My new book, My Fairy God Somebody, is due out December 3, 2024, and you can preorder it now! It's about a girl’s search for belonging in a forest of secrets, lies and family ties. I can’t wait to share it with readers!
Play the Game is a different kind of whodunnit - more like, who didn't do it - about friendship and first love, and what it means to name and claim justice. And it's also about video games!
I have an MFA in writing for children and young adults, which means I got to go to school to read and write all day, a truly fantastic experience. On the activist side, I do a lot of work to promote restorative justice and end mass incarceration, because I believe those things can truly change the world.
MY FAIRY GOD SOMEBODY
The way Clae’s mom tells it, Clae’s dad took off when she was a baby, end of story. Ever since, it’s just been the two of them, living in the coastal city of Gloucester, where Clae is one of only a few Black girls. But when Clae discovers clues about a mysterious person she calls her fairy god somebody, she’s determined to know more.
Her chance comes when she’s accepted into a summer journalism program in New York City, where her parents lived before she was born. With a couple of leads and a steel resolve, Clae leaves home for the first time to find out about her history.
New York is as full of magic as it is mystery, not to mention romance. From Brooklyn to Broadway, Clae and her new friends, Nze and Joelle, explore neighborhood haunts and hustles, discovering a family trail that some- one’s tried hard to bury. So who is the fairy god somebody? And can Clae use her sleuthing skills to find out the truth?
Set against one unforgettable New York City summer, this is the story of lies that run deep and patterns that are meant to be broken. Clae, Nze, and Joelle will stick with you and remind you that every girl deserves to write her own story.
My Fairy God Somebody named as the Spring 2025 selection for One Book Baltimore
Advance Praise for My Fairy God Somebody
“A teenage girl begins a journey of radical self-discovery as she investigates her family history…Allen’s sophomore novel effectively captures Clae’s turbulent inner struggles, particularly her thorny feelings about her persistent longing for genuine kinship and community.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Author Charlene Allen blends mystery, romance, and friendship in this contemporary YA novel about a teen girl who spends a transformative summer in a prestigious NYC journalism program that serves as a cover for her true purpose: discovering the identity of her dad that her mom refuses to talk about.”
“A fresh and exciting take on a heartfelt teen drama about tricky friendships, romantic entanglements, and the power of Black family ties. And, of course, then come the secrets. Clae’s fierceness and vulnerability will stay with me for a very long time.”
—EBONI K. WILLIAMS Author, attorney, and television host
“My Fairy God Somebody celebrates everyday magic: friendship, knowledge, history, and passion. Allen’s New York sparkles and her characters shine as they uncover the truth: every girl can write her own happily ever after.”
—SHANA YOUNGDAHL Author of As Many Nows As I Can Get
Play the Game
In the game of life, sometimes other people hold all the controls. Or so it seems to VZ. Four months have passed since his best friend Ed was killed by a white man in a Brooklyn parking lot. When Singer, the man who killed Ed, is found dead in the same spot where Ed was murdered, all signs point to Jack, VZ’s other best friend, as the prime suspect.
VZ’s determined to complete the video game Ed never finished and figure out who actually killed Singer. With help from Diamond, the girl he’s crushing on at work, VZ falls into Ed’s quirky gameiverse. As the police close in on Jack, the game starts to uncover details that could lead to the truth about the murder.
Can VZ honor Ed and help Jack before it’s too late?
What People Are Saying About Play the Game
“Powerful. Authentic. A riveting gut punch. This is how you galvanize young activists. A voice not soon to be forgotten.”
— Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Blood“Honest, raw, and absolutely alive. Play the Game is a tour de force, and Charlene Allen has announced herself as a powerful new voice.”
— Matt de la Peña, author of Mexican WhiteBoy and Last Stop on Market Street
“Fast-paced, insightful, and highly relevant, Allen’s novel illustrates the application of restorative justice practices to real life situations. A must read for all young people impacted by racism and those adults who love them.”
— Angela Y. Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, UC Santa Cruz
“A compelling look at different ways of approaching grief and justice.”
— Kirkus Reviews