Nikki's Books

From Kirkus: "This well-plotted fictionalized account of the Tulsa Race Massacre geared at young readers is emotionally challenging but necessary. Smith’s narrative deftly captures a child’s emotional and psychological experience of the tragedy as well as the tenderness shared among Lena and her family members. Jenai’s black-and-white digital illustrations, which appear every few pages, depict only Black characters and help readers imagine the historical setting. The thoughtful, informative backmatter will help adults lead discussions with children.  An unflinching account of the Tulsa Race Massacre seen through the eyes of a young Black girl." Click HERE for the full review.

Read Nikki's Blogpost about writing Lena and the Burning of Greenwood on Capstone's website: When the Past Meets the Present... While You're Writing

Excerpt: The story of the Tulsa Race Massacre was one I wasn’t sure I wanted to—or should—tell. We needed stories about Black joy. I didn’t know if I could tell this story the way it deserved to be told. What happened in Greenwood had been kept quiet for a variety of reasons, ranging from too-painful memories and a desire to move forward, to a concerted effort to sweep what happened under the carpet. But the story needed to be told.  

I held onto the words of Tulsa Race Massacre survivor, Ernestine Alpha Gibbs:  “Maybe if we talk about it enough, it’ll never be again.”