No Laughter Here: A Groundbreaking Middle Grade Novel About Two Best Friends and a Taboo Coming-of-Age Secret

Williams-Garcia, Rita

ISBN 10: 0063079291 / ISBN 13: 9780063079298

Published by Quill Tree Books, 2021

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00091451446

Synopsis:

In this groundbreaking novel about challenging social issues, Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia uses her vividly realistic voice to highlight an often taboo practice that affects millions of girls around the world every year, and to explore a perspective not often depicted in YA fiction.

Even though they were born in different countries, Akilah and Victoria share a seemingly unbreakable friendship. But Victoria has been acting strange ever since she returned from her summer in Nigeria, where she had a special coming-of-age ceremony. Why does proud Victoria, named for a queen, slouch at her desk and answer the teacher's questions in a whisper? And why won't she laugh with Akilah anymore?

Akilah's name means "intelligent," and she is determined to find out what's wrong. But when she learns the terrible secret Victoria is hiding, she suddenly has even more questions. The only problem is, they might not be the kind that have answers.

Previously available only as an ebook, this remarkable novel is now back in print!

How can one friend fight for another when the enemy is a tradition she doesn’t understand?

• A Powerful Coming-of-Age Story: When a summer trip to Nigeria for a "special ceremony" leaves Victoria silent and broken, her best friend Akilah will stop at nothing to find out why.
• Exploring Cultural Differences: A moving look at the clash between a modern American viewpoint and ancient traditions, and the devastating secrets they can hide.
• Tackling Taboo Subjects: This unflinching young adult novel bravely explores the difficult topic of female genital mutilation (FGM) with sensitivity and grace.
• A Banned Books Favorite: Perfect for readers who love thought-provoking and frequently challenged books, this novel sparks important conversations about global issues and a young girl’s fight for her friend.

About the Author:

Rita Williams-Garcia's Newbery Honor Book, One Crazy Summer, was a winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award, a National Book Award finalist, the recipient of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and a New York Times bestseller. The two sequels, P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama, were both Coretta Scott King Author Award winners and ALA Notable Children’s Books. She is also the author of the NAACP Image Award–winning and National Book Award finalist Clayton Byrd Goes Underground; A Sitting in St. James, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winner and Los Angeles Times Book Award winner; Like Sisters on the Homefront, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; Blue Tights; and four ALA Best Books for Young Adults: Jumped, a National Book Award finalist; No Laughter Here; Every Time a Rainbow Dies, a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book; and Fast Talk on a Slow Track. Rita Williams-Garcia lives in Jamaica, New York, with her husband and has two adult daughters. You can visit her online at ritawg.com.

Bibliographic Details

Title: No Laughter Here: A Groundbreaking Middle ...
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: 2021
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Good