Rena Barron grew up in small-town Alabama where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. After penning her first awful poem in middle school, she graduated to writing short stories and novels by high school. Rena has an affinity for good cheese, wine, and nature. For a time, she lived in the Franche-Comte region of France, where she hiked to her heart's content and explored the ruins of old castles. When she's not writing, she can be found reading or brushing up on her French. She is represented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.
Astonishing series of subsequent revelations leaves readers agog, eager to know how Maya and her pals will use their powers to heal the veil and save their mostly black and brown neighborhood.... A truly #BlackGirlMagic, cloudy-day, curl-up kind of book. -- Kirkus, STARRED review The vivid world-building, quick pace, high stakes, and steady stream of legendary African creatures keep readers engaged and invested in the tweens' predicament. Mixing in hard choices, believable emotions, tough lessons, and mistakes made with the best of intentions, Barron has created a must-read tale. --School Library Journal, STARRED review This opening installment of what will be a much-anticipated series is fast-paced and adventurous, offering a fresh blend of culture, community, and folklore rooted broadly in the African diaspora. --Booklist A fresh new fantasy adventure with epic stakes and a fierce heroine at its heart. This book will keep you turning pages well into the night! --MarcyKate Connolly, New York Times bestselling author of the Monstrous and Shadow Weaver series Fantastically fun and full of characters I adore. I can't wait for Maya's next adventure! --Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and Kat, Incorrigible Maya is the kind of hero the whole world needs. If you're dwelling into the dark you couldn't ask for a better protector (or a better read)! --Lamar Giles, author of The Last Last-Day-of-Summer In this unputdownable fantasy adventure, the clever, brave, and witty Maya takes a worthy place among the hall of fantasy heroes as she battles against drooling werehyenas, shapeshifting demons, and one seriously creepy Lord of Shadows. An irresistible ode to the power friendship, family, and community can have in the fight against the forces of evil. --Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy and The Cronus Chronicles series