Yaa Gyasi’s 5 Favorite Books from Childhood
by the Brightly Editors
If you’re a follower of fiction, you’ve likely heard about or read Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi’s breathtaking debut novel that chronicles the life stories of multiple generations of a Ghanaian family, both in Ghana and the United States. A skilled and stunning work of historical fiction, Homegoing has impressed readers and critics alike, garnering stellar reader reviews and placement on top 2016 book lists published by outlets like The New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed, and Time.com. We were thrilled to ask Gyasi about the books she loved most as a child and remembers fondly to this day. Here are some of her top reads for both young and advanced readers, and why these stories remain so dear to her.
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The Rainbow Fish
This internationally bestselling picture book about a sparkly fish who learns to enjoy sharing with his friends topped Gyasi’s list. Gyasi recalls, “I loved the pretty, glittery scales in the illustrations.”
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David Copperfield
Available from:Sometimes the antagonists in your favorite books are the ones you remember most. Gyasi explains, “Uriah Heep is still one of my favorite characters in all of literature, simply for his awfulness.”
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Homecoming
Gyasi had a love for book series as well: “I loved all seven books in the series about the Tillerman children. The books dealt with poverty and mental illness and family. They were really eye opening.”
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Song of Solomon
Available from:For older kids, Gyasi recommends a coming-of-age story from the great Toni Morrison. “Still one of the best and most important novels I’ve ever read,” says Gyasi.
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Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. She holds a BA in English from Stanford University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she held a Dean’s Graduate Research Fellowship. She lives in New York City.
