Books like Disgruntled by Asali Solomon
Kenya Curtis feels different even at eight, unsure whether it is her Black identity, her celebration of Kwanzaa, or the unique way she addresses her father as "Baba" that sets her apart. In a fourth‑grade class where most peers share similar backgrounds, Kenya discovers that the real source of her alienation lies in the deeper, unnamed shame her father calls "the shame of being alive."
Asali Solomon follows Kenya from West Philadelphia’s public schools to suburban private schools, chronicling her transition from childhood into adolescence. The novel captures the cultural ebb and flow of Philadelphia during the late 1980s and early 1990s, while exploring the double‑binds of race, tradition, and personal identity. It is a coming‑of‑age story that balances humor with poignant insight, urging readers to craft their own narratives beyond the limitations imposed by others.
First publish date: 2015
Genre: Coming of Age/Childhood Coming of Age
Authors: Asali Solomon
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