Tami Charles is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter, and numerous books for children and young adults. Her middle grade debut, Like Vanessa, earned Top 10 spots on the Indies Introduce and Spring Kids' Next lists, three starred reviews, and a Junior Library Guild selection. Her latest titles include YA novel-in-verse, Muted, a Buzzfeed Top 40 pick, and the follow up to All Because You Matter, We Are Here, spotlighted in the New York Times Book Review, an Amazon Editor's Choice, and featured on CBS Mornings. When Tami isn't writing, she can be found presenting at schools both stateside and abroad.
* She attended Newark Public Schools, where her mother was a teacher, vice-principal, and eventually principal at her elementary school. Talk about TORTURE! (but she survived)
* Once upon a time, Tami was in an all-girl R&B singing group. They performed on BET, for the Apollo summer showcase, and had a song on the radio that played at like 2 in the morning when everyone was sleeping. They didn't make it to the grand stage, but those were the times of her life!
* Traveling (looking to add Italy to the list soon)
* Empanadas = life.
* Tami loves anything written by Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, Rita Williams-Garcia, Edwidge Danticat, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and Meg Medina. Swoon!!!
* Spiders, Cave Crickets, Raw Onions (destroy them ALL!)