Tami Charles describes herself as a “former teacher. Wannabe chef. Debut author.” We here at the Brown Bookshelf just know her as awesome. She was also in a R&B group (and I really, really want to know which one), and has serious love for empanadas. We’ve got love for empanadas too, but we’re really excited […]
Book Review: Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
Rating: 5 stars “And for those who bear the brunt of hate because of the color of your skin or the sound of your name, for those who are spat upon, for those who are told to “go home,” when you are home: you are known. You are loved. You are enough. Let your light […]
via LOVE, HATE & OTHER FILTERS by SAMIRA AHMED — Written In Ink Blog
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 24
Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton, Sussex, and raised in an Italian-Trinadadian family. She has an MA in writing for film and TV. Her novel Orangeboy won The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize in 2017, The Watrstons Children’s Book Prize for Older Children 2017, and was shortlisted for the 2016 Costa Children’s Book award. I agree […]
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 23
Deloris Jordan, the mother of basketball star Michael Jordan and four other children, once worked as a bank teller, but is now known as an inspirational author and speaker. Jordan is regarded as an advocate for children and families with her work through the James Jordan Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the Jordan […]
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 22
Before I read his moving words, I saw his actions. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Junot Díaz was a keynote presenter at a state literary festival. In an article, he was asked to share some authors whose work he appreciated. Out of the more than 100 who were appearing, his mention included me. I’ve never met Junot. […]
Guest Post by NoNieqa Ramos
By NoNieqa Ramos I’ll never forget the sweltering summer in NY, when my soul mate and I dined with a friend and editor from a NYC publishing house, partially because we spent 300 dollars on appetizers. I mean for 20 bucks we could have had arroz con habichuelas y maduros and a friggin bistec, […]
via Guest Post by Author NoNieqa Ramos: Voice Lessons — Latinxs in Kid Lit
Blog Post: The Mystery of Malcolm X
From Ebony Magazine, September 1964 Today, on the fifty-third anniversary of El Hajj Malik Shabazz’s (Malcolm X’s) martyrdom, we re-present Hans Massaquoi’s article in Ebony covering the short period between his departure from the Nation of Islam in March 1964 and his assassination in 1965. Massaquoi followed Malcolm X across Harlem as he built the […]
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 21
Craig Robinson is a comedian, actor, and musician whose middle grade JAKE THE FAKE books are described as perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate. Jake the Fake Keeps It Real, the first in the series, was written with #1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Mansbach, and NAACP History […]
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 20
When Liara Tamani says she follows her heart, she means it! She follows her heart when her favorite “jam” comes on, and she’s not ashamed to sing it out loud in public. She follows her heart by traveling the globe to places some only dream of visiting. She followed her heart by leaving Harvard Law […]
The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Campaign Day 19
JAY COLES is a young adult and middle grade writer, a composer with ASCAP, and a professional musician residing in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a graduate of Vincennes University and Ball State University and holds degrees in English and Liberal Arts. When he’s not writing diverse books, he’s advocating for them, teaching middle school students, […]









