A collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.
Edim’s clear love and respect for black women and their stories make it possible for this book to sidestep the danger of convening based on blackness and woman-ness alone, as she appears to have thought carefully about what the 21 contributors, including authors N.K. Jemisin, Jacqueline Woodson and Renée Watson, bring to a textual conversation with each other ... These women provide detailed and fascinating insights into their early lives as readers and go beyond the typical list of inspiring figures and 'a-ha' moments that post-panel Q&As demand ... Beyond these earnest encounters that led the writers to their respective journeys, another prominent thread in the book is the intense dissonance of black girls growing into an understanding of racism, misogyny, heterosexism and classism, in addition to other forms of structural violence ... Well-Read Black Girl demystifies the reading and writing practices of the various authors through the clarity and candor of their prose.
Tayari Jones muses on Toni Morrison, Veronica Chambers on Jamaica Kincaid, Marita Golden on Zora Neale Hurston. Other contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Stephanie Powell Watts, and N. K. Jemisin. Well-Read Black Girl Recommends reading lists covering various themes and genres add to the reach and radiance of this empowering literary resource.
... a powerful collection of essays and conversations ... The anthology is also a thorough encyclopedia ... reading the collection felt like therapy, a release. At times sentimental, it never fails to nourish the soul in how it relates the everyday heartaches and the myriad joys of black girls ... In the end, we the readers realize that each essay in Well-Read Black Girl embodies Jemisin’s call to action...
