American Street

A National Book Award Finalist with five starred reviews and multiple awards!

A New York Times Notable Book * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time * A Parade Best Young Adult Book of All Time * A Kirkus Best Book of the Century * Publishers Weekly Flying Start * Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * ALA Booklist Editors' Choice of 2017 (Top of the List Winner) * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * BookPage Best YA Book of the Year

An evocative and powerful coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jason Reynolds

In this stunning debut novel, Pushcart-nominated author Ibi Zoboi draws on her own experience as a young Haitian immigrant, infusing this lyrical exploration of America with magical realism and vodou culture.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

• YA Coming-of-Age: Alone in a new country, Fabiola must find her footing between her Haitian roots and the grittiness of Detroit’s west side, where one impossible choice could cost her everything.
• Magical Realism for Teens: Where the streets of Detroit meet the spiritual world, Fabiola’s story is infused with the magic of Haitian Vodou, where lwas guide her and every corner is a crossroad.
• Complex Family Drama: Fabiola navigates a new life with her three Americanized cousins—the Brains, the Beauty, and the Brawn—whose bold personalities and dangerous secrets pull her deeper into their world.
• A Mother-Daughter Story: With her mother detained by U.S. immigration, Fabiola is driven by one mission: to bring her family back together, no matter the price she has to pay for the American dream.