- Noni Carter
-
Noni Carter (born May 22, 1991) is an American author from Fayetteville, Georgia, whose first book, Good Fortune, was released by Simon & Schuster in January 2010. The young-adult novel is about the life of a slave girl who was snatched from her homeland in Africa in the early 19th century and brought to the United States, where she eventually escaped from a plantation and fled to freedom. Carter, who left her family’s home in Fayetteville in the fall of 2009 to start attending Harvard University, is one of the youngest writers signed by Simon & Schuster.[1]
Contents
Literary biography
Carter decided to write a novel after sitting around a kitchen table at age 12 with her family listening to a great-aunt tell the story of Rose Caldwell, Carter’s great-great-great-great-grandmother. She especially recalls a description of how her Grandma Rose as a young girl watched as her mother was sold across the Mississippi River.[2]
She spent many hours from ages 12 to 15 writing and researching black history for her novel, and what began as a short story became the 479-page “Good Fortune.” She was editing her book by the 11th grade. Then a writing mentor suggested she start speaking at book festivals. The idea paid off, and her book was picked up by Simon & Schuster at BookExpo America in 2008. In the bedroom of her family’s Fayetteville home, the wall above her bed is filled with quotes. They include “Know thyself,” “Just do it” and “This too shall pass.” [3]
Book summary The protagonist of Good Fortune is Ayanna Bahati, who is captured in Africa at the age of 4 and brought to the American South to be a slave. Ayanna eventually escapes slavery and starts a new life in Ohio. Along the way, she learns to read and write and starts a school for black students. Often sad, she hears her past echoing in her name, Bahati, which means “good fortune.” [4]
Criticism and praise
The effect of Carter's book on the current generation has been compared to that of the classic Alex Haley (1921–1992) novel Roots on previous generations. In Roots, Haley traced his ancestry through seven American generations back to Africa.[5]
References
- ^ Nedra Rhone (Jan. 28, 2010). "Echoes of the Past". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/fayetteville-teen-s-novel-285760.html. Retrieved Feb. 9, 2010.
- ^ Nedra Rhone (Jan. 28, 2010). "Echoes of the Past". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/fayetteville-teen-s-novel-285760.html. Retrieved Feb. 9, 2010.
- ^ Nedra Rhone (Jan. 28, 2010). "Echoes of the Past". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/fayetteville-teen-s-novel-285760.html. Retrieved Feb. 9, 2010.
- ^ "Young literary prodigy likened to Alex Haley". The Triangle Tribune. Jan. 13, 2010. http://triangletribune.com/index.
- ^ "Young literary prodigy likened to Alex Haley". The Triangle Tribune. Jan. 13, 2010. http://triangletribune.com/index.
Jan. 28, 2010 article "Echoes of the Past: Fayetteville Teen's Novel Becomes a Reality" by Nedra Rohne in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/fayetteville-teen-s-novel-285760.htmlx
Jan. 13, 2010 article "Good Fortune -- SCHS Grad and Harvard Freshman Releases Debut Novel" by Michael Boylan in The Triangle Tribune: http://triangletribune.com/index
Jan. 11 video interview on National Public Radio’s “On Point” show: http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/01/noni-carter-and-good-fortune
Jan. 12 article in The Citizen: http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/41486xx
External links
Categories:- 1991 births
- Living people
- American novelists
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