A couple of years ago my nieces were visiting and the topic turned to the books they were reading. They hesitantly named books they had read. Then they became quiet. After a moment they lamented that it was hard to find books to read with characters they could identify with. Books with characters like them.
They’re great students with good grades. They’re intelligent young ladies preparing for college. They lead well-rounded lives with a lot going on.
But they can’t find books with characters like them!
They’re:
– leaders
– sassy
– smart
– trendy
– feisty
– fun-loving
– thoughtful
– well-versed in the issues of the day
Yet they can’t find books with characters like them.
They hurt. They mourn. They have disappointments. They have crushes. Their hearts are broken. They have conflicts with parents.
African-American teens are no different from other teens, sharing common experiences. Teens are complex beings, leaving childhood behind and on the verge of adulthood. There is more than one thing going on in their lives at any given time.
They navigate:
– friends
– family
– school
– extracurricular activities
– church
– community
However, they can’t find books with characters like them.
African-American teens live in a diverse society – a world inhabited by people of many cultures. They navigate this world every day.
They should be able to read about those experiences.
So to my nieces and all teens who can’t find books with characters like them, here is The People In The Park, with love!
Book Blurb:
Lauren Moffit is privileged and overprotected by her wealthy parents. She is one of the few African-American students in a prestigious prep school in a predominately white neighborhood. The world is her oyster.
Nothing can prepare her for the devastating scandal that rocks her world when her father is charged with investment fraud. Spoiled and self-centered, she struggles to keep her head high. But it’s not until she hears the stories of the people in the park, where she takes her daily run, that Lauren realizes she can rise above her family ‘situation.’
Discover how Lauren rises above scandal and shame in The People In The Park