Brown Girl Ghosted

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the invisible weight of being 'different' or when they feel like their cultural identity is a liability rather than a strength. It is a powerful choice for a teen who feels overlooked or silenced, providing a supernatural lens through which to explore very real issues of social hierarchy and systemic racism. The story follows sixteen-year-old Violet, who must balance the everyday trauma of high school bullying and racial microaggressions with the sudden discovery that she is an Aiedeo, a legendary warrior queen tasked with solving a local murder. While the plot involves ghosts and ancient royalty, the heart of the book is about finding the internal volume to speak up in a world that wants you to be quiet. It is most appropriate for readers aged 12 and up who are ready for a realistic look at how race and gender intersect with personal power. Parents will appreciate how the book validates the exhaustion of code-switching while offering a hopeful path toward self-acceptance and justice.