W𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 W𝐞 A𝐫𝐞 & W𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 W𝐞 A𝐫𝐞 G𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠⁣ ⁣ Brown Girl Book Lover is my love child. The reviewing platform was born from me wanting to communicate with you, share my literary ideas, share beautiful words, and discuss writers who have shaped my life, and writers who are shaping my life. Writers have never saved me from depression or the cruel world, but they have prolonged my imagination, and this has helped me to carve out my own world. ⁣ ⁣ Uploading quotes, pictures, reviews, interviews, connecting on social media, and exposing my #introverted -self has been difficult. I question my intentions and this process all the time, but I'm committed to this #beautifulstruggle of using writing as a tool of resistance. Brown Girl Book Lover is about shifting the literary canon one book at a time. It's a scene. It's about highlighting our supreme-self via literature. It's about you. It's about me. ⁣ ⁣ So, I was working on Brown Girl Book Lover's Reviewing Schedule and I'm really proud of where we are and where we are going. I started this project in February 2019 not knowing who to interview and what books to review. Now, my schedule is full of interviews until March 2019. In my most #naija accent, "I thank God, oh." Thank you, friends, supporters, book lovers, viewers, and writers for supporting Brown Girl Book Lover. #love #instagood #caribbeing #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #books #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackeducators #blackeducatorsrock #bookgirlmagic ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/B37X4eNJai7/?igshid=xjw36zwfj5jl

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠!” ⁣ ⁣ Our tribute to Toni Morrison was beyond awesome! My heart was filled with beauty and love! ⁣ ⁣ Thanks ⁣@grubwriters @margoscreativelife @serinagousby @galerinaburl @larsonya @deenrawlins @lettaneely @sajluke ⁣ This quote connects to all of my childhood wounds of never feeling good enough. It connects to all of my adult wounds of feeling like an imposter. when I wake up stressing about all of my failures, false starts, and my life not yet lined-up, I think about this quote - "𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆." And for a few seconds, minutes, hours, and months, I'm liberated by the sage words of #tonimorrison⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #igreads ⁣⁣⁣ #bookstagram⁣ #readmorewomen ⁣⁣⁣⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ ⁣#BookishFeed⁣ #bibliophile #booksarelife #amreading #booklover #blackgirlmagic #booksofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #booklover #fictionwriter #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducators ⁣#tributes ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pZswpJ0oS/?igshid=117dtvcnlo5r0

Let’s continue to put the pressure on. Let’s continue to speak about the issues that are pushing us to the margins. Let’s continue to use art as a tool of a resistance. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Xc4OshAX9/?igshid=1qyyzzbzpjgem

This quote connects to all of my childhood wounds of never feeling good enough. It connects to all of my adult wounds of feeling like an imposter. when I wake up stressing about all of my failures, false starts, and my life not yet lined-up, I think about this quote - "𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆." And for a few seconds, minutes, hours, and months, I'm liberated by the sage words of #tonimorrison ⁣⁣⁣ Brown Girl Book Lover is thrilled to be collaborating with #bostonwritersofcolor #Grubstreet #Eaglesq to host a Toni Morrison Tribute Reading. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Please spread the word, attend, and continue to keep the legacy of #tomo alive. She's our literary mother! #igreads ⁣ #bookstagram⁣ #readmorewomen ⁣#diversespines⁣ #decentredlit⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ #Bookstoread #BookishFeed⁣ #bibliophile #caribbeing #bibliophile #booksarelife #amreading #ireadeverywhere #bookchat #booklover #wellreadblackgirl #newyork #weouthere #literaryfestival #blackgirlmagic #booksofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #books #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducators #blackeducatorsrock (at Egleston Square Main Street) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3M7sTMgaLu/?igshid=1dqsmsnxjcjhb

If you are inspired by these Young Climate Change Activist, here are four Young Adult Novels about climate change to spur you on. ⁣⁣(bI posted this before but somehow it got deleted :( ) ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬: So far, I have convinced two colleagues to read this tasty novel by @cherie.dimaline I have been reading this novel for five months because I want it to end - so the characters can finally get to safety, and I don’t want to depart from these characters, and the lyricism of the prose. I read a few pages a week. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 by Saci Lloyd: “ Sixteen-year-old Laura just wants to pass her classes, play with her band and maybe catch the eye of cute neighbor Ravi. With the weather tipping wildly out of control, she and her highly dysfunctional family must contend with blackouts, water shortages and riots, followed by torrential rains and the flooding of London.”⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝗪𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 by Emmi Itäranta: “Global warming has changed the world’s geography and its politics. Wars are waged over water, and China rules Europe, including the Scandinavian Union, which is occupied by the power state of New Qian. In this far north place, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father, a position that holds great responsibility and great secrets.”⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝗪𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 by @francescaliablock “After the Earth Shaker, which all but destroyed Los Angeles, seventeen-year-old Penelope (Pen) sets out into the wasteland in search of her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer's Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead.” ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Also, you can also write your own! I’ll read it and review it. #climatechange #autumnpeltier #gretathunberg #helenagualinga #tekanang #earth #zerowaste #sustainable #gogreen #savetheplanet #harpercollins #macmillan #cormorantbooks #reader #recycle #ecofriendly #igreads #bibliophile #blackgirlreading #ya #youngadultbooks #climatechangeisreal #bookstagram #amreading #badie https://www.instagram.com/p/B27N2baJx6u/?igshid=1houvfkyz19z0

If you are inspired by these Young Climate Change Activist, here are four Young Adult Novels about climate change to spur you on. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬: So far, I have convinced two colleagues to read this tasty novel by @cherie.dimaline I have been reading this novel for five months because I want it to end - so the characters can finally get to safety, and I don’t want to depart from these characters, and the lyricism of the prose. I read a few pages a week. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 by Saci Lloyd: “ Sixteen-year-old Laura just wants to pass her classes, play with her band and maybe catch the eye of cute neighbor Ravi. With the weather tipping wildly out of control, she and her highly dysfunctional family must contend with blackouts, water shortages and riots, followed by torrential rains and the flooding of London.”⁣ ⁣ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝗪𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 by Emmi Itäranta: “Global warming has changed the world’s geography and its politics. Wars are waged over water, and China rules Europe, including the Scandinavian Union, which is occupied by the power state of New Qian. In this far north place, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father, a position that holds great responsibility and great secrets.”⁣ ⁣ 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝗪𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 by @francescaliablock “After the Earth Shaker, which all but destroyed Los Angeles, seventeen-year-old Penelope (Pen) sets out into the wasteland in search of her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer's Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead.” ⁣ ⁣ Also, you can also write your own! I’ll read it and review it. #climatechange #autumnpeltier #gretathunberg #helenagualinga #tekanang #earth #zerowaste #sustainable #gogreen #savetheplanet #harpercollins #macmillan #cormorantbooks #reader #recycle #ecofriendly #igreads #bibliophile #blackgirlreading #ya #youngadultbooks #climatechangeisreal #bookstagram #amreading #bookish https://www.instagram.com/p/B26-UCdp2x2/?igshid=1f91ieorazdnr

If you are inspired by these Young Climate Change Activist, here are four Young Adult Novels about climate change to spur you on. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬: So far, I have convinced two colleagues to read this tasty novel by @cherie.dimaline I have been reading this novel for five months because I want it to end - so the characters can finally get to safety, and I don’t want to depart from these characters, and the lyricism of the prose. I read a few pages a week. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 by Saci Lloyd: “ Sixteen-year-old Laura just wants to pass her classes, play with her band and maybe catch the eye of cute neighbor Ravi. With the weather tipping wildly out of control, she and her highly dysfunctional family must contend with blackouts, water shortages and riots, followed by torrential rains and the flooding of London.”⁣ ⁣ 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝗪𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 by Emmi Itäranta: “Global warming has changed the world’s geography and its politics. Wars are waged over water, and China rules Europe, including the Scandinavian Union, which is occupied by the power state of New Qian. In this far north place, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father, a position that holds great responsibility and great secrets.”⁣ ⁣ 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝗪𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 by @francescaliablock “After the Earth Shaker, which all but destroyed Los Angeles, seventeen-year-old Penelope (Pen) sets out into the wasteland in search of her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer's Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead.” ⁣ ⁣ Also, you can also write your own! I’ll read it and review it. #climatechange #autumnpeltier #gretathunberg #helenagualinga #tekanang #earth #zerowaste #sustainable #gogreen #savetheplanet #harpercollins #macmillan #cormorantbooks #reader #recycle #ecofriendly #igreads #bibliophile #blackgirlreading #ya #youngadultbooks #climatechangeisreal #bookstagram #amreading #bookish https://www.instagram.com/p/B2691mbJmJp/?igshid=1bcoxyr4tc95f

Now this is a special “What Are You Reading?!” @lauraleelu5 built a literary architectural of the book, #thenewjimcrow ⁣ If you don’t know now you know - Writers are Architects! ⁣ ⁣ Laura’s artist statement: This artwork is in response to the book, The New Jim Crow. In reading this book, there’s a lot of information that impacted me and expanded my awareness around the structural racism and socioeconomic biases of America’s governing, policing, judicial, and prison systems.  Everything that was conveyed through this book, presented itself as a maze to me. It’s a maze that one enters without being asked if they want to, there’s a clear path in and not out. ⁣ ⁣ The structure of the maze represents the myriad of barriers of the prejudiced practices of these systems including the creative deceptions of political agenda’s that have vilified people, especially, men of color, further restricting their rights and freedoms. The colors used in the piece were meant to emphasize the hindrance of these systems.  ⁣ ⁣ The white symbolizes the patriarchal mindset that builds and maintains these systems that are designed to punish and not rehabilitate or reintegrate prisoners back into society. Currently, the US still has the highest rates of prisoners in the world with over 2 million people incarcerated.” ⁣ #igreads ⁣#michellealexander #bookstagram⁣ #readblackwomen⁣⁣ ⁣#diversespines⁣⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ ⁣⁣ #Bookstoread #bookishfeed #bibliophile ⁣#bibliophile ⁣ #booksarelife #amreading #booksofinstagram#writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #amreading #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducatorsrock #democracynow ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ (at Southwestern College - Santa Fe) https://www.instagram.com/p/B22YR9ygDDU/?igshid=11jeownmaz2jp

⁣⁣C’est le week-end! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ I’m ready to live my best life and grocery shop, finish reading @homegoing_by_yaa_gyasi , and complete my story, “A Coup is a Coup is a Coup” for my novel. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ You know when you live behind God’s back and you have to travel far for entertainment, you bring the party to you. So it’s a 🎉 party 🎊 of one! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m far away from any climate strike matches, but I’m here protesting by composting and teaching about this rally. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #igreads ⁣#forcoloredgirlsbookclub⁣⁣⁣⁣ #bookstagram⁣ #readblackwomen⁣⁣⁣⁣ #readmorewomen ⁣#diversespines⁣⁣⁣⁣ #readcaribbean ⁣#decentredlit⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ #ReadCaribbean⁣⁣⁣⁣ #Bookstoread #BookishFeed⁣ #bibliophile ⁣⁣⁣ #caribbeing #bibliophile ⁣⁣⁣ #booksarelife #amreading #ireadeverywhere #bookchat #booklover #fiction #whattoreadnext #wellreadblackgirl ⁣⁣⁣ #newyork #weouthere #literaryfestival #Brooklyn #Brooklynteas #blackgirlmagic #booksofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #books #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducators #blackeducatorsrock #bookgirlmagic⁣ #climatestrike⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ (at Climate Action Now) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2o6_hKAb9N/?igshid=1pr1k6n8ahu1d

⁣⁣C’est le week-end! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ I’m ready to live my best life and grocery shop, finish reading @homegoing, and complete my story, “A Coup is a Coup is a Coup” for my novel. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ You know when you live behind God’s back and you have to travel far for entertainment, you bring the party to you. So it’s a 🎉 party 🎊 of one! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m far away from any climate strike matches, but I’m here protesting by composting and teaching about this rally. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #igreads ⁣#forcoloredgirlsbookclub⁣⁣⁣⁣ #bookstagram⁣ #readblackwomen⁣⁣⁣⁣ #readmorewomen ⁣#diversespines⁣⁣⁣⁣ #readcaribbean ⁣#decentredlit⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ #ReadCaribbean⁣⁣⁣⁣ #Bookstoread #BookishFeed⁣ #bibliophile ⁣⁣⁣ #caribbeing #bibliophile ⁣⁣⁣ #booksarelife #amreading #ireadeverywhere #bookchat #booklover #fiction #whattoreadnext #wellreadblackgirl ⁣⁣⁣ #newyork #weouthere #literaryfestival #Brooklyn #Brooklynteas #blackgirlmagic #booksofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #books #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducators #blackeducatorsrock #bookgirlmagic⁣ #climatestrike⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ (at Climate Action Now) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2o6j5agMfL/?igshid=sogkm87t6ejj

Well, I wore a blazer to work all week, so summer is officially over. I can’t see it coming down my eyes, so I’m going to make this post cry. 😫⁣ ⁣ Brown Girl Book Lover is back on the grind of reviewing books that are shifting the literary canon. So many good things are on its way. (Check out the next slide for information.)⁣ ⁣ Later this month, I’ll post my interview with novelist, Eisa Ulen! She’s a writer, a mama, a Brooklyn babe, and that professor who taught you how to dig deeper. We recently spent the afternoon @brooklyntea chatting about her novel, Crystelle Mourning, black love, Brooklyn’s changing landscape, and of course, writing. ⁣ ⁣ Stay tune for that upcoming interview! In the meantime, laugh at this outtake. There are many, but I’ll save myself from embarrassment. ⁣ ⁣ #igreads ⁣#forcoloredgirlsbookclub⁣ #bookstagram⁣ #readblackwomen⁣ #readmorewomen ⁣#diversespines⁣ ⁣#decentredlit⁣ #wellreadblackgirl⁣ #ReadCaribbean⁣ #Bookstoread #BookishFeed⁣ #bibliophile #caribbeing #bibliophile #booksarelife #amreading #ireadeverywhere #bookchat #booklover #fiction #whattoreadnext #wellreadblackgirl #newyork #weouthere #literaryfestival #Brooklyn #Brooklynteas #blackgirlmagic #booksofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #bookgram #bookaddict #literature #booknerd #writer #readersofinstagram #reader #amwriting #books #writingcommunity #booklover #fictionwriter #fictionbooks #blackwriters #blackwomenwriters #blackeducators #blackeducatorsrock #bookgirlmagic⁣ #jayz (at Brooklyn Tea) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2mWiUyAqcb/?igshid=lj3psqqfwla5

I’d really like rapper @warreng and @elizabethwarren to run on the same ticket so it can be Warren +Warren 2020! But If this doesn’t happen, I’ll still vote for her. She’s strong, progressive, she has a systematic plan, and she’s pulling democracy from the margins back to the center! #democracynow #saveourdemocracy #elizabethwarren #imnotafraid #blackwomenvote (at Democracy at Work) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2UU7HsAPbg/?igshid=ce86s33sdubu