Please come to the Darien Depot Youth Center on Sunday, Nov. 3 for a chat with the author, Chrishaunda Lee Perez, as she discusses the themes of her new debut novel, “We Come as Girls. We Leave as Women.”
If you have a daughter, this is an afternoon you will not want to miss. Bring them. The event, from 3 to 5 p.m., is hosted by the Depot and is free.
Please register here.
— an announcement from the Darien Depot Youth Center
This is a beautiful coming of age novel showing the difficult decisions and situations girls find themselves in at the cusp of womanhood. This story is about high school senior girls overcoming personal challenges as they head towards graduation.
The book has been praised by many publications and endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. It has sparked thought-provoking conversations since its release. In this gathering together, Perez will discuss these themes with clarity and candor and most notable among them: EMPATHY.
Photo from the Depot website
Chrishaunda Lee Perez
Books will be available to purchase at the event as well and signed by the author.
Chrishaunda Lee Perez orchestrates a madrigal of female voices spanning class, color, and creed to arrive at fundamental truths about the human spirit and its ability to transcend circumstance. The triumphs and tribulations of each character are told with empathy and wit. The reader cannot help but cheer as each young woman discovers that self-empowerment begins with self-acceptance.”
“When the senior class of the world-famous “Madame Ellington School for Girls” begins their final year, several students experience life-changing events that reshape who they are as they transition into womanhood. From final exams to graduation dresses, these become a second priority as they struggle to navigate their personal lives. Romantic relationships, body-image issues, sexuality, and criminal activity threaten to turn their worlds upside down. Graduation is the goal, yet, at what cost will each of them succeed? Whatever their fate, they learn they don’t have to go it alone.”
About the Author
Ms. Perez earned her start in “entertainment first serving as a fashion publicist for several years, then was in front of camera as a correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2004, and later on “Entertainment Tonight” in 2005.
A long-time animal advocate, Chrishaunda co-hosted the show, “Animal Attractions,” for PBS in 2007. She is a graduate of Miss Porter’s School and Wesleyan University.