At the May release party for our collection of students essays, “Having to Tell Your Mother is The Hardest Part,” young authors shared their poignant stories with an audience of their peers and supporters.
There was one surprise special guest in the crowd that night: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie came to help us celebrate the work of DC students and their accomplishment of being published. Needless to say, our students were thrilled to have the author’s support and excited to meet a literary hero.
Our friend (and 826 National co-founder) Dave Eggers wrote about the experience for the New York Times Style Magazine.
“‘You have to read what I wrote!’ Monae said, and gave Adichie a copy of ‘Having to Tell Your Mother Is the Hardest Part,’ opened to a spread bearing her smiling face and her essay, titled “Queen.”
We made our way to a quiet part of the rooftop and watched the adults swarm the student-writers, getting their books signed.
‘That is lovely,’ Adichie said. ‘Just lovely.’”