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Up To Date

Overland Park's L.L. McKinney Brings Diversity To Children's Books With Debut Novel.

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
The author, L.L. McKinney

"A Blade So Black," a new young adult novel, is a modern twist on the children's classic, "Alice in Wonderland." This Alice faces the challenges of growing up a black teen in urban Atlanta while also fighting the nightmares in Wonderland. Author L. L. McKinney spoke with us about the novel and how she wrote the female protagonist so her niece could read books with characters that look like her. 

L.L. McKinney will discuss her book "A Blade So Black," 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri 64111. For more information visit LLMcKinney.com.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.