A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book
From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler, author of Parable of the Sower and Kindred.Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.
Ibi Zoboi was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her YA novel
American Street was a National Book Award finalist and and her debut middle grade novel,
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, was a
New York Times bestseller. She is the author of
Pride, a contemporary YA remix of Jane Austen’s
Pride and Prejudice, and editor of the anthology,
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America. Her most recent bestseller,
Punching the Air, is a YA novel in verse, co-authored by prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five. Her debut picture book,
The People Remember, earned a Coretta Scott King Honor. Raised in New York City, Ibi now lives in New Jersey with her husband and their three children.
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
A We Need Diverse Books Walter Dean Myers Honor Book
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An NPR Best Book of the YearA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year★"A one-of-a-kind masterpiece of literature. This must-read biography belongs on every library shelf and will redefine the way readers engage with biographical texts.”—
SLJ, starred review
★"A biography that’s as unique in form and content as the groundbreaking sci-fi/fantasy author herself.... Informational and inspirational, this innovative work will draw committed Butler fans and entice those unfamiliar with her work to seek it out."—
Horn Book, starred review
★"Zoboi has created a necessary addition to school and public library collections through this memorable look at how writers incorporate their lives into their work."—
Booklist, starred review
★"A radiant biography spotlights the life of science fiction great Octavia Butler through a compilation of poetry, prose, quotes and photos."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
★"An inspiring look at the formative years and work of a literary giant that’s sure to capture young readers’ attention."—
Kirkus, starred review
★"This title truly has something for every reader."—
SLC, starred review
"Here’s a true statement for you: If you live a good life and are true to yourself and persevere, you might, you MIGHT, be lucky enough to get someone like Ibi Zoboi to write your biography for kids."—Betsy Bird, Fuse #8
"Zoboi movingly highlights the importance of empathy in Butler’s work and her role as a mentor and source of inspiration for countless other Black creatives."—
BookPage"A fittingly expansive tribute to Butler’s visionary mind and the childhood that sowed it."—
Publishers Weekly
"Zoboi pairs elegantly crafted poems with direct, informative prose to create an emotionally charged look at a Black woman who changed the literary landscape, writing in a genre dominated by white authors and white characters. [T]his is a compelling blend of artistry and nonfiction that will likely send readers directly to Butler’s books."—
BCCB
