TONYA BOLDEN is the author of the children’s book Through Loona’s Door: A Tammy and Owen Adventure with Carte G. Woodson. Her books for teenagers include the novels Mama, I Want to Sing (co-authored with Vy Higginsen) and Just Family; the anthology Rites of Passage: Stories About Growing Up by Black Writers from Around the World; and a collection of biographies of ten epic women, And Not Afraid to Dare. Her books for grown-ups include The Book of African American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters. She is a native New Yorker.