My Fairy God Somebody

"A richly drawn story that explores the precarious construction of identity and the pain of complex family dynamics." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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.

The way Clae’s mom tells it, her dad took off when Clae 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 the only 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 someone’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 NYC 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.

Praise for My Fairy God Somebody

"An engaging story for readers who want to see characters find themselves (and then some) amid complex families and real-life challenges. Suggest to readers who enjoyed Robin Benway’s Far from the Tree (2017) and other relationship-driven YA dramedies" —ALA Booklist

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection pick!