Big Girl | Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

Big Girl: A Novel

Accolades & Praise

• BBC Radio Two Book Club Pick: Selected and celebrated as an exceptional contemporary literary selection.
• Critical Acclaim: Praised as "absolutely incredible" by bestselling author Candice Carty-Williams.

Extended Synopsis

Eight-year-old Malaya Clondon dreads being dragged to Weight Watchers meetings in the stuffy basement community center of her church. A quietly inquisitive child struggling to suppress her longing, she would much rather paint alone in her bedroom or sneak out with her father to sample Harlem's forbidden street food.

The pressures of attending an exclusive, predominantly white prep school are compounded by high expectations passed down over generations from her sharp-tongued grandmother and her mother, Nyela, a professor fighting to earn tenure. Their relentless prescriptions—fad diets, African dance classes, and endless medical appointments—fail to control Malaya's body.

As Malaya comes of age in a rapidly gentrifying 1990s Harlem, she strains to fit within a society that holds no room for her size. When a family tragedy strikes, she must finally confront the multi-generational expectations placed upon her and learn to claim her own place in the world on her own terms.

About the Author

Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is an acclaimed author, scholar, and professor whose vibrant fiction and critical writing explore Black female identity, body politics, and culture. Her work has earned significant literary recognition and fellowships across the country.

Reader Targeting

• Readers of contemporary literary fiction focusing on coming-of-age stories and family dynamics.
• Audiences interested in narratives exploring body positivity, intersectionality, and Black womanhood.
• Fans of stories set in 1990s New York City and historical Harlem context.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Big Girl about?
Big Girl is a poignant coming-of-age novel following Malaya Clondon, a young Black girl growing up in 1990s Harlem, navigating family expectations, body image pressures, and finding her own voice.

Where and when is the story set?
The novel is primarily set in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Harlem, New York, during the 1990s.

Who is the author of Big Girl?
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is an accomplished author and professor whose work focuses on intersectionality, Black female identity, and body politics.

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