Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zora and Me | 2010 | T.R. Simon | Buy |
| 2 | The Cursed Ground | 2018 | T.R. Simon | Buy |
| 3 | Zora and Me: The Summoner | 2020 | T.R. Simon | Buy |
The Zora and Me trilogy imagines the childhood of Zora Neale Hurston in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first self-governing all-Black towns in the United States. The first book, Zora and Me (2010), was co-written by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon. It follows young Zora and her best friend Carrie as they investigate a mystery involving a strange creature near their town. The novel won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent and was nominated for an Edgar Award.
The Cursed Ground (2018) picks up with Zora and Carrie uncovering dark secrets about Eatonville’s past, touching on the history of slavery and its lingering effects. The Summoner (2020) closes out the trilogy with upheaval in Zora’s family that pushes her to leave childhood behind. Each book blends real history with mystery and folklore, and the series has earned starred reviews from Horn Book, Kirkus, and School Library Journal.