There is no more important discussion in the YA community right now than the conversation about windows and mirrors – and for author Janice Lynn Mather, the cover of her debut novel Learning to Breathe is a wonderful, beautiful mirror. So what better way to kick off the 2018 debut author series than with a cover reveal for this incredible book? Set in the Caribbean and told in gorgeous prose, Learning to Breathe is an inspiring story about persevering in the face of past trauma and breaking stereotypes.
Indira Ferguson has done her best to live by her Grammy’s rules—to study hard in school, be respectful, and to never let a boy take advantage of her. But it hasn’t always been easy, especially while living in her mother’s shadow.
When Indy is sent to live with distant relatives in Nassau, trouble follows her. Now she must hide an unwanted pregnancy from her aunt, who would rather throw Indy out onto the street than see the truth.
Completely broke with only a hand-me-down pregnancy book as a resource, Indy desperately looks for a safe space to call home. After stumbling upon a yoga retreat, she wonders if perhaps she’s found the place. But Indy is about to discover that home is much bigger than just four walls and a roof—it’s about the people she chooses to share it with.
“Growing up, there were no books with girls that looked like me: dark skin, full figure, natural hair,” said Mather. “Indy’s story is universal, but the cover for Learning to Breathe is very personal. It’s what I needed to see then. As a Black woman, it’s what I need to see now.”
Learning to Breathe releases from Simon & Schuster on June 26.
1 Comment
That is GORGEOUS.