Joan Steinau Lester

Foreword by Alice Walker

"An astonishing accomplishment...riveting art." Alice Walker

"Powerhouse novel..." Juicy Magazine Editor's Pick, May, 2013

Ebony Magazine Editor's Pick, May, 2013

"Lester’s poignant narrative probes the relationship between a mother and her biracial daughter... No matter a person’s ethnic or cultural background, this book is relatable." Kirkus

"Incredible! Lester's skill at writing from mother and daughter perspectives while delving deep into topics (race, death, civil rights, and relationships) that other authors attempt but rarely succeed in capturing the emotion needed to unsettle and move a reader is a sizzling and enjoyable surprise. Mama's Child...will launch profound book club discussion. Add Mama's Child to your 2013 must-read list!"
Jenny Simonson, Book Club Leader

"Joan Steinau Lester's innovation is a shift in gaze from the experience of the confused child to the often-overlooked, complicated white mother... long overdue." Emily Raboteau, author of Searching for Zion



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BLACK, WHITE, OTHER

When her family fractures and racial tensions splinter her hometown, Nina feels caught. Stranded in the nowhere land between racial boundaries and struggling for identity, Nina turns to the story of her great-great-grandmother’s escape from slavery. Is there direction in the tale of her ancestor?

"Lester conjures a credible plot and complications; divorce is a fact of life and racially mixed heritage is conspicuously becoming one. The simple contrapuntal narrative of Sarah Armstrong's escaping slavery distinguishes the book emotionally and psychologically, raising it above other issue-oriented Young Adult novels. Lester writes with social sensitivity and an ear for teen language and concerns. This is engaging treatment of a challenging subject that comes with little precedent." -- Starred Publishers Weekly Review

"The tenderness and truth of your book moved my heart. As well as the enormous love you have."
-- Alice Walker

"Insightful and engaging...Black, White, Other rings true from Page 1. It hooked me very quickly and I think anyone who's felt different as a teenager or has gone through a divorce can empathize with what Nina is going through. This novel is going to appeal to teens and adults alike." -- PopcornReads.com

"Teens will be caught by the alternating stories, and yes, by the messages about...prejudice, then and now, which will make for great group discussion." -- Booklist

"Made me more aware of the challenges biracial teens face." -- A Few More Pages

"Joan Lester knows how to get inside a girl's head. Nina feels like someone you know or really want to know. Readers will cheer her one as she faces the fundamental question of who she is and who she wants to be." -- Marissa Moss, author of the bestselling Amelia's Notebook series.

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FIRE IN MY SOUL: ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (Simon & Schuster)Foreword by Coretta Scott King. Tells the remarkable story of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton: civil rights activist, hard-driving legislator, cutting-edge thinker.

"A well-framed memoir, satisfyingly candid while also abrim with political theory...A gratifying biography." Kirkus Reviews

"A rip-roaring political biography." SF Chronicle

"“Lester’s thorough portrait is a compelling and inspiring homage to a legacy
still in progress.” Publishers Weekly

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TAKING CHARGE: EVERY WOMAN'S ACTION GUIDE TO PERSONAL, POLITICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS (Conari Press)Best-seller offers proven strategies. Lester urges women to believe there are practical ways to confront even the most stubborn roadblocks.

"Peppered with humorous, helpful anecdotes, provides a lively jump-start to goal-setting." Ms.
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THE FUTURE OF WHITE MEN and Other Diversity Dilemmas. This ground-breaking book provides a refreshing look at diversity. Every day we are confronted with new dilemmas--at the office or in our neighborhoods. Most of us are well intentioned; we try to keep abreast of rapidly evolving values and do our best not to offend. Yet the rules are constantly changing.

"In its chatty, no-nonsense way, puts all the taboos on the table...it's tricky territory, but in Lester's hands, the paths are clear." San Francisco Chronicle

"A warm, inviting book by a diversity consultant that doesn't toe the political party lines." Orange County Register

"Lester's generous voice sheds keen insight, humor and practical advice on the polarizing dilemmas of living with diversity." Urvashi Vaid

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