Grown

'Thank you for being the baddest in the literary game, knowing and loving us Black girls' Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie

'Such a loving and warm guide and ode to black girls, I am so happy the younger generation have this in their lives' Bolu Babalola, author of Love in Colour

Your big sis in book form, Grown is the ultimate fully illustrated guide to navigating life as a Black teenage girl.

With a foreword from the inimitable Spice Girl Melanie Brown and contributions from inspirational Black women such as Diane Abbott MP, Dorothy Koomson and Candice Carty-Williams and illustrations from Dorcas Magbadelo, Grown is a celebration of Black British girlhood that will empower teens everywhere.

Being a teenager and trying to understand who you are and what you stand for is hard. Period. But if you're a Black girl and don't always see yourself represented in the books you read, the films you watch, the adverts you see or the history you're taught, it can be even tougher. Grown: The Black Girls' Guide to Glowing Up was written with one thing in mind sis. You.

From understanding identity to the politics of hair to maintaining squad goals to dealing with microaggressions to consent to figuring out what career you might want, Grown has got your back. Natalie A. Carter and Melissa Cummings-Quarry, founders of Black Girls' Book Club, share stories - the wins and the Ls - and offer honest, practical advice that will show you how to own your choices. To live your truth without fear. To be grown on your own terms without limits or apologies.

Grown. It's a mood. It's a mindset. It's a mantra. It's a lifestyle. It embodies everything that makes us who we are.

About the Authors

Best friends Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie A. Carter met at secondary school in North-East London and bonded over their shared love of books. Years later, Melissa, now a business development manager, and Natalie, a real estate lawyer, decided to channel that passion for reading and form the Black Girls' Book Club, a literature and social events platform that celebrates literature by Black female writers. Black Girls' Book Club has been featured in media such as: Vogue, Stylist, BBC Radio, Buzzfeed, The Metro, gal-dem, Pride and more. Melissa and Natalie were named as two of The Bookseller's Rising Stars of 2019. Grown is their first book.

About the Illustrator

Dorcas Magbadelo is an illustrator, product designer and independent business owner. In her art Dorcas endeavours to represent the complexity of Black female identity. Her commissions range from editorial to stationary to greetings cards. In 2019, she designed the branding for the Black Girls' Book Club. Grown is her first illustrated book.