Parnassus Books is thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author Kwame Alexander for a discussion and signing of his young adult book, Solo, on Wednesday, February 21 at 4pm. Read on for more information about the event, Solo, and Kwame Alexander.
Event Guidelines
This event is free and open to the public. To join the signing line and have books signed by the author at this event, please purchase either Solo or any book from Parnassus's extensive advancing readers or young adult sections. A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Solo purchased at the event will be donated to Book 'Em, a local non-profit organization that works to create a more literate Nashville by helping economically disadvantaged children and teens discover the joy and value of reading through book ownership and enthusiastic reading role-models.
Your book purchase will include a ticket that will admit you into the signing line at the event. By purchasing a book from Parnassus, you are not only supporting a locally owned, independent business, but you are also showing publishers that they should continue sending authors to Parnassus. A selection of the author's other books will be available for purchase at the event as supplies last. Beginning with our 2018 events, Parnassus event attendees may collect 10 eligible signing line tickets and redeem them at Parnassus for a coupon and a free tote bag.
Video recording, audio recording, and/or live-streaming during author appearances and signings is not possible without prior written permission from the publisher and Parnassus Books.
Can't make it to the event, but still want to purchase an autographed or personalized book? Place your order below, enter "signed copy" plus any personalization details in the comments section of your order, and we'll have the author sign your books and ship them to you after the event!
More about Solo
From award-winning and bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, who is being crushed between scathing tabloids exposing his former rock-star-father's addictions and a protected secret that threatens his own identity. The answers to his past and future change everything he thought to be true.
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he'd give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father.
In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he's been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.
"A contemporary hero's journey, brilliantly told." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A rhythmic, impassioned ode to family, identity, and the history of rock and roll." --Booklist, starred review
"Many readers will identify with Blade's struggle to find his place in a family where he feels like an outsider." --Publishers Weekly
"The authentic character development and tone will strike a chord with young adults." --School Library Journal
More about Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander is a poet, speaker, educator, and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-four books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. His other works include the novels He Said, She Said and Booked, as well as his nonfiction debut, The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life. He is the cofounder of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program.
- This book cannot be returned