Against the backdrop of 1990s Harlem, this heartrending semi-autobiographical story follows Malaya Clondon, a young Black girl who, at just eight-years-old, is diagnosed as "morbidly obese". Days of drawing in her room and stoop sitting with her friends are compounded with Weight Watchers meetings and family dinners filled with diet talk and bland foods. Over the next 10 years, Malaya’s eating habits and weight affect every aspect of her life, particularly her relationship with her parents, until a family tragedy forces her to confront the source of her hunger and break free from the stigmas placed on her body. From mouthwatering descriptions of flavor to the poetic musings of hip-hop greats, this eloquent work ignites all five senses while confronting the societal expectations and barriers imposed on Blackness, womanhood, and size.
Written by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan