Book Launch: Andre Fenton’s The Summer Between Us – In-Conversation with Chad Lucas

Join us on July 27th from 7-9pm for the book launch of Andre Fenton’s latest novel, The Summer Between Us.

This coming-of-age story follows eighteen-year-old Adrian Carter as he graduates from high school and confronts difficult decisions about his future, all while dealing with the stress and pressure he feels to please those closest to him. As Adrian navigates the emotional highs and lows of the summer between graduation and the post-secondary future, he negotiates the difficulties of forging a path in life against others’ expectations.

Despite his wish to follow his long time girlfriend Mel on her cross-country trip with her band, Adrian is hesitant about spending too much time in the punk’s scenes majority-white spaces. Adrian struggles with these feelings and works to find common ground with his emotionally distant father. Meanwhile he starts to understand that his own passion is grounded in a desire to support a community he’s forged on his own.

Dealing with important themes (a desire for independence, identity, first love, familial tensions) from the nuanced perspective of a biracial teen, this story tackles key contemporary social issues. Class differences, colourism in the Black community and the structural barriers limiting access to post-secondary education for Black youth are all embedded in Andre Fenton’s readable narrative.

Andre Fenton is an award-winning young adult author, spoken word artist, and arts educator. He has written two previous novels, Worthy of Love and ANNAKA. Andre’s work focuses on race, self-esteem and creating more representation and diversity in young adult fiction.

The evening will in conversation with Andre Fenton along with award-winning middle grade author, Chad Lucas.

Chad Lucas has been in love with words since he attempted his first novel on a typewriter in the sixth grade. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, communications advisor, freelance writer, part-time journalism instructor, and parenting columnist.

Andre and Chad will discuss some of the topics in the book: Masculinity, eating disorders, diversity in fiction, and much more.

We recommend that guests wear masks for this event.

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