Lakita
Children’s/Middle Grade/Young Adult Author
Fiction & Nonfiction
Travels from: Baltimore, MD

“Wilson’s middle-grade novel is the perfect blend of humor, introspection, and authenticity.” — Booklist

Lakita Wilson is the author of several novels and non-fiction projects for children and young adults, including Sparkle, Last Chance Dance, What Is Black Lives Matter?, a part of the New York Times Bestselling HQ Now series. Her middle grade novel, Be Real, Macy Weaver, has recently been adapted into a musical and can be seen in regional theatres and in schools.

A 2017 recipient of SCBWI’s Emerging Voices Award, Lakita and her books have been recognized by the American Library Association’s Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Black Caucus Best of the Best Books, Junior Library Guild, Apple Book of the Month, and Amazon’s Editor’s Pick. Lakita most recently had the honor of serving as the Lisa Page Writing Workshops Fellow for the Pen/Faulkner Foundation for the 2023-2024 school year, visiting over 50 DC public school classrooms during her tenure. Lakita lives in the Washington DC area with her two children and Lhasa Apso.

Lakita's Featured Titles

Sparkle

Viking Books for Young Readers |
Children’s

After twelve-year-old aspiring superstar, Sparkle Moore, is diagnosed with alopecia, she must navigate family, friends, and her own self-esteem with the added challenge of losing her hair. Perfect for fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and From the Desk of Zoe Washington.

Sparkle Moore is destined to be a star. Her mother is determined to turn her and her younger sister, Nova, into social media influencers and budding superstars. And after her dad has lost work as a sitcom actor, Sparkle wants to do whatever she can to help her family financially, too.

But at the onset of middle school, Sparkle begins losing her hair—first her lashes, then her eyebrows, and then small circular bald spots appear in various sections on her head. It’s hard enough having to go to school and hide her diagnosis from her friends—all while they’re trying out for big roles in the school play—but Sparkle quickly has to deal with weird medications, itchy wigs, and lost opportunities her mom has wrangled, including a big shampoo commercial.

Despite everything she might do to hide what’s happening, and all her work keeping her friends together, when Sparkle’s secrets start coming to the surface—Sparkle has to come to terms with the changes in her life and show her classmates and her family what she can do with or without hair.

Last Chance Dance

Viking Books for Young Readers |
Young Adult

An utterly charming YA romance perfect for fans of Elise Bryant and Leah Johnson.

“An ode to love in all its beautiful chaos. Leila is funny, irreverent, and next-level charming, and her story is an actual joyride. Sheer delight through and through.”–Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.

A high school tradition, the Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices—and with someone she never expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.

Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission—trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn’t her true love—then maybe someone else is. She knows it’s definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he’s right for her.

But as graduation and the dance approaches, and each date seems to change her mind (and her heart)—Leila must figure out what—and who—she really wants. It’s her last chance, right?

Be Real, Macy Weaver

Viking Books for Young Readers |
Middle Grade
A humorous, heartfelt, and fashion-filled contemporary novel about Macy Weaver, a young girl struggling with how to be her true self and make a best friend. Perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and Stand Up, Yumi Chung.

Eleven-year-old Macy Weaver knows relationships are complicated. Fresh off her latest friendship breakup, she’s spent most of her summer break on her own. So when Macy’s mother decides to go back to college three states away, Macy jumps on the chance to move—anything for a fresh start.

But Macy’s new home isn’t exactly what she expected. Her mother’s never around and her dad’s always working. Lonelier than ever, Macy sets her sights on finding a new best friend. When she meets Brynn, who’s smart and kind and already seems to have her whole life figured out—down to her future as a high fashion model—Macy knows she’s it. The only problem is that Brynn already has a BFF and, as everyone knows, you can only have one.

Resorting to old habits, Macy turns one small lie into a whole new life—full of fantastic fashion and haute couture—but it isn’t long before everything really falls apart. Ultimately, Macy must determine how to make things right and be true to herself—rather than chasing after the person she thinks she’s supposed to be.

 

Who Is Colin Kaepernick?

Penguin Workshop |
Nonfiction

Learn about the inspiring life and career of professional football player and activist Colin Kaepernick in the new Who HQ Now format featuring newsmakers and trending topics.

On August 14, 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a protest when he refused to stand for the national anthem. He wanted to make a statement about the oppression of people of color in the United States after he had spent a summer speaking out against police brutality. After playing professional football for six seasons, that would become Colin Kaepernick’s last season in the NFL, but he would go on to become one of the most prominent activists of today. Colin believed that speaking out against racism was far bigger than football, and other athletes agreed with him. Today, hundreds of athletes — from high schools to professional teams — still kneel during the national anthem to protest the treatment of people of color in America.

Discover more about Colin Kaepernick’s story in this addition to the New York Times bestselling series.

What Is Black Lives Matter?

Penguin Workshop |
Nonfiction

From the #1 New York Times bestselling series comes the latest title in the Who HQ Now format for trending topics. It tells the history of a political and social movement that advocates for non-violent civil disobedience and protests against incidents of police brutality–and all racially motivated violence–against Black people.

When a Black teenager named Trayvon Martin was senselessly killed in 2012, the African American community called for his murderer to be held accountable. But like many other racially sparked incidents in the past, his killer walked free. People looked for justice and healing in the moment. They turned to social media and a simple yet powerful hashtag emerged, #BlackLivesMatter.

The message grew into an international movement and has now become the rallying cry during protests against police brutality and racial acts of violence. The movement gained even more attention and support in 2020 when it called for police reform in the United States after the police-related murder of George Floyd.

Lizzo: Breakout Artist

Lerner Publications (Tm) |
Nonfiction

Melissa Vivianne Jeffersion, known professionally as Lizzo, started singing and rapping at age 10 and performed with several musical groups in her hometowns of Houston and Minneapolis. With her strong lyrics, danceable beats, and positive message, she’s become one of the biggest solo musicians in the world.

Michelle Obama: Get to Know the Influential First Lady and Education Advocate

Capstone Press |
Nonfiction

The first black First Lady in U.S. history (and one of the most beloved), Michelle Obama brought intelligence and passion to her role. Readers will learn how her years as a daughter, student, lawyer, wife, and mother shaped her into the influential education, healthy living, and women’s rights advocate she is today.

Thurgood Marshall

Pebble Books |
Nonfiction

How much do you know about Thurgood Marshall? Find out the facts you need to know about this civil rights lawyer and justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. You’ll learn about the early life, challenges, and major accomplishments of this important American.

Rosa Parks

Pebble Books |
Middle Grade

How much do you know about Rosa Parks? Find out the facts you need to know about this activitist in the civil rights movement. You’ll learn about the early life, challenges, and major accomplishments of this important American.

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One Kid = Mighty Actions

Everyone is invited to speak up and organize for social justice. Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi didn’t begin fighting for racial justice as adults. Before the Black Lives Matter movement, they were kids in their communities, working hard to bring about change. Starting with problems we see in our own communities, students will work in collaborative groups to organize possible solutions for change.

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Together We Rise

Racism hurts the healthy development of individual and group identity. After a discussion on the history of the Black Lives Matter Movement, youth advocates (parents, teachers, librarians, etc) will begin building skills needed to talk thoughtfully about race to young children and introduce antiracist behaviors in the home, learning environment, and community.

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Building Healthy Friendships and Community

In this multi-media presentation, Lakita Wilson will discuss her novel, BE REAL, MACY WEAVER, and hold a discussion with the audience on healthy friendships and building community with peers.

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Loving Ourselves and Others

In this multi-media presentation, Lakita Wilson will discuss her novel, LAST CHANCE DANCE, and hold a discussion with the audience on healthy identity, relationships and how to bounce back from disappointment.

Lakita’s School Visits

About Lakita

Honors, Awards & Recognition

NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books, 2022
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection 

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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