A WISH
AFTER
MIDNIGHT
By Zetta Elliott
“When we contrast the condition of blacks in the 19th century with that of blacks living in the 21st century, we’re inclined to think the difference is like night and day. But speculative fiction reframes the past, creating a kind of literary lens that enables us to look more closely at the shifting definition of freedom. Have we really crossed the finish line? I think a lot of us still have a long way to go…”
Adapted from the interview with Zetta Elliott on Omnivoracious.com
Inspired by the work of Octavia Butler, the African American science fiction writer, as well as her favorite childhood book, The Secret Garden, debut novelist Zetta Elliott takes readers back to Civil War-era Brooklyn – and the draft riots – in her new book, A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT (February 16, 2010; $12.95). Provoking the question “What if?”, Elliott’s characters yearn for what is possible in a tumultuous world.
A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT gives readers a hopeful young heroine, Genna Colon, stuck in the confines of a tough neighborhood in 2001’s inner city Brooklyn. Frustrated by the drug dealers in her building, her family’s cramped apartment, and her inability to compete with the cute girls at school, Genna finds comfort in her dreams of a better future. Almost every day she escapes to the peaceful haven of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and tosses coins into the fountain, wishing for a different life, a different home, and a different body. But when Genna flees into the garden late one night after an explosive family fight, her wish goes awry and she finds herself instantly transported back in time to the turbulent months leading up to the notorious New York draft riots. Facing the deadly realities of racism and class structure in Civil War–era Brooklyn, Genna must fight to survive, hold on to her individuality and rise above the hand she has been dealt in two different worlds.
With broad appeal for both teens and adults, A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT is a thought-provoking journey, offering the chance to re-live history and re-examine our present with fresh perspective.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Zetta Elliott earned her PhD in American Studies from New York University and has lived in Brooklyn for the past 15 years, where she has become a student of its unique history. She is also a poet and playwright, and her picture book,Bird, was the recipient of a 2009 ALA Notable Children’s Book award. Learn more about her at www.zettaelliott.comor watch the book’s trailer at .
ABOUT AMAZONENCORE:
AmazonEncore is an exciting new publisher that serves an important purpose in the world of contemporary literature, bringing attention to exceptional books that have been overlooked by readers or traditional publishers.
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A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT
By Zetta Elliott
AmazonEncore; Publication Date: February 16, 2010
Paperback; $12.95; 272 Pages
Zetta Elliott, PhD
writer ~ educator
www.zettaelliott.wordpress.com
“Zetta Elliott’s time travel novel A Wish After Midnight is a bit of a revelation…It’s vivid, violent and impressive history." ~ Colleen Mondor, Bookslut. Learn more about A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT here.
Zetta Elliott's first picture book, BIRD, has “unusual depth and raw conviction… [the] child-centered narrative excels.” ~ starred review, Kirkus Reviews. Find out more about BIRD at http://www.leeandlow.com/books/176/hc/bird