Growing Up True

Patty True doesn't want to leave. Tonight is her family's last dinner at the True farm before they move to a new town. When Grandma sends her to gather blackberries for a special cobbler, Patty discovers a world of adventure waiting for her on Sourland Mountain. Inspired by the real lives of Black farming families in Central New Jersey, Growing Up True is a story of home, resilience, and the love we carry with us wherever we go.

Commissioned by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Growing Up True is the lushly illustrated story of childhood wonder brought to life by the team of Ryan Jillian Kilpatrick and Sudesna Samanta.

Ryan Jillian Kilpatrick was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She starred off- Broadway in a one woman show which she wrote and produced following the life of Lena Horne called "Notes From a Horne" She also starred in the Off-Broadway revival Amiri Barakas "Dutchman" directed by Woodie King Jr. Ryan continues to write and act and is co-producing and co-hosting a podcast called Twisted Times which is geared toward elevating marginalized voices in our society.

Sudesna is a Baltimore-based illustrator capturing stories that are inspired by life. Areas like nostalgia, culture, children's stories, food, and travel are her favorites to work in. She approaches art with a lighthearted perspective, that allows her to channel her joy into work. She is captivated by the rich and vibrant colors that surround her, and her art is a celebration of the warmth of little things that the world has to offer. Through her work, she celebrates her culture, the stories she grew up with along with her travel experiences.