Zero Fade

A striking debut from an African American author who teaches writing and theatre to juvenile inmates in Chicago.

Confirmed blurbs already in from Adam Mansbach,Audrey Niffenegger, Don De Grazia.

This first-person teen narrative uses humor to address:

homophobia in the African-American community;

the complex issue of bullying among teens and adults;

nontraditional family dynamics such as absentee fathers and single mothers;

'90s pop culture in a way that engages young readers while appealing to adults;

youth culture as defined by the golden age of hip-hop;

representations of African-Americans in the media;

life in inner-city Richmond, Virginia (where author grew up);

the atmosphere of the modern American south;

malls and the culture of hanging out;

basketball;

urban schools;

the first taste of rebellion against authority;

understanding consequences;

how much it sucks to be grounded;

the teenage search for identity and meaning;

teenage romance;

unrequited love;

teens'challenges with family and friend relationships

adolescent misconceptions;

the impact of coming out on individuals and those close to them;

how violence transforms;

the politics of hair;

the mystique of the African-American barbershop;

the appearance issues related to body image and fashion;

rites of passage for young black men;

conceptions of masculinity;

and the quest for flyness.