Great Books for Melanin Mothers and Daughters to Share and Discuss
I have come across some books (new and old) that I wanted to share with our Melanin blessed readers with children that will encourage and inspire them to walk in their greatness. If you have already purchased for your little one please share your thoughts in the comments. These would make great gifts to schools, youth programs and basically any kid you feel may need this extra push in their daily environment.
Synopsis:
Pakersfield, Georgia, 1958: Thirteen-year-old Tangy Mae Quinn is the sixth of ten fatherless siblings. She is the darkest-skinned among them and therefore the ugliest in her mother, Rozelle’s, estimation, but she’s also the brightest. Rozelle—beautiful, charismatic, and light-skinned—exercises a violent hold over her children. Fearing abandonment, she pulls them from school at the age of twelve and sends them to earn their keep for the household, whether in domestic service, in the fields, or at “the farmhouse” on the edge of town, where Rozelle beds local men for money.
But Tangy Mae has been selected to be part of the first integrated class at a nearby white high school. She has a chance to change her life, but can she break from Rozelle’s grasp without ruinous—even fatal—consequences?
The Author : Delores Phillips was born in Bartow County, Georgia in 1950, the second of four children. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor of arts in English and worked as a nurse at a state psychiatric hospital in Cleveland. Her work has appeared in Jean’s Journal, Black Times, and The Crisis. She passed away in 2014; The Darkest Child was her only novel.
- I am Unique by Jennifer Vassel
Synopsis:
“I Am Unique!“ is a story about self-love and sharing your unique gifts with the masses. Erin is the main character of the story. She has a birthmark and a passion for acting. Erin wants to try out for the leading role in her school’s play, but when her best friend questions whether she would suit the role because of her birthmark, she has to decide if she’s going to let a perceived “flaw” get in the way of her dream.
This story lives within all of us. Whether it is a birthmark like Erin’s, crooked teeth, or even something we can’t physically see, we all have something about us that could trigger insecurities. When we live in a time where media largely influences our perceptions of beauty, esteem, and success, we have to be sure that young girls know it’s okay to be different.
The Author : Jennifer Vassel’s childhood insecurity about having a birthmark was the inspiration behind the I Am Unique! story. A ten year struggle was used to empower girls around the world. Jennifer is Jamaican-American, and the bestselling author of her debut book, My Channeled Energy, a collection of poems and short stories written from age 6 to 26. She is passionate about inspiring others to tap into their natural gifts and living a life filled with purpose and intention. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, and a Master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. She currently resides in Southern California, where she continues to pursue her writing and entrepreneurial career.
- I am Enough by Grace Byers
Synopsis:
I Am Enough is the picture book everyone needs, and it’s now a New York Times bestseller!
This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another—from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo.
This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation.
We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.
The Author : Grace Byers is an actor and activist who stars in Fox’s hit series Empire. As a multiracial young girl and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Grace was bullied throughout her childhood. This book was born out of her desire to empower young girls against the effects of bullying. In her spare time, she volunteers with the nonprofit antibullying organization Saving Our Daughters. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Trai Byers. I Am Enough is her first book.
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Synopsis:
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.
But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.
With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.
The Author: ELIZABETH ACEVEDO was born and raised in New York City and her poetry is infused with Dominican bolero and her beloved city’s tough grit.
She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. With over fifteen years of performance experience, Acevedo has been a featured performer on B.E.T, TV One’s Verses and Flow and has also delivered several TED Talks. She has graced stages nationally and internationally including renowned venues such as The Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, South Africa’s State Theatre, The Bozar in Brussels, and the National Library of Kosovo.
Acevedo is a National Slam Champion, Beltway Grand Slam Champion, and the 2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam representative for Washington, D.C, where she placed 8th in the world.
Her poems have been published or are forthcoming in Poetry, Puerto Del Sol, Callaloo, The Notre Dame Review, and others. Acevedo is a Cave Canem Fellow, Cantomundo Fellow, and participant of the Callaloo Writer’s Workshop. She is the author of the chapbook, Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths (YesYes Books, 2016) and the New York Times bestselling novel, The Poet X (HarperCollins, 2018).
- A B TO JAY Z – A HIP HOP INSPIRED CHILDREN’S ABC BOOK
Synopsis:
A B to Jay Z is for the next generation of hip-hop enthusiasts. There will always be an abundance of books ready to teach our kids about apples, balls and cats but who is going to teach them the realest alphabet? Who is going to make sure their rap game is strong when they start school?
Allow A, B to Jay Z to do the work for you, whilst giving you the opportunity to relive some of the greatest musicians of our time by teaching our children where it’s at. For real.
If you’re having alphabet problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but my ABC’s ain’t one.
While currently out of stock at the time of this posting, you can get more info and purchase info here.
The Author : Get more info at https://www.ninocruz.com/pages/our-vibe
All info from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and ninocruz.com.
