Black Girl Unlimited

The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard

By: Echo Brown

Narrated by: Echo Brown

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author.

"Just brilliant." (Kirkus Reviews)

Heavily autobiographical and infused with magical realism, Black Girl Unlimited fearlessly explores the intersections of poverty, sexual violence, depression, racism, and sexism - all through the arc of a transcendent coming-of-age story for fans of Renee Watson's Piecing Me Together and Ibi Zoboi's American Street.

Echo Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where apartments are small and parents suffer addictions to the white rocks. Yet there is magic...everywhere. New portals begin to open when Echo transfers to the rich school on the West Side, and an insightful teacher becomes a pivotal mentor.

Each day, Echo travels between two worlds, leaving her brothers, her friends, and a piece of herself behind on the East Side. There are dangers to leaving behind the place that made you. Echo soon realizes there is pain flowing through everyone around her, and a black veil of depression threatens to undo everything she’s worked for.

Christy Ottaviano Books

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

©2020 Echo Brown (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

School Library Best Books of the Year 2020
YALSA William C. Morris Finalist 2021

Can’t stop listening

This book touched me. This inspiring story gives hope to all. Echo-you are amazing. Thank you for being brave to shed light on hour story to inspire others. Keep on, keepin’ on.

I love it

I love this book it everything. This book features a teenager of color and how she navigates life and deals with some of the challenges she had no choice or say in. It is beautifully written and relatable.

So impactful

This book is incredibly well written, raw and honest. It goes through so much without ever losing sight of what matters. Someday when my children are old enough, we will read this together.

Must Read for All

To the author. Thank you. I am so grateful for this story.
To everyone else, read. Read. READ.

Overall

Powerful black young women story about hardships the the new light in the end story.

Raw, Fantastical, Magical!

I am recommending this book to Black women of all ages. The srory tells the tale of a wise, yet still niave, young girl who blossoms into a wiser yound woman. We follow her throughout her childhood as she tells the story of how she saved herself from the darkness that so many of us have been known to fall prey to. Her relationships with friends and family are relatable in many ways. The imagery and wording makes one feel like they're right in the story. The underlying but very loud subcontext of magic and mental health is a refreshing and beautiful take on the matter. There is inclusivity of other cultures without taking the Black woman away from the main stage. The story is so addictive I read it in a mere just over two days and could absolutely see myself giving it another listen. So many powerful quotes and sayings lie within this text. Definite must read!

10/10

I ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOUR SOOTHING STORY. I’m glad that you could share your experiences. This book is sooooo gooood and I can hear the heart and soul in your voice. KEEP WRITING with passion.

Highly original!

This moving, singular story is extraordinarily beautiful and heartbreaking. Kudos to Echo Brown for her words and her narration.

Read this book!

I didn't know what to expect when u selected this title. this is a must read for young ladies that are struggling in their environments, trying to be heard, acknowledged, and desiring to be protected.

Inspirational

I loved the authors way intricately woven her-story. This book lights & relight lighthouses around the world. This book bring the past & present into a beautiful future.