A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical.

Blood at the Root is a young adult fantasy novel. I

t is about a kid named Malik, who is from Helena, Alabama, which is the author LaDarrion Williams' hometown. He gets accepted into Caiman University, a magical HBCU in the backwoods of Louisiana. He must go there to learn about his ancestral magic. He meets friends and gets reunited with his childhood crush. He also uncovers some dark secrets surrounding his mother’s mysterious disappearance. She went to Caiman and now, she’s missing. He’s got to investigate some people at this school because somebody there may or may not have something to do with it.

If you haven't already, join our book club so we can ready Blood at the Root together!