Zora!

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with feeling like an outsider or when they need to see how a person can turn a difficult childhood into a life of creative genius. This biography follows Zora Neale Hurston from her roots in Eatonville, Florida, through the hardships of losing her mother and struggling for an education, to her eventual rise as a titan of the Harlem Renaissance. It emphasizes her fierce independence and her dedication to preserving the folk tales and voices of her community. Parents will appreciate the way it contextualizes historical racism and poverty within a narrative of resilience and intellectual triumph. It is a sophisticated but accessible portrait of a woman who refused to let the world define her limits, making it an ideal choice for middle schoolers finding their own voices.