The author whose next anthology, On Girlhood, is out now picks the books that shaped her.
It’s a beautiful reflection of how complicated Black girlhood can be.
I was super taken by the protagonist, Cassie Logan.
Glory Edim; the cover of her anthology ‘On Girlhood’.Credit: TIffany A. Bloomfield; Liveright
Souljah explored the culture of street life in N.Y. during the 1990s.
It’s a suspenseful read filled with sex, drugs, and misguided choices.
The story is told entirely from the viewpoint of teenager Winter Santiaga.
It opened a world of possibilities and made me more confident as a writer.
A book I’ve read over and over
In Search of Our Mothers' Gardensby Alice Walker.
My literary crush
Octavia Butler.
I am completely in awe of her world-building.
The last book that made me laugh
Seven Days in Juneby Tia Williams.
Just read the first page and you’ll understand why.
The last book that made me cry
We are Bridgesby Cassandra Lane.
It’s a beautiful memoir about motherhood and family.
The author became pregnant at 35, an experience that encouraged her to revisit her family tree.
She starts to uncover the history of ancestors, in particular her great grandparents, Mary and Burt.
It’s beautifully done and has a haunting quality to it.
My favorite movie adaptation of a book
Hidden Figures.
The film adaptation of Margot Lee Shetterly’s book is outstanding.
A book I’ve pretended to read
I never finishedAnimal Farmby George Orwell.
Don’t tell my high school English teacher.
A book people would be surprised to learn that I love
Anything by Barbara Kingsolver.
I love her writing and how she captivates the reader.
One of my favorite books isThe Poisonwood Bible.
