Ida, in Love and in Trouble

Ages 14 And Up, Grades 9 to 17

For fans of Bridgerton and The Davenports comes a sweeping historical novel from bestselling author Veronica Chambers about courageous (and flirtatious) Ida B. Wells as she navigates society parties and society prejudices to become a civil rights crusader.

Before she became a warrior, Ida B. Wells was an incomparable flirt with a quick wit and a dream of becoming a renowned writer. The first child of newly freed parents who thrived in a community that pulsated with hope and possibility after the Civil War, Ida had a big heart, big ambitions, and even bigger questions: How to be a good big sister when her beloved parents perish in a yellow fever epidemic? How to launch her career as a teacher? How to make and keep friends in a society that seems to have no place for a woman who speaks her own mind? And – always top of mind for Ida – how to find a love that will let her be the woman she dreams of becoming?

Ahead of her time by decades, Ida B. Wells pioneered the field of investigative journalism with her powerful reporting on violence against African Americans. Her name became synonymous with courage and an unflinching demand for racial and gender equality. But there were so many facets to Ida Bell and critically acclaimed writer Veronica Chamber unspools her full and colorful life as Ida comes of age in the rapidly changing South, filled with lavish society dances and parties, swoon-worthy gentleman callers, and a world ripe for the taking.

About the Author

Veronica Chambers is an author and currently a writer/editor for The New York Times. Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, her work often reflects her Afro-Latina heritage. She’s written the acclaimed memoir, Mama’s Girl which has been course adopted by hundreds of high schools and colleges throughout the country. She has also authored several children’s books including the NYT bestselling Finish the Fight,Call and Response, Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb and The Go-Between.