February 1, 2021

The Black Authors Who Paved the Way for Leah Johnson

In honor of Black History Month, the ‘You Should See Me in a Crown’ author shares the trailblazing Black authors that inspire her

The Black Authors Who Paved the Way for Leah Johnson

In honor of Black History Month, the 'You Should See Me in a Crown' author shares the trailblazing Black authors that inspire her

Everything I write—everything that I do— is made possible by the Black thinkers, artists, activists, and spacemakers who came before me. Let my life, and these stories, always be a testament to the radical joy and the endless tenacity that I inherited from them.

Jacqueline Woodson

No conversation about what Black or queer children’s literature has become is complete without first paying homage to Jacqueline Woodson. The space she has created for those of us who came after her is something I’ll never be able to thank her enough for.

Nicola Yoon

By the time Nicola’s first novel, Everything, Everything, came out, I had long since aged out of YA. But there’s no understating the impact that seeing a Black girl being loved so completely and so tenderly had on me, even into my adulthood. Nicola remains one of my instant-buy authors to this day.

Zora Neale Hurston

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston rendered the Black experience in a way I’d never seen before—complicated, flawed, whole. It changed my understanding of what Black literature could be. We owed her so much more honor than she received in her lifetime, but her legacy lives now in each of us who were transformed by her life and her work.

Who wants to play a little game? In honor of World Emoji Day, try and guess which Reese's Book Club picks each set of emojis represents. Tell us below in the comments how many you got right!
Currently booked with The Phoenix Pencil Company 💙 What book can you not get enough of right now? We want all your favorites!
Spectacular Things is the perfect on-the-go read this summer 💙 Where are you going to read today? Tag your favorite spot below in the comments!
The Phoenix Pencil Company provides us a beautiful reminder that complex, and at times, even gloomy moments can give more meaning to the moments of joy.
Leaving the Monday blues behind and stepping into the sunshine with Spectacular Things. ☀️ What's your go-to cure for the Monday blues?
Loving the evolution of Olivia in Heiress Takes All's sequel Heiress Among Thieves ❤️

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