A stimulating book that examines the consequences of conforming to societal norms.
By Aleema Omotoni ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2023
Iyanu and Kitan Da Silva are cousins attending the predominantly white Wodebury Hall. Iyanu is a day student, while Kitan is a boarder, and the two occupy different social strata. Kitan has become friends with two popular white girls, but this acceptance comes with a cost.
Iyanu recently traveled to London for the Black Girls Winter Fair, where she met her favorite writer and hopes to write about the experience for an online magazine.
She is then chosen to photograph a school matchmaking event, but her photos and negatives from the winter fair and the evening social disappear from the darkroom. Rumors and comments attached to the photos disrupt the social order at Wodebury and put Iyanu in the spotlight.
She and her longtime friend and crush, Quincy, try to uncover who is behind the theft and sabotage. The book explores Blackfishing, racism, microaggressions, and biases Black girls face in beauty standards and dating. It offers readers of many backgrounds a chance to see elements of their lives reflected in the narrative.
Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780063225671
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023