Andrea Lee is the author of five books, including the National Book Award–nominated memoir RUSSIAN JOURNAL and her latest novel, RED ISLAND HOUSE. Andrea enjoyed a number of private reading moments with her mother, Edith, but she is especially fond of the time they shared in the classroom. Edith was the only Black teacher at a Quaker elementary school, and Andrea had the pleasure of being taught by her mother as a fifth grader. Her dramatic readings of books like TREASURE ISLAND and THE CALL OF THE WILD captivated her students, but it wasn’t until years later that Andrea was able to fully comprehend where that passion came from and the sacrifices she was willing to make for her family.

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