Kwame Alexander is “a poet, educator, producer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 39 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night, An American Story, The Door of No Return, Becoming Muhammad Ali, and Rebound (“Short Bio.” Kwame Alexander). Alexander is a regular speaker at events, schools, and book groups, where he shares his infectious passion for literacy, the craft of writing, and literature. As a positive, energetic, and encouraging writer, he believes everyone has a story to share, honoring his mission to “change the world, one word at a time” (“Short Bio”).

Alexander’s works have won numerous awards. He’s known for his Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning works, including The Crossover and Booked, two other novels in verse. In the Door of No Return, Alexander handles the topic with metaphorical language and suspenseful pacing. These hallmarks are evident in his storytelling, in which he intentionally writes in verse. He identifies himself as a poet, since his books are made of interconnected poems that tell stories.

The Door of No Return was written based on his inspiration for his love of water and to “write a story about the true beginning before [.