Oh what a beautiful cover. Oh what a powerful story of jazz, racism, hope, death and fighting to be who you truly are. It’s 1944, and Ella’s going to be a city girl! She’s off to stay in Boston, where Mama is, where black people can do what they like. It’ll be a world away from living with her cousins in South Carolina, where racial tension divides their seemingly peaceful little town. In Boston, people wear fancy clothes and go dancing. Mum is a beautiful jazz singer. Ella knows this trip will change her life. And it does. It shows her a world beyond segregation: a world of freedom and fresh chances. But reality bites when a friend back home is charged with killing two white girls…

A moving and beautifully written coming-of-age story

Powerful themes of racism and living in a divided world

Also a vivid portrait of wartime and Jazz Age America

By actress Karyn Parsons, of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

“A beautiful, funny, dangerous tale of growing up in Jazz Age America… One of the best stories I’ve read in a long while.” Emma Carroll

“Karyn Parson brings the same verve, timing, and emotive brilliance that she brought to the screen. Equal parts mystery, historical fiction, and coming-of-age, this is a story full of warmth and light and drama.” Kwame Alexander

*Please note this book contains language more suitable for older readers.

Product Details

Catalogue number

8424 in ISBC EU Sec Rewards 2019/20

Format

Paperback

ISBN

9780241346891

Publisher

Puffin

Date published

March 7th, 2019

Lexile measure

680L Lexiles are the global standard in reading assessment. They are unique as they are able to measure a child and a book on the same scale – ensuring the right book gets to the right child at the right time.

For more details see What is a lexile?.