In this post, we feature author and poet Mahogany L. Browne, whose previous titles include Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice. You can hear her speak about her new novel-in-verse, Chlorine Sky, and try her “invitation to imagine” activity. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Chlorine Sky
- Written by Mahogany L. Browne
- Published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books
- Release date: January 12, 2021
In her debut YA title, acclaimed poet Mahogany L. Browne offers a novel-in-verse about a young girl coming-of-age and stepping out of the shadow of her former best friend. Told with heartbreaking honesty, this is a story about broken promises, fast rumors, and what happens when growing up means growing apart from your best friend.
From Chlorine Sky, by Mahogany L. Browne.
She looks me hard in my eyes
Read a longer excerpt from Chlorine Sky, by Mahogany L. Browne.
& my knees lock into tree trunks
My eyes don’t dance like my heartbeat racing
They stare straight back hot daggers.
I remember things will never be the same.
I remember things.
Explore Chlorine Sky
Listen to Mahogany L. Browne talking with TeachingBooks about creating Chlorine Sky. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.
- Listen to author Mahogany L. Browne talk about her name.
- Read along with an Audiobook Performance of Chlorine Sky.
- Watch a video book trailer for Chlorine Sky.
- Explore TeachingBooks’ collection of activities and resources for Chlorine Sky.
Invitation to Imagine
TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activity contributed by Mahogany L. Browne.
Imagination Activity with Mahogany L. Browne
If you’ve read Chlorine Sky, you know there are a lot of rules to growing up YOU. What are the rules you’ve been taught? What are the rules you follow? What are the rules you found too confining or restricting? What are the rules you’ve found to be a contradiction? Who taught you these rules? Which ones do you still follow? Which rules have you created on your own? Create a list of rules for growing up. And add in some moments of dialogue—paint a picture. Show us your world!
Finish This Sentence . . . with Mahogany L. Browne
As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Mahogany L. Browne’s response.
“My favorite books as a child . . .”
My favorite book as a child was Honey, I Love, by Eloise Greenfield, and, most recently, Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson.
“I hope that my book encourages kids and teens to think about . . .”
I hope that my book encourages teens to remember that they get to take up space. They get to ask questions and get it wrong. There is a way to honor your friendships and honor yourself. But your personhood is important. Do not compromise yourself in fear of loneliness.
Thank you!
To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Mahogany L. Browne for signing a book for all of us.
More Connections to Mahogany L. Browne and Chlorine Sky
- Discover books like Chlorine Sky on TeachingBooks.
- Random House Children’s Books’ page about Chlorine Sky, by Mahogany L. Browne.
- Buy Chlorine Sky, by Mahogany L. Browne.
- Mahogany L. Browne on Twitter.
Explore all of the titles featured in the TeachingBooks Virtual Book Tour: one link with author interviews, lesson plans, activities, and more!
All text and images are courtesy of Mahogany L. Browne and Random House Children’s Books and may not be used without expressed written consent.
Leave a Reply