Doreen Ngemera, Grade 11
UWCEA Arusha Campus
Alicia D Williams is the author of among my favorite books I have ever laid my hands on: ‘Genesis Begins Again’. Alicia Diane Williams is an American author and teacher. She grew up in Michigan after her birth on September 26th 1970. She studied at the University of Kentucky where she received her BA in African America Studies. Upon receiving her BA, she moved to New York City where she performed in plays, commercials and so much more. Wanting a change in scenery she moved back to Michigan where she worked as a flight attendant. In 1999 she returned to working in the theater industry whereby she constructed scripts for “One-woman historical shows”.
She began attending writing conferences where her aspiration to write a book developed. In 2012 she began working on her manuscript Genesis Begins Again where she completed it in 2015. Her debut novel “Genesis Begins Again’ then proceeded to official publication in January 2019 by Simon & Schuster. With wonders her novel was praised by many upon publication.
Genesis Begins Again tells the story of a teenage girl “Genesis” who learns to love and appreciate herself. Throughout the course of her life, she had been constantly shamed for her darkskin by both her family and friends leading to a developed great hate for her skin. While in school her friends had crafted a 100 list of things, they hated about Genesis which was left incomplete. As years passed by, she kept adding onto the list with one of the things she hates about herself is her skin being so dark.
When I first read the book, I was captivated immediately. I found the first scene to be quite humorous but took a quick deep turn during the first chapter when her friends called her names such as “Charcoal”. I resonated with the happenings Genesis went through which sparked my interest to keep reading. Every chapter I read, every line I read I couldn’t help but feel Genesis’s storyline relatable. The book had hurtful scenes and lines including once when her dad told her “You were supposed to come out looking like her” referring to her mom whose skin tone was much lighter. Or the scene where she tried bathing in lemon water to try to lighten her skin tone was heartbreaking to read.
If I was to ever recommend a book to someone ‘Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D Williams’ would definitely be among them. It is such a captivating story filled with emotional rollercoasters. The story of how Genesis lived through the stigma that surrounded her, deeming herself as unworthy is one to read. The challenges Genesis lived through depicts the reality of many girls like Genesis. The book is such an engaging, well written and marvelous read which is totally worth anyone’s time. Genesis Begins Again was a "Kirkus Prize" finalist as well as received a Newbery Honour in 2020 which showcases the amount of greatness the storyline is.
“Alicia D. Williams.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_D._Williams
“Genesis Begins Again.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_Begins_Again#:~:text=Genesis%20Begins%20Again%20was%20a,and%20illustrators%20of%20children's%20books.
She began attending writing conferences where her aspiration to write a book developed. In 2012 she began working on her manuscript Genesis Begins Again where she completed it in 2015. Her debut novel “Genesis Begins Again’ then proceeded to official publication in January 2019 by Simon & Schuster. With wonders her novel was praised by many upon publication.
Genesis Begins Again tells the story of a teenage girl “Genesis” who learns to love and appreciate herself. Throughout the course of her life, she had been constantly shamed for her darkskin by both her family and friends leading to a developed great hate for her skin. While in school her friends had crafted a 100 list of things, they hated about Genesis which was left incomplete. As years passed by, she kept adding onto the list with one of the things she hates about herself is her skin being so dark.
When I first read the book, I was captivated immediately. I found the first scene to be quite humorous but took a quick deep turn during the first chapter when her friends called her names such as “Charcoal”. I resonated with the happenings Genesis went through which sparked my interest to keep reading. Every chapter I read, every line I read I couldn’t help but feel Genesis’s storyline relatable. The book had hurtful scenes and lines including once when her dad told her “You were supposed to come out looking like her” referring to her mom whose skin tone was much lighter. Or the scene where she tried bathing in lemon water to try to lighten her skin tone was heartbreaking to read.
If I was to ever recommend a book to someone ‘Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D Williams’ would definitely be among them. It is such a captivating story filled with emotional rollercoasters. The story of how Genesis lived through the stigma that surrounded her, deeming herself as unworthy is one to read. The challenges Genesis lived through depicts the reality of many girls like Genesis. The book is such an engaging, well written and marvelous read which is totally worth anyone’s time. Genesis Begins Again was a "Kirkus Prize" finalist as well as received a Newbery Honour in 2020 which showcases the amount of greatness the storyline is.
“Alicia D. Williams.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_D._Williams
“Genesis Begins Again.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_Begins_Again#:~:text=Genesis%20Begins%20Again%20was%20a,and%20illustrators%20of%20children's%20books.
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