Kalisha Buckhanon's writing delves into the complexities of human connection and the intricate inner lives of her characters. She is known for a powerful sense of realism and sharp insights into the human condition. Through her fiction, Buckhanon often explores themes of identity, family, and the impact of societal forces on individual lives. Her prose is both poetic and direct, offering readers an immersive and thought-provoking experience.
Focusing on the resilience of women, this novel centers on a sister's quest to uncover the truth behind her twin's mysterious disappearance. The narrative delves into themes of survival and sisterhood, offering a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by women in America. With critical acclaim highlighting its emotional depth and astuteness, the story weaves a compelling tale of determination and the search for justice.
In the same vein of Kalisha Buckhanon’s critically-acclaimed debut novel Upstate, again she shares an emotionally beautiful story about today’s youth that magnifies the unforgettable power of hope and the human spirit.Buckhanon takes us to Chicago, 1992, and into the life of fifteen-year-old Shivana Montgomery, who believes all Black women wind up the same: single and raising children alone, like her mother. Until the sudden visit of her beautiful and free-spirited Aunt Jewel, Shivana spends her days desperately struggling to understand life and the growing pains of her environment. When she accidentally becomes pregnant by an older man and must decide what to do, she begins a journey towards adulthood with only a mysterious voice inside to guide her. When she falls in love with Rasul, a teenager with problems of his own, together they fight to rise above their circumstances and move toward a more positive future. Through the voice of the unborn child and a narrative sweeping from slavery onward, Buckhanon narrates Shivana’s connection to a past history of Black women who found themselves at the mercy of tragic circumstances.
Love is always complicated. Especially when you are seventeen, and still living at home. Antonio and Natasha spend their days hanging out on Harlem’s streets, jumping over cars and dreaming about moving in together. Suddenly their world is turned upside down. Antonio finds himself on the news, in the papers, and in jail, accused of a shocking crime. And their love will be put to the ultimate test. 'Upstate' tells the extraordinary story of ten years, as Natasha and Antonio attempt to keep their relationship going across a great divide. Their letters are passionate and furious, full of raw emotion as they lay their hearts on the page. The result is a wild and exhilarating roller coaster of a novel, utterly compelling and original.