My Fairy God Somebody

by Charlene Allen

Overview

"A richly drawn story that explores the precarious construction of identity and the pain of complex family dynamics." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Author Charlene Allen blends mystery, romance, and friendship in this contemporary YA novel perfect for fans of We Deserve Monuments and Far from the Tree.

The way Clae’s mom tells it, her dad took off when Clae was a baby, end of story. Ever since, it’s just been the two of them, living in the coastal city of Gloucester, where Clae is one of the only few Black girls. But when Clae discovers clues about a mysterious person she calls her fairy god somebody, she’s determined to know more.

Her chance comes when she’s accepted into a summer journalism program in New York City, where her parents lived before she was born. With a couple of leads and a steel resolve, Clae leaves home for the first time to find out about her history.

New York is as full of magic as it is mystery, not to mention romance. From Brooklyn to Broadway, Clae and her new friends, Nze and Joelle, explore neighborhood haunts and hustles, discovering a family trail that someone’s tried hard to bury. So who is the fairy god somebody? And can Clae use her sleuthing skills to find out the truth?

Set against one unforgettable NYC summer, this is the story of lies that run deep and patterns that are meant to be broken. Clae, Nze, and Joelle will stick with you and remind you that every girl deserves to write her own story. 

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection pick!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063212848
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/03/2024
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.86(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Charlene Allen works with community organizations to heal trauma and fight injustice, especially the beast called mass incarceration. She received her MFA from the New School, her JD from Northeastern University, and her BA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She lives in Brooklyn with her fabulous family and their very silly dog. Play the Game was her first novel. You can visit her at charleneallen.com.  

Editorial Reviews

09/16/2024

Sixteen-year-old Clae Mitchell is excited for her internship with a prestigious summer journalism program in New York City. Not only will the position help her get a leg up in her future career, it also provides the resources to delve into the mystery surrounding the “deadbeat dad” she’s never met, whom her mother refuses to talk about. All she knows is someone, who she assumes is related to her father, has been acting as her “fairy god somebody” and providing her mother with financial help. In New York, Clae tracks down her mystery benefactor, only to realize there’s more to her family history than she expected. Meanwhile, she helps her new friends navigate their own challenges: 18-year-old Joelle is planning her upcoming wedding while keeping it a surprise from her parents, and 17-year-old Nze plans to complete a bucket list before she loses her eyesight due to glaucoma. Though Allen (Play the Game) packs this lively and heartfelt story with a few too many plotlines, the relatable characters and Clae’s search for the family she’s never known drive this entertaining piece that explores concepts surrounding Black Freedom Schools and the importance of journalism. Ages 13–up. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Play the Game: “Informed by present-day events surrounding structural racism and oppression, and the author’s experience as a restorative justice advocate, Allen compassionately examines themes of community and criminal justice reform in this affecting, noirish debut.”  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Powerful. Authentic. A riveting gut punch. This is how you galvanize young activists. A voice not soon to be forgotten.” — Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Blood

“Fast-paced, insightful, and highly relevant, Allen’s novel illustrates the application of restorative justice practices to real life situations. A must read for all young people impacted by racism and those adults who love them.” — Angela Y. Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, UC Santa Cruz

“Honest, raw, and absolutely alive. Play the Game is a tour de force, and Charlene Allen has announced herself as a powerful new voice.” — Matt de la Peña, author of Mexican WhiteBoy and Last Stop on Market Street

“A compelling look at different ways of approaching grief and justice.” — Kirkus Reviews

"Allen’s sophomore novel effectively captures Clae’s turbulent inner struggles, particularly her thorny feelings about her persistent longing for genuine kinship and community. A richly drawn story that explores the precarious construction of identity and the pain of complex family dynamics."—Kirkus (starred review) — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

From the Publisher