Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature

Member of the 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society (NGBS) List

From the beloved author of President of the Whole Fifth Grade, a story about a young Black girl who summons the courage to fight against a discriminatory dress code—and stand up for herself.

Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution follows the journey of Lotus Bloom, a young girl who just wants to express herself—with her violin, her retro style, her peaceful vibe, and her fabulous hair.

This school year, Lotus is taking her talent and spirit to the seventh grade at a new school of the arts. There, she might have the opportunity to play under a famous maestro, a violin virtuoso, and conductor of the orchestra. However, Lotus's best friend, Rebel, believes Lotus should stay at their current school. Rebel argues that this fancy new school unjustly attracts all the funding and saps the brightest kids. She wants Lotus to help her protest, but Lotus is unsure—if she's going to be in the spotlight, she prefers it to be for her music.

When boys begin throwing paper wads and airplanes into Lotus's afro, she finds herself in trouble for a dress code violation. Lotus faces a dilemma: Should she stay quiet and risk her beloved hair, or should she put aside her peaceful demeanor to fight back?

Inspired by real stories of Black girls challenging discriminatory dress codes affecting their hair and culture, Sherri Winston introduces a memorable character who stands up for what is right, no matter the obstacles.