Maya Angelou, author of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" wins

Many 9th graders are currently reading a book by a living literary legend, American author Maya Angelou.

In last night's National Book Award ceremony, Angelou was presented with the 2013 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.  The National Book Foundation's webpage and press release today described I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as "an intelligent and sophisticated story of how Angelou transformed herself from a victim of racism with an inferiority complex into a self-assured, dignified young woman and civil activist."