Glory Edim is a powerhouse, but you don't need me to tell you that. The creator of Well-Read Black Girl, she began with a t-shirt her partner gave her, followed by an Instagram page. As it became clear that there was a community hungry for her work, which quotes black heroes and brings both contemporary and archival black work to the forefront, she expanded it to a book club and a platform. Today, it is a growing, influential community. In WELL-READ BLACK GIRL, Edim anthologizes the stories of 21 black female writers as they explore their individual journeys towards finding their voices.

No two narratives here are the same, but the anthology is rich with throughlines. If you have ever asked yourself, Why does Well-Read Black Girl need to exist? Why is there a specific community for black women who read? How does the intersection of one's race and gender affect how they interact with words and the cultural canon?, I implore you to pick up this volume.

"This anthology is necessary reading. Each essay in this expertly curated collection is exquisite in its own right, and the very existence of this book is a revolution against the imagined monolith of 'black women.'"

From how Jesmyn Ward, seeking solace, found only fragmented mirrors in the young adult narratives of her childhood, to how Veronica Chambers found an anchor and a motive in the work of Jamaica Kincaid. From how Tayari Jones grew up saturated with black stories but not the ones she wanted to see, to how Renee Watson carves out space for herself where she had found none before. From N.K. Jemisin calling out the lies told about black history and making her own mythology, to Dhonielle Clayton speaking out for black queer love.

This anthology is necessary reading. Each essay in this expertly curated collection is exquisite in its own right, and the very existence of this book is a revolution against the imagined monolith of "black women." Though there are throughlines, there are so many perspectives, voices and stories here. It reads like a point of convergence and divergence, disparate narratives, collected together, to create a revelatory, beautiful and urgent volume. I came away from the 21 voices knowing there is so much I still don't know, hungry for more --- and Edim provides book lists, once again anticipating a need, elevating the voices of her community and encouraging readers to continue. Among these lists are "Classic Novels by Black Women," "Books on Black Feminism," "Plays by Black Women" and more.

WELL-READ BLACK GIRL is a special, potent volume that is expansive and introspective, diverse, eloquent and wise. Pick up this book, and let these outstanding essays speak for themselves.