Jordan Ifueko was only 13 when she wrote her debut novel, Raybearer, an Afrofantasy for young readers. When the book was finally published, it ended up on The New York Times best sellers list and is now being developed as a Netflix show.
Born to Nigerian immigrant parents, Ifueko wanted to see characters like herself in fiction and literature. Her third novel, out this month, is called The Maid and the Crocodile, and is set in the same universe as Raybearer and her second book, Redemptor.
Ifueko spoke with YES! Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on YES! Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about how her new book upends racial stereotypes and subverts tropes about essential and domestic workers.