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“This story center[s] on Black characters and excels in its robust worldbuidling… Magic and mystery collide in this gripping Afro-futuristic debut.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“A brilliant blend of dystopian and contemporary fantasy that will leave readers in complete awe by the end.”

— School Library Journal, Starred Review

“This twisty, beautifully modern fantasy draws on Ghanaian folklore to craft its story.”

—Booklist

Goldenborn

Written by Ama Ofosua Lieb
Published by Scholastic Press

Akoma Addo has one rule: don’t get too close to the supernatural.

Ever since a blazing orb of light left her father in a coma, she’s buried herself in her secret job investigating magical crimes in San Francisco’s AfricaTown — just enough to keep her grief at bay. But when a body turns up in a pool of molten gold and ash, Akoma’s pulled into something much bigger — and far more dangerous. At the center of it all is Anansi, the trickster god of stories, who makes her an impossible offer: help him catch a killer and awaken the ancestral magic buried deep in her blood… and in return, he’ll give her a chance to bring her father back. To take the deal, Akoma will have to lie to everyone she loves and embrace the very power she’s spent years trying to deny. And as her connection grows with Xander, the new guy in town with secrets of his own, Akoma must decide who she can trust — especially when she’s no longer sure she can even trust herself.

Rooted in Ghanaian mythology and packed with mystery, danger, and slow-burning romance, Goldenborn is a gripping fantasy about legacy, lies, and what it really means to rewrite your story.

Primary ISBN: 9781546147466
Publication Date: June 2026
Available As: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Young Adult, Age 12 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (San Francisco CA)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Goldenborn introduced by author, Ama Ofosua Lieb

Source: Scholastic Press