by Luvvie Ajayi
First published 2022
Luvvie Ajayi Jones addresses the teen who feels powerless in a world that seems constantly on fire. She speaks directly to young people who struggle to ask for what they need, use their voices, and show up as their complete selves. Jones argues that when others label you as "too much," you should embrace that quality and channel it toward positive change. This becomes her definition of a troublemaker. The author draws from her own experiences as a child who faced criticism for speaking up about unfairness, endured mockery for her Nigerian accent, and hesitated to call herself a writer out of fear. She gives readers permission to become the troublemakers they are or want to be. Jones maintains that the beautiful, bold life teens desire waits on the other side of actions that frighten them. Her book provides tools to confront and overcome fear, enabling readers to start living authentically right away.
Genres: african-american, coming-of-age, contemporary, non-fiction, biography-memoir, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, personal-growth
Setting: Nigeria
Period: 21st-century
272 pages · Hardcover · Philomel Books