After moving to rural Virginia with her professor mother, Noni is living on a former plantation that her ancestors built.  Rebelling against being forced to give up her dreams of costume design, she researches an ancestor from whom she inherited her fashion aesthetic.  As she digs deeper into the family history, she learns a secret that can change both her life and her mother’s.   

About the Author:  

Kalela Williams has made a career in literary events such as One Book, One Philadelphia or the Virginia Festival of the Book.  Tangleroot is her debut novel combining her love of history and writing.  Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kalela now lives in the central Virginia with her partner and loves books, cats, and history. 

Kit Ballenger is a youth services librarian and literary consultant with Help Your Shelf. She holds a law degree and a master’s in library and information science. As a former Legal Aid child advocacy attorney, she prioritizes helping young readers see themselves and appreciate the experiences of others through story. Ballenger curates the children’s library collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new 81st St. Studio, reviews for several journals, and her clients include Pride and Less Prejudice and Tinkercast: creators of the award-winning STEM podcast “Wow in the World.” Ballenger makes regular radio appearances as the librarian-in-residence on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live and shares reading recommendations on Instagram.

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