Winner of the 2023 Coretta Scott King Honor Award

"From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler. Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler expereinced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death"--

Ages 10+

Grades 7-9

Part I.

Parable of the sower: Stardust ; Dawn ; Daughter of dust ; Zeitgeist ; Spirit of the times ; Baby boom ; Dust ; Daughter of dust II ; Earthseed ; Star child ; Moon child ; Moon child II ; School child ; Daydreamer ; Red ink ; Pasadena ; Memory ; Fire ; Memory II ; Empathy ; Empathy II ; First word ; First story ; Good Book ; Peter Pan room ; First book ; A universe of words ; A universe of books ; Imagination ; Pink notebook ; Imagination II ; Rogue planet. --

Part II.

Parable of the talents: Space ; Race ; Space II ; Race II ; Red Scare (haikus) ; Red Planet (haikus) ; Fear of communism ; Devil girl from Mars ; Brown girl from earth ; Red Planet ; Amazing stories ; Pulp fiction ; Hero (boy's books) ; Prize (girl's books) ; Writer ; Octavia's books ; Remington ; Writer II ; Future.

Part III.

Adulthood rites: Stories ; Science fiction ; Genius ; Stargazing ; Black future ; Kindred. --

Books by Octavia Butler --

Acknowledgments --

Endnotes --

Photo credits