Category Archives: YA fiction

NYT Review of ‘HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO’ by Laura Wagner

| Posted by Ibi Zoboi

There’s a new YA novel set in post-earthquake Haiti. So exciting! There’s now enough post-earthquake Haitian literature for a whole college course! I was so honored to be able to review this book for the New York Times! ‘HOLD TIGHT, … Continue reading →

 book reviews, books, diversity, Haiti, HOLD TIGHT DON'T LET GO, Laura Wagner, YA fiction Comment

Magic in the ‘Hood

| Posted by Ibi Zoboi

I was watching Globe Trekkers on PBS and the host was in a small village somewhere in Senegal where a group of young boys and girls were participating in a rites-of-passage dance and celebration. They were dressed in colorful beads … Continue reading →

 education, Mythology, publishing, sci-fi/fantasy, teens, YA fiction 2 Comments

Brown Girl Books

| Posted by Ibi Zoboi

My daughter turns 8 today and she loves to read. I’d be remiss if I didn’t steer her towards the books that place the image of a “chocolaty” (her word), urban girl front and center of its story. Within the … Continue reading →

 books, teen girls, YA fiction Comment

2010 YA Fiction List

| Posted by Ibi Zoboi

…by writers of African descent. I’m always looking for more titles to offer to my students. Many of them love to read so I’d like to steer them towards more age appropriate & cultural specific titles. They’d certainly read them … Continue reading →

 books, YA fiction Comment