Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 36

abundance

So far this week, I’m averaging a thousand words per day. I could have used those words to finish The Ghosts in the Castle (though what to do about Brexit? write it into the story or ignore it?), but instead I switched gears and dove into Dragons in a Bag. The goal is to finish three novels this summer. I don’t know if my agent will want to send them out to editors, or if I’ll just go ahead and self-publish—and right now, it doesn’t matter. It feels good to be writing again, and to know that next month I’ll be sharing my dragon story with kids in Brownsville and Hollis; I’m leading two book clubs for the National Book Foundation’s BookUP program, which is partnering with Boomwriter and the Department of Youth and Community Development. I’ve been invited to speak with teen readers at Howard University in Washington, DC and just booked a train ticket to my cousin’s August wedding in Boston, but mostly I’ll be staying close to home this summer. And that feels good! I’ve made a summer wish list and already scratched off the first item: a trip to Coney Island (complete with Nathan’s hotdog and double-scoop cone). This coming weekend we’re going to visit the Alice Austen House in Staten Island. I’ve lived here for over twenty years and have NEVER been to Staten Island! I’m sure my summer would look rather dull to some folks, but I’m grateful to have these simple pleasures and so much time to write. I was out last week and every time I looked at something on offer I was able to say, “I’ve got that already.” Flowers by the bed, food in the fridge, good books to read, and story ideas swirling in my head. The icing on the cake? A fabulous, in-depth review of A Wish After Midnight by Nazahet Hernandez over at Read Diverse Books (check out our great interview, too). I once thought that book bloggers of color had disappeared, but I was wrong—they’re out there and they’re doing the work that many white bloggers can’t (or simply won’t) do. One exception, of course, is Lyn Miller-Lachmann who published the first review of The Door at the Crossroads over at The Pirate Tree. Last month Tiffa at The Picture Book Review did a lovely write-up for A Hand to Hold…I don’t get many reviews, but I’ll take quality over quantity any day. I’m trying to do things differently this summer, which is the theme of my forthcoming picture book with Tilbury House, Melena’s Jubilee. We had some trouble with the illustrations but now the book is ready to go to print and it looks great. Melena spends one day doing things differently, and that’s my goal for this summer: eat vegan during the week, try a one-month plank challenge, find a puppet show. Focus on abundance instead of lack…

Illustration by Aaron Boyd

Furqan’s First Flat Top

I’m always impressed when writers take matters into their own hands and bring their stories to life by self-publishing. Robert Liu-Trujillo’s first book is a beautifully illustrated story of a boy’s bold decision to change his style; when doubt sets in, his father’s reassurances and recollections of their extended family help Furqan feel confident once more. You can watch the trailer here . Rob was kind enough to share his thoughts with me. Welcome, Rob!


1. This book is dedicated to your son, and I believe you identify as a “Rad Dad.” Can you talk about your decision to write about a father and son, and the challenge of finding representations in kid lit (or popular culture) that reflect your particular reality of childhood/fatherhood?


First off, thank you for inviting me to be your blog and for your support. You rock Zetta!
 

Ok, so…Being a consumer of books, films, tv, games, the internet, advertising, etc I didn’t realize just how much of my family’s experience was missing from the cannon of popular or widely available stories. I couldn’t find books that I could point to and say “Hey Mijo, he’s just like you” or “that’s how I grew up”. I couldn’t.
 
As my son got older I found a few books focusing on young mixed brown boys with some similar experience, but he’s too old for a lot of those now you know? He began to read more challenging books with a little help from me, his mom, and his grandparents. And as he got into reading comics, graphic novels, and now chapter books for fun I started to look for more examples of him and who he is in those bookshelves (and forms of media). And to be honest, those reflections don’t existent yet or are hella hard to find. It’s getting better, but its still a hunt.

 
As Tomas Moniz says, I’m not a Rad Dad. Its something I wanna be, or something I aspire to be. When I became a dad it completely and incredibly altered my sense of being and purpose. When my son was just a year old and starting to walk I realized that much of his and his family’s experience would have to be made. I told myself, “I’m going to be a part of making those new stories” even if it takes me forever to do it, it just feels right. It feels like fighting back, you know? Because we’ve either been written out or completely ignored. 

And that was nearly a decade ago. I’m just starting to get to a point where I can present a story that is up to my own expectations or bar of storytelling that is a reflection of my life, his, and hopefully a bunch of other kids. I’m just getting started.




2. I’ve always been struck by your use of watercolor to depict people of color. Initially I worried that everyone seemed light-skinned, but as I’ve spent more time in the Bay Area, I wonder if this might be your take on multiracial identity (the “beiging” of the US). At the same time, there’s something gentle and soothing about watercolor, and it’s nice to see boys and men of color represented this way. Can you talk about what informs your aesthetic and how your visual style complements your storytelling priorities?


Sure, with the lightness it’s kinda of just me learning to use the medium correctly still. Even as I put out a book I’m studying. I’m trying to get better at depicting darker skin tones, backgrounds, lighting, and shadow. A lot of that study is of other painters and cinematographers and photographers. I definitely want to push the color and light a lot more. The light skin tones you see are just a part of my evolution. It wasn’t an intentional statement about being mixed but I see what you mean. My dad’s side of the family is almost all a very light brown and my mom’s side is a mix of darker browns and lighter tones. 
 
In regards to the softness. I started painting with watercolor almost 14 years ago and i still have a lot to learn. But yes! I do try to make the picture feel soft or warm. But you know, as I say that the style might change. I don’t want to stay the same stylistically. I want to evolve as the stories do. Some scenes are chill, laid back, or fun. I’m going to dive into some things that are more fantastical, scary, or dark in tone as I learn how to paint it right. When I first started to work on full scenes with characters I was using a lot of sepia tones, light browns, etc. I don’t know; I just experimented with that. I really like Bradford young’s work. How he lights his films. And through him I discovered Roy Decarava ( he was crazy talented). I really really dig Shaun Tan’s work with shadow and color. I love how LeUyen Pham uses different mediums depending on the story. I have so many influences from every day things I take a picture of, to illustrators, plein air painters, to old books at the library. I’m just getting started. 
 
I cannot wait to get all of the stories I have in my head out. I see so many aspects of my world and that of friends, family, and families from a far that must be put to page, you know?




3. I loved the illustration of the girl skateboarding–any chance she’ll get her own book? What’s next for you in terms of your writing/bookmaking life?


Glad you liked the girl. That is the first page I finished painting when I started. I wasn’t thinking about painting her again. Though a story with a young girl as a skater wouldn’t be bad. Peggy Oki maybe. What’s next is a combination of book pitching to some publishers I like, self publishing another story at some point in the near future, publicizing Laurin Mayeno’s new story, and building relationships with Furqan’s First. I have tons of stories to tell and new inspiration all the time so this will be life long. I hope to do some YA or middle grade covers and maybe a graphic novel too.  



***


Rob Liu-Trujillo is the author and illustrator of Furqan’s First Flat Top. He was born in Oakland, California and raised all across the Bay Area. He’s a visual artist, father, and a husband who employs the use of illustration, public art, and storytelling to tell tales. These tales manifest in a variety of forms and they reflect his cultural background, dreams, and political / personal beliefs. His motivation to do what he does is to unearth beautiful and un-told stories, to be a positive and nurturing influence on his son, and to honor his ancestors and family who worked so hard for him to be here. He loves music, nerdy things, and can get along well with most people. He seeks fun, ice cream, and justice. He’s also a co-founder of The Trust Your Struggle Collective , a contributor to Rad Dad, and the founder of Come Bien Books.

(photo credit: Scott La Rockwell)

not a Daddy’s girl

I spent the first 20 years of my life trying to please my father, and then I spent a good portion of my 20s trying to figure out what was wrong with me. A combination of grad school, therapy, self-help books, and radical feminist friends helped me feel more confident in my 30s; I cut ties with my father but then he got cancer and I spent an incredibly difficult year managing his care. In 2004 my dad died and I made a list of my friends before purging the folks that weren’t providing much-needed support (all three were men). When people ask me how I manage to be so productive, I remind them that I have no dependents—no kids, no pets, no man. My mother is still independent and so I don’t really have anything to stop me from writing and self-publishing. But being productive isn’t the same thing as being happy. And avoiding toxic people is wise but does the desire for safety limit our lives? I’m definitely less daring now than I was in my 20s (and less carefree than I was at age 9 with my Afro and roller skates, which my father brought back from an unannounced trip to LA). Maybe that’s why it has been so hard to develop a five-year plan. I can see my way to the end of 2016, but I’m not sure where I’ll be living or what I’ll be doing in 2020. Writing? Probably. But I need to know that I’m working towards something because otherwise I’m just working. I’m a creature of habit; I make lists so I can stay on task and track my progress. I also like to stay in my comfort zone. But someone on Facebook posted a great quote the other day (originally shared by Esmeralda Santiago):

Once you’ve been hurt, you learn to protect yourself. But the most important thing I learned in therapy is that the defenses you develop as a child often don’t serve you as an adult. I was in Toronto for 3 days last week and my longtime friend’s mum pulled out some photographs from 1981. It’s such a good feeling, being with folks who love you as you are now and have loved you for over 30 years. And as soon as I saw that photo of me on roller skates, I smiled at that confident girl who already knew how to do a glamor pose even though she also knew a girl like her wasn’t going to be featured in any magazine. Do we ever regain that kind of confidence? Girls are shamed at home, and shamed at school, and told endlessly in society that they aren’t “good enough.” Some of us rebel against those messages but a sort of fog remains…how much of who I am is really me, and how much is a reaction against what I’ve been told I’m supposed to be? I don’t generally hear my father’s voice in my head (well, maybe around weight: “Do you have an inch to pinch?”) but I do still hear my sister urging me to invest more in my appearance, which is really my father telling me to “fix myself up.” So maybe that’s why it’s so hard now to figure out just what is it I want to do with the second half of my life. I spent time with my cousins while I was in Toronto; they’re buying homes and having kids and getting married. I don’t think that’s my path, though it helps to hear honest accounts of the trials of parenthood and home ownership. It also helps that several of my friends are also experiencing midlife angst. Today Sofia Quintero hipped me to this video that recommends making three lists: What experiences do I want to have? How will I need to grow? What do I want to contribute? I learned from a neighbor yesterday that the co-op board is “concerned” about my ten-year sublease, so maybe I’ll have to move from my cozy home/port sometime in the future. That’s disconcerting but also the sort of challenge I just might need right now. I’m not sure I grow without being forced to confront some sort of obstacle, and I’m awfully good at avoiding conflict! But what served me as a child doesn’t necessarily help me as a middle-aged woman. I don’t want to just “get by,” or make ends meet. And there’s no guarantee that I’ve GOT five years to figure it out. There’s so much random violence in this world and daily threats that women of color face. I don’t have to have all the answers right now, but a little pressure might help. Whatever time you’ve got, you’ve got to make it count…

float like a butterfly?

I went to the botanic garden this morning. I missed the sign that said the path I was following was closed due to construction up ahead, but before turning back I noticed a small butterfly attempting to land on a flowering plant. The wind was strong this morning but despite being buffeted by gust after gust, the determined butterfly held its course. I thought of Muhammad Ali who passed away last week, and how often I’ve thought of butterflies as “accidental” fliers tumbling on the breeze—like bumblebees who, despite their bulk, manage to hang in the air long enough to drop into a flower’s open heart. Considering how often I’m underestimated by others, I should have known that butterflies are on a mission no matter how random their flight pattern may appear—just look at the migration of the monarchs! I had so many thoughts building in my mind this morning that I almost walked past the rose garden, which is absolutely glorious in June. I’ve never really been a fan of roses but that kind of abundance is dazzling…

There was a bride having her photo taken amidst the roses and so I took another detour but I couldn’t avoid all the families in the garden. And I know I started plotting my Viking novel moments later so I could avoid thinking about children and the role they may or may not play in my life. Yesterday a friend admitted she’s given up on the idea of having a family. I was shocked, but then wondered if that’s the first step in achieving a goal—like couples who struggle with fertility, decide to adopt, and then find they’ve conceived a child. I had an appointment to see a fertility specialist on Monday but when I arrived, I learned the clinic wasn’t open and the doctor wouldn’t be in until later in the week. I could have rescheduled but I didn’t. I want assurances that no one can give and the truth is, I really don’t know what I want right now. I have options but no real plan. Family has been such a traumatic experience for me and whenever I’m with my family, I remember why I moved to another country twenty years ago. But no woman is an island. I had brunch with a good friend a few months back; her work life has made it difficult to find time to write, but she’s a great mother and a successful professional so it surprised me to hear her say, “Sometimes I look at my life and ask myself, ‘Is this it?'”

I want to be more like that butterfly in the garden. I’m a creature of habit and probably won’t ever run out of story ideas, but do I want to do what I’m doing now for another forty years? I don’t know. So I decided maybe this weekend I should work on a five-year plan. Fifty people were slaughtered in another mass shooting in Orlando, emphasizing just how inhospitable the US has become for many of us. Do I see myself living here—in my beloved Brooklyn, in my cozy apartment—five years from now? I don’t know. If I moved to another country and adapted to a different culture, would I be more or less likely to build a family of my own? History binds me to this continent but what if I went in search of a new world? I might take my baggage with me… Taking a walk with another friend and will pick her brain about what it means to live a purposeful life. Serve others—that matters. Find joy—that matters, too. Avoid risk/pain? Not really possible if you want to truly engage with the world. I may need the rest of this month—or this summer—to come up with a plan, but I’m going to try!

fangirl

I love my friends. At times, I gush about my friends because they’re brilliant and creative and inspiring. But I am not a “fan” of my friends, and when a librarian comes up to me to express her appreciation for my books, I don’t think of her as a “fangirl.” To me, fans are not in their right mind—they’re fanatics! Their enthusiasm and excitement overwhelm their ability to think critically, and THAT can be a real problem when your job is to objectively evaluate and acquire books. It’s also a problem when “fangirling” intersects with gender—as in, male authors are treated differently than female authors in a field (like librarianship) that is dominated by women. Add race to that mix and we’ve got a serious problem—for women of color, at least. Compared to a Black man who can rap and recite love poetry, there’s not much I can do for a room full of White women (besides pointing out all the disparities that negatively impact the kids in my community). I tried to raise this point and others during my dialogue with Debbie Reese at the 2016 ACL Institute in San Francisco last week (you can watch the video here), and then we went out to dinner and continued the conversation with Kwame Alexander, his friend and guitarist Randy, and Laura Atkins. The one-day conference was amazing—I’ve really lucked out lately, because the last library conference I attended (LACUNY) was also excellent. ACL President and Institute Chair Meredith Steiner introduced me as a “force of nature,” and I definitely hoped to “trouble the water” but I also felt very welcome and safe—and grateful for the opportunity to share my point of view. California is so different from New York and the more time I spend out west, the more I feel at home there. Having my friends nodding in the front row helps, of course, but I met so many amazing librarians who were open-minded, and earnest, and honest about the challenges they face in meeting the needs of their diverse patrons. It was especially gratifying to connect with at least two librarians who serve teens in detention, and the female librarian (an admirer but not a fangirl) pressed Kwame Alexander about the urgent need for a paperback edition of The Crossover since hardcover books aren’t allowed in detention centers. Talking onstage with Debbie Reese was wonderful because we’re often in dialogue but rarely get to sit face to face. My breakout sessions were well attended and I ran out of tissues because participants really opened their hearts as we wrote about loved ones who are far away. Several participants already had great ideas for collaborative, community-based writing projects so hopefully we’ll see some books emerge over time. On Wednesday I got to catch up with my crew of radical creatives at the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens; it was sunny (I got a sunburn!) but also breezy and cool, and so we ordered tea and chai and a range of tasty treats at Samovar. I think the last time I saw these folks was in October but we just picked up where we’d left off and shared the various projects we’re working on…and schemed a bit about the future. The next day I was treated like a queen by Library Coordinator Becca Todd and the staff and students at Thousand Oaks and Le Conte schools in Berkeley. The kids were quieter than NYC students but just as engaged, and afterward they were clamoring for my books. My talk at ACL was about the marginalization of self-published authors, so it meant a lot to arrive at the two Berkeley schools and see so many of my Rosetta Press titles already in the library. I brought 50 books to the institute and Luan of Laurel Book Store sold all but 6! I don’t know if that will persuade her to stock Rosetta Press titles in the store, but there are lots of self-published authors in the Bay Area and they seem to be included in most book events. On the east coast, that’s true of events run by Black folks, but indie authors are still excluded from most “mainstream” literary events. Hopefully one day soon that will change…

ACL 2016 Institute: “Mirrors, Margins, and Misinformation”

pause

Sometimes you have to hit pause even when you wish you could just fast forward. Today a friend and I met for high tea at 4pm because we’ve both had a really good year so far and yet we hadn’t taken time to celebrate our achievements. When I asked her why she replied, “No one has time to celebrate with me.” I have time! I always have time for scones and clotted cream and cheese & pickle finger sandwiches. We didn’t get the champagne service but we did clink tea cups before savoring just about EVERYTHING on our three-tier tray. We talked about our plans for the summer and the challenge of creating space to just be still—not on the road, not overbooked. As we near the end of the school year, I can feel myself running out of steam. Despite the 80-degree weather, I’ve come down with a cold and worried my voice would give out during my back-to-back writing workshops this morning. The classes were larger than expected and so I also ran out of handouts, but my host was super cool and the kids were engaged…I don’t do many writing workshops for young kids and I wasn’t sure my activities would work since they were designed for older writers, but at one point there were four boys sprawled on the classroom floor working on their mystery stories and I decided that must be okay. I didn’t feel in control, the lesson wasn’t as structured as I hoped, but the kids were engaged and—simply put—adorable. One girl named Amethyst kept saying, “I can’t believe you’re actually here!” and another child visiting from a second grade classroom said that I was her role model. A boy said his dream job was to be a poet! They didn’t have finished stories by the time I left, but hopefully our activities will help them down the road. And maybe it’s enough that they just had fun. I picked up some chicken soup on the way home and took a quick nap before heading back out. I left my building then remembered I hadn’t checked my mailbox so I went back in and a check I’ve been waiting on for 2 months was there along with a bundle of letters from 5th graders I met back in March. I tucked the check away in my bag and thanked the universe for sending me enough gigs to make the long delay annoying but not a financial crisis. Then I sat on the train grinning and laughing out loud at the wonderful drawings and messages from the kids at PS 261. This was one of my favorites:

I haven’t written much in the past week but maybe this cold will put me back in an introspective mood. Next week I head to San Francisco for the ACL institute, a day of school visits in Berkeley, and a mini rad women retreat. Then I think things will start to slow down a bit. I’ve taken a summer gig but still hope to finish three novels by the end of August. And if it doesn’t happen as planned, it’ll be okay. Right?

gimme a beat

I’ve been hearing that verse in my head lately—perhaps because Janet Jackson just celebrated her 50th birthday and announced that she’s expecting her first child. It also has to do with my irritation around the “most favored” voices, which these days seems to be men of color who can rap. I had the opportunity to see Eclipsed on Wednesday and it was an amazing experience. Lupita wasn’t available but her understudy was fantastic and even before we got to the theater, I was having a good time. I met Patrice years ago when I self-published A Wish After Midnight; she was one of the few teachers who read the book and invited me to speak to her students. When her school got tickets for all the female students to see Eclipsed, Patrice generously offered me an extra ticket. In the school cafeteria I met some of the other teachers along with a couple of Patrice’s friends and we immediately started talking about the trials of teaching, and bell hooks’ critique of #Lemonade, and how to teach girls to be their authentic selves. I was struck—as I often am—by the ease with which women can and often do connect. It doesn’t always happen but when it does, I find myself wondering if men ever bond that way (instantly, honestly). Part of me wished the male students had also been invited, but their absence made the experience richer. The play is about 5 women surviving the civil war that nearly destroyed Liberia. Four of the women are “wives” of a war lord who claimed them for himself, and together they form a household and a kind of family. We never forget that they are regularly raped—“jumped on”–by the C.O.; he never appears on stage, but we know he’s passing by when the women abruptly fall into line and wait to see who will be chosen. Each one returns moments later to ritually wipe between her legs using a cloth kept in a plastic basin in one corner of their shared home. They cook together, sleep side by side, share dreams, bicker and fight over the “spoils of war”—hair extensions and blood-stained clothes—and read the biography of Bill Clinton (a “big man” who also had more than one “wife”). To take back power, Wife #2 joins the army believing her gun will prevent any man from raping her again. The Girl, youngest and most recent addition to the family, follows #2 into war only to find herself rounding up other scared girls who will be handed over to soldiers who rape them with impunity. After witnessing (and believing she caused) the gang rape and death of a young girl who cursed her, The Girl tries to escape but is beaten into submission by #2. When the play ends, we aren’t sure of her fate—can she return to a “normal” life or will she return to the chaos of the killing fields?

I haven’t seen Hamilton and probably won’t unless someone miraculously offers me a free ticket. I admit, I get turned off when one person or text receives a disproportionate amount of attention because it means so many other people and texts aren’t receiving any attention at all. Eclipsed has 6 Tony nominations but the theater wasn’t full for that mid-week matinee, and I don’t see or hear the playwright (or director, or cast members—all Black women) on TV, magazine covers, or the radio every other day. Would people pay more attention if we rapped about rape? What was happening in the lives of Black women while Alexander Hamilton and George Washington were “founding” the nation? Pretty much the same thing that was happening in Liberia not that long ago—the same thing that’s been going on in the Congo for decades. Again and again I come back to that line from the CRC 1977 “Statement”: “the only people who care enough about us to work consistently for our liberation is us.”

Gimme a beat.

recognizing joy

As an introvert, I tend to avoid crowds whenever I can. But as an author, I’ve had to learn how to handle myself and manage my anxiety when participating in a book fair. Sometimes it’s straight up romper-room chaos—fluorescent lights in a gymnasium, screaming kids racing around, and a migraine by the end of the day. I don’t do many book fairs (I also don’t get that many invitations) but sometimes the experience is just amazing. I really enjoy the Brooklyn Museum’s children’s book fair and I LOVE the annual African American Children’s Book Fair at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. As I sat in the quiet car last night heading back to NYC, I honestly couldn’t count all my blessings—I’d start a Facebook post and then go back and edit it to add the name of another person who lifted my spirits or presented me with an opportunity. I never went back to that sound meditation class I tried last month, but I do feel a difference in myself…it started last fall, I think, when I went to London and had such a wonderful trip. When I put it into words, my trip didn’t sound that impressive but the feeling I had while I was there was unmistakable: joy! And I felt that again yesterday at the book fair. There was the quiet before the storm (below) and then the crowd grew (above) and my laptop battery died so I couldn’t hide from the public by focusing on the screen. I met so many engaged parents who wanted to let their children choose their own book, I saw kids’ eyes grow wide with wonder as I described a story to them, and I had other author and illustrator friends all around me so I felt supported and NOT anxious and that meant I was able to enjoy myself. Sales were steady and I only brought ten books home, so that means I sold about 40 (my strategy is to bring fewer copies of more titles). I wrote the first chapter of Dragons in a Bag in the hotel the night before, and feasted on bbq with friends once the book fair was over. The sudden downpour stopped just as we left the museum and Shadra took me to an excellent cake spot so I could get a slice before heading home. I received two invitations to speak in NYC while I was away, and I hope to return to Baltimore for future collaborations with the museum and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The 5th annual book fair will take place at the museum on May 8, 2017 so save the date!

#Lemonade for Girls: In Formation

When a home-schooling Black mother asked me for a #Lemonade syllabus for her girls, I immediately reached out to my peers and asked them to help me compile three age-appropriate lists for young readers. Our selections reflect some of the themes in Beyoncé’s visual album: self-love, African roots, spirituality, Louisiana, the history and culture(s) of the South, Black women’s activism, police brutality, and “Daddy Lessons.” If we’ve missed a title that would empower Black girls and teens, please leave your recommendation in the comments section. You can download a PDF: Lemonade for Girls.

Picture Books (age 0-7)

Asim, Jabari. Girl of Mine .
Atinuke, Anna Hibiscus .
Copeland, Misty. Firebird .
De Leon, Aya. Puffy: People Whose Hair Defies Gravity .
Elliott, Zetta. A Hand to Hold .
Greenfield, Eloise. Honey, I Love .
Hegamin, Tonya. Most Loved in All the World .
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters.


Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia. I Love My Hair .
Weatherford, Carol Boston. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement.
Watson, Renee. A Place Where Hurricanes Happen .

Middle Grade (age 8-12)


Allen, Crystal. The Laura Line.
Bolden, Tonya. Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl.
DePrince, Michaela and Elaine. Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer .
Engle, Margarita. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music.
Grimes, Nikki. Words with Wings.
Nelson, Marilyn. A Wreath for Emmett Till
Okorafor, Nnedi. Akata Witch .
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Rhythm Ride: A Road Trips through the Motown Sound .
Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Ninth Ward .
Schatz, Kate. Illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl. Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Revolutionaries Who Shaped Our History… And Our Future!
Taylor, Mildred T. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry .
Whitley, Jeremy and M. Godwin. Princeless .
Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer.
Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming.


Young Adult (age 13+)


Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi, Purple Hibiscus .
Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.


Davis, Kiri. A Girl Like Me . (short film)
Draper, Sharon. Copper Sun .
Edwards, Sue Bradford and Duchess Harris. Black Lives Matter .
Elliott, Zetta. A Wish After Midnight .
Getz, Trevor R. and Liz Clarke. Abina and the Important Men.
Gibney, Shannon. See No Color.
Hopkinson, Nalo. Brown Girl in the Ring .
Magoon, Kekla. How It Went Down.


Nelson, Marilyn. How I Discovered Poetry.
Rees, Dee. Pariah . (film)
Simpson, Karen. Act of Grace.
Woodson, Jacqueline. The House You Pass on the Way .



Reading List Contributors

EDITH CAMPBELL, M.L.S.

Reference/Instruction Librarian, Indiana State University

@Crazyquilts

SARAH PARK DAHLEN, PH.D.

Assistant Professor of Master of Library & Information Science Program, St. Catherine University

@readingspark

ZETTA ELLIOTT, PH.D.

Author/Educator

@zettaelliott