She said she has seen kids do incredible things, and has full faith in their ability to be “changemakers” in the world. “I got to observe and learn and reflect in my own life of just how much kids are capable of,” she said, adding that she wanted to write Wings of Ebony to empower kids-to help them realize that they’re able to change the world on their own.

Immediately out of graduate school, Elle got a job teaching at a KIPP school, one whose approach is to “educate the whole child,” she said. “Words really had this place in my heart, a very nostalgic place in my heart.” “There were definitely some parts of my childhood that were just more challenging, and I wanted an outlet, I wanted a place to vent,” she recalled. It was always her way of putting down memories she wanted to treasure forever she didn’t just journal about the big things, she said, she’d write about a fun trip to the ice cream shop as well. On a phone call in early January, I asked her to elaborate on that-specifically, why she chose to tell stories through writing.Įlle indicated that she journaled and wrote poetry often as a child, saying that writing was how she processed things. 26, 2021, says on her website she has been a writer “since could hold a pencil.” Elle, whose debut Wings of Ebony releases Jan. There's very infrequent mention of specific brands, such as Google.Wings of Ebony by J. Strong language includes 's-t,' 'f-k,' 'n-a,' 'ass,' and 'asshole.' A couple references to teen romance appear, including kissing and 'boy drama,' both talked about but not shown. Drug dealing at a high school is a plot point. There are several fight scenes with kicking, slapping, punching, and using guns. There are several murders and attempted murders, including by shooting and poison, and an attempt to systematically destroy a community by beating and killing people and setting fire to their homes. Rue's half-human, half-god existence itself is a crime in her father's world, and her compatriots treat her with suspicion. Her father takes Rue to live at his home, on a secret island of gods near Madagascar, leaving the 12-year-old half-sister she loves behind in their crime-riddled neighborhood in Houston, Texas. The main character is Rue, a 17-year-old whose mother has been shot to death on their stoop. Parents need to know that Wings of Ebony is an action-packed fantasy by J. Drug dealing at a high school is a plot point.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Wings of ebony book