Jackson Public Schools proudly celebrates Jackson, Mississippi native Angie Thomas, an award-winning author whose powerful storytelling has inspired readers around the world. Born and raised in Jackson, she is a graduate of Belhaven University and the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel The Hate U Give, which received the William C. Morris Award, a Coretta Scott King Award, and was adapted into a major motion picture.

Her bestselling novels On the Come Up and Concrete Rose were also adapted for film, further expanding her impact. Through her work, Angie Thomas continues to amplify powerful voices and inspire the next generation of scholars right here in Jackson and beyond.

In October 2025, the acclaimed author visited scholars at Bailey APAC Middle School as part of the Mississippi Book Festival’s outreach program, Turn the Page. Thomas spoke with scholars about her journey as a writer and what inspires her stories.