"Adams is a keen observer of the difficult life stage of adolescence, and her words will provide support to young girls and all who work with this population." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Illuminating...Though directed toward Christians, these profound profiles will be eye-opening for any reader." —Publishers Weekly
"Khristi Lauren Adams knows the power of Biblical lessons. The youth advocate introduces us to girls with their own teachable moments in Parable of the Brown Girl." —Essence Magazine
"Fulfilling the promise that "the last shall be first," Khristi Lauren Adams's The Parable of the Brown Girl is a moving call to power for black women and girls. Drawing on biblical stories and Adams's personal experiences as a spiritual mentor and minister, it's a book about reclaiming grace in everyday life." —Foreword Review
"Parable of the Brown Girl serves as a critical reminder that what we believe to be strength and resilience among black girls is often their fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability masked. It is essential reading for teachers, principals, administrators, parents, counselors, after-school program leaders, and anyone seeking to better understand the lives, complexities, and brilliance of black girls." —Tiffany Gill, founder of Black Girls Unscripted
"In Parable of the Brown Girl, Adams introduces us to brown girls by name, skillfully setting their personal stories against everyday stereotypes, turning them and us on our heads to see how Scripture shows us all a better way to see one another fully." —Kathy Khang, speaker and author of Raise Your Voice
"Parable of the Brown Girl centers the stories of black girls in ways that engage the reader to reflect on the lived experiences of girls of color. Adams's writing shows us all that the imago Dei resides within these girls and that we get to know God better when we truly see, nurture, and uplift black girls." —Rozella Haydée White, Theologian, Coach, Speaker and Author of Love Big: The Power of Revolutionary Relationships to Heal the World
"Khristi Lauren Adams's Parable of the Brown Girl is simply a must-read. It combines the wisdom of life while remaining connected to sacred text. Pick up your copy today, read it, and then pass this life-changing book on." —Daniel White Hodge, professor of communication arts and author of Homeland Insecurity: A Hip-Hop Missiology for the Post-Civil Rights Era and Baptized in Dirty Water: Reimagining The Gospel according to Tupac Amaru Shakur
"Khristi Lauren Adams's Parable of the Brown Girl is extraordinary. By telling the stories of courageous black girls and coupling them with theological nuance, theory, and her own lived experience, Adams has given a gift not only to black girls but to everyone. I highly recommend it for all audiences!" —Drew G. I. Hart, assistant professor of theology at Messiah College and author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism
"Through the ages, cultural, literary, and religious icons have woven their wisdom into the tapestry of conventional thought using the platform of the parable. These Brown Girl parables, as she calls them, will now become an integral part of that tradition. The impact of these narratives cannot be calculated, and the benefits for girls and women of color cannot be measured. What a marvelous celebration of their enduring strengths and conquering spirits." —DeForest B. Soaries Jr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens
"Inviting us into the real stories of black girls, Adams stirs up empathy and helps readers like me want to join her in her advocacy." —Rev. Tim Peck, senior pastor of Glenkirk Church
★ 02/01/2020
Minister and advocate Adams, creator of the Becoming Conference, notes that Jesus did his best teaching using the parables. The author then wonders about those parables with young brown girls at their center. Adams reminds us that, similar to the protagonists of the parables of Jesus, brown girls represent all girls. In this slim narrative, Adams is viciously critical of the myth of the strong black woman; a trope that normalizes the pervasive mistreatment of black women since, the myth infers, they are tough enough to rescue themselves. Adams uses anecdotal and personal experience to demonstrate that these stereotypes and labels often lead to young women rarely asking for help. Profound insights are offered throughout this work, interweaving theological paradoxes within historical Christianity, including those in which weakness is considered a strength and the poor and hungry are the blessed. VERDICT Adams is a keen observer of the difficult life stage of adolescence, and her words will provide support to young girls and all who work with this population.—Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Lib., Pittsburgh
