Plenty of things in Zora’s youth would seem strange to others, but they’re perfectly normal to her. Her mother’s fixation with germs, and parties, and the power of names. Her father, who Zora rarely sees, disappearing among the stars as his biggest claim to fame. Her role in explaining things to her younger sister, even as Zora works to discover her own philosophies of life. And her neighborhood, a one-way street with an entrance but no exit called “the Aves.”
 
Zora wants more. More than an honorable name. More than glimpses of glory captured in window frames. Surviving childhood can be as intricate as the intertwined streets of Los Angeles. But as Zora grows, so does her story. And in the process, her desire for more is transformed into a tribute of the magnificent people who live alongside her.
 
“Full of the rituals, routines, and rites of Black girlhood all while paying homage to Los Angeles neighborhoods that may not be trimmed in lights but always manage to shine rainbow bright.” – Bridgette Bianca, author of be/trouble
 
“Ryane Nicole Granados invokes childhood in the eighties, juxtaposes joy with realities that corrupt young girls’ innocence. This book takes me back and makes me want to hopscotch, jump rope, and dance my way through the rest of my life.” – Tisha Marie Reichle-Aguilera, author of Breaking Pattern and Stories All Our Own
 
“The Aves will draw you in like a warm, sparkling wave… a brilliant coming-of-age story. BRAVA!” –Alma Luz Villanueva, author of Song of the Golden Scorpion
 
“Ryane Nicole Granados is the voice of The Aves.” –Noriko Nakada, author of Through Eyes Like Mine
 
“A triumph of character and place. Not to be missed.” –David Rocklin, author of The Luminist, and founder of Roar Shack