Noni Carter
Encyclopedia
Noni Carter is an American author from Fayetteville, Georgia
, whose first book, Good Fortune, was released by Simon & Schuster
in January 2010. The young-adult novel is about the life of a slave girl who was snatched from her homeland in Africa
in the early 19th century and brought to the United States
, where she eventually escaped from a plantation and fled to freedom. Carter, who left her family’s home in Fayetteville in the fall of 2009 to start attending Harvard University, is one of the youngest writers signed by Simon & Schuster.
.
She spent many hours from ages 12 to 15 writing and researching black history for her novel, and what began as a short story became the 479-page “Good Fortune.” She was editing her book by the 11th grade. Then a writing mentor suggested she start speaking at book festivals. The idea paid off, and her book was picked up by Simon & Schuster at BookExpo America
in 2008.
In the bedroom of her family’s Fayetteville home, the wall above her bed is filled with quotes. They include “Know thyself,” “Just do it” and “This too shall pass.”
Book summary
The protagonist of Good Fortune is Ayanna Bahati, who is captured in Africa at the age of 4 and brought to the American South to be a slave. Ayanna eventually escapes slavery and starts a new life in Ohio. Along the way, she learns to read and write and starts a school for black students. Often sad, she hears her past echoing in her name, Bahati, which means “good fortune.”
Fayetteville, Georgia
Fayetteville is a town in Fayette County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,945. The city is the county seat of Fayette County. Fayetteville is located approximately 22 miles from the city of Atlanta....
, whose first book, Good Fortune, was released by Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
in January 2010. The young-adult novel is about the life of a slave girl who was snatched from her homeland in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in the early 19th century and brought to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where she eventually escaped from a plantation and fled to freedom. Carter, who left her family’s home in Fayetteville in the fall of 2009 to start attending Harvard University, is one of the youngest writers signed by Simon & Schuster.
Literary biography
Carter decided to write a novel after sitting around a kitchen table at age 12 with her family listening to a great-aunt tell the story of Rose Caldwell, Carter’s great-great-great-great-grandmother. She especially recalls a description of how her Grandma Rose as a young girl watched as her mother was sold across the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
She spent many hours from ages 12 to 15 writing and researching black history for her novel, and what began as a short story became the 479-page “Good Fortune.” She was editing her book by the 11th grade. Then a writing mentor suggested she start speaking at book festivals. The idea paid off, and her book was picked up by Simon & Schuster at BookExpo America
BookExpo America
BookExpo America is the largest annual book trade fair in the United States. BEA is almost always held in a major city over four days in late May and/or early June...
in 2008.
In the bedroom of her family’s Fayetteville home, the wall above her bed is filled with quotes. They include “Know thyself,” “Just do it” and “This too shall pass.”
Book summary
The protagonist of Good Fortune is Ayanna Bahati, who is captured in Africa at the age of 4 and brought to the American South to be a slave. Ayanna eventually escapes slavery and starts a new life in Ohio. Along the way, she learns to read and write and starts a school for black students. Often sad, she hears her past echoing in her name, Bahati, which means “good fortune.”