A Drop of Color

“A Drop of Color is The Skin I’m In for a new generation—an instant classic teens won’t be able to put down, and educators will turn to for decades to come.” — Sharon G. Flake, award-winning author

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Gabrielle’s existence has been a balancing act. At her prestigious and predominantly white prep school, she’s learned how to be palatable, agreeable, and silent. Between begrudgingly accepting her role as her predominantly white school’s Token Black Girl, and performing the role of the dutiful Nigerian daughter at home, she’s not left with much time to simply exist as Gabby. But as far as she’s concerned, survival is her main priority – even if it means perpetually walking on eggshells in both spaces.

With her senior year in full swing, Gabrielle can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But when a racist incident erupts within her social circle, Gabrielle can no longer justify letting it slide and breaks the Oakmont Academy’s unspoken code: no snitching. Suddenly, Gabrielle is thrust from social butterfly to social pariah. Cut off from her friends and reputation, Gabrielle is left searching for answers and determined to uncover who betrayed her and why.

Armed with a bucket list and a plan for reinvention, Gabrielle sets out to salvage her senior year. But navigating life on the margins comes with complications, especially after sparks ignite with two very different boys: the football player she never thought she’d trust and her childhood crush, newly returned from Nigeria, who reawakens feelings she’s long avoided. As secrets surface, loyalties fracture, and first love collides with hard truths, Gabrielle must decide whether to fight her way back to the version of “normal” she worked so hard to maintain, or finally embrace the parts of herself she was taught to shrink: her Blackness, her Nigerian-ness, and the space where they meet.

With razor-sharp honesty and emotional depth, debut author Elizabeth Ese delivers a powerful YA coming-of-age novel about identity, betrayal, and belonging. Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, All American Boys, and The Black Kids, A Drop of Color is a timely, unforgettable story for readers who are ready to stop surviving and start living their truth.