THE DOOR OF NO RETURN | A Busboys and Poets Presentation

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN | A Busboys and Poets Presentation

Date and Time

Dec 5, 2022 6:30 pm

Location

14th & V

2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009

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Description:

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

Author Kwame Alexander joins Busboys and Poets Books on the stage for his newest release, THE DOOR OF NO RETURN. The first in a spellbinding trilogy, THE DOOR OF NO RETURN is, at its core, about community, culture, and how they intersect in the life of 11-year-old Kofi. In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him ”There are things about the water you do not know. “ Like what? Kofi asks. “The beasts.” His brother answers.

One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi’s world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.

Kwame Alexander has been incredibly intentional in crafting a portrait of a Black child’s life set during the Asante Kingdom in 1860 to center the African part of the early history of African Americans- and he does it well. When describing THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, we do not center on the story of the slave tribe, but instead to capture coming-of-age, first love, and represent a culture and history with an emphasis on the joy, beauty, and daily wonders and the woes of life.

Kwame Alexander is joining us at Busboys and Poets with Jessica Care Moore to celebrate his new book, THE DOOR OF NO RETURN. This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:30 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of THE DOOR OF NO RETURN & WE WANT OUR BODIES BACK will be available for purchase before and during the event. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books.

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including SWING, BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI, co-authored with James Patterson, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. His newest release is THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, book one of a new trilogy that is destined to be a game changer. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of THE CROSSOVER TV series on Disney+.

Jessica Care Moore is the CEO of Moore Black Press, Executive Producer of Black WOMEN Rock!, and founder of the literacy-driven, Jess Care Moore Foundation. An internationally renowned poet, playwright, performance artist and producer, she is the 2013 Alain Locke Award Recipient from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Her poetry has been heard on stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the London Institute of Contemporary Arts. Jessica currently lives, writes and plays in downtown Detroit, where she is proud to be raising her 7-year old visual artist, baseball loving, drums and hockey playing son, King Moore.

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