired me to tell this story. In 2018, my son asked me this question when he saw the headline “RFK” on a magazine cover while we stood in the checkout line at the grocery store. I decided to share the answer that I gave my son through a historical novel for middle-grade readers. So I guess you could say that the plot came before the characters.

What do you want readers to take away from the challenges that the characters in the book face?
I want readers to find hope and empathy in “The Lucky Ones.” Ellis Earl is very hopeful, despite his circumstances, and that can be a tough thing to do, especially for kids. I want kids who might be living in less than desirable conditions to press on and keep hope alive. Through education and mentors, children have the opportunity to create the life they desire when they grow up.

And for those who cannot identify with Ellis Earl’s circumstances, don’t look down on those who do. Be a support system instead.

Emily Liner is the owner and founder of Friendly City Books, an independent bookstore and press in Columbus.