Cline-Ransome: Hi, this is Lisa Cline-Ransome, and I'm the author of "Finding Langston". I'm going to tell you a bit about how I came to write this book and then I'll share an excerpt with you. The story of the great migration of African-Americans from the south to the north is one that has always interested me personally. My parents migrated to New England from Charlottesville, Virginia, and Shelby, North Carolina, and so I am drawn to that period in history. The character Langston is a compilation of family members, historical narratives, and my own love of books and the library. In "Finding Langston", his discovery of a library leads him to also discover a world he was shut out from in rural Alabama. The poetry of Langston Hughes, his own mother's legacy, and most importantly a part of himself he never knew he had.

Now, I'll read an excerpt to you from "Finding Langston".

When we get downstairs she says, "My name is Mrs. Kimball. I'm the adult librarian, but Miss Cook at the desk will help you with your selections." Her voice is so crisp and clear. She makes every word sound special. Miss Cook is the children's librarian. Librarian, selections, I don't know what any of those words mean but I aim to find out. "Thank you, Mrs. Kimball," I say, happy when she turns to go back upstairs. I go back to the shelf and back to the book with the words from my heart. I take it from the shelf, looking around to make sure it's okay. I sit at one of the empty tables close to the window and open the book.

I'm going to write me some music about daybreak in Alabama and I'm going to put the purtiest songs in it rising out of the ground like a swamp mist and falling out of heaven like soft dew. I'm going to put some tall trees in it and the scent of pine needles and the smell of red clay after rain. I have to stop. I can feel the choking in my throat that always starts right before the tears. I look to make sure no one is watching but everyone is looking at their own books. Miss Cook is at her desk busy sorting through cards. I stand so fast I knock over my chair. Miss Cook looks up. "Would you like to check that out?" She asks. "Ma'am," I say. She waves me over. I stand in front of her at the desk and she tells me I can borrow any book I want with a library card, but first she needs my name and address. The place where you can borrow books, I remember my momma telling me. Before I give her my address I ask, "Are you a librarian?" "Yes, I am, she answers with a smile." A librarian is someone who lets you borrow books in a library. One word down, I think.

4501 Wabash. She writes that down. "Your name?" "Langston," I tell her.