Description
In Finding Family, eighteen-year-old Jamaican-Canadian Trey leaves behind a life of rejection in the suburbs and finds a new community in Toronto’s Gay Village. As he navigates the complexities of queer identity, romance, and self-discovery, Trey learns that family isn’t always defined by blood, but by those who choose to accept and support you.
This spirited novel from Kamilah Haywood offers an authentic portrayal of Toronto’s LGBTQ+ scene.
Author Bio
Kamilah Haywood is a queer, Black, Canadian fiction author of Jamaican heritage. She writes books depicting the unfiltered, authentic, and occasionally dark side of urban life. She has co-founded a series of workshops in association with Kya Publishing focusing on networking between Black authors. Kamiliah also serves on the board of directors for the Elizabeth Fry society. She lives and works in Milton, Ontario.
Review Quotes
“Author Kamilah Haywood showcases a deep knowledge and understanding of the Greater Toronto Area streets, Black youth issues, ‘priority’ neighbourhoods and the longing for acceptance in her first published fiction book, Concrete Jungle.”
“Readers will discover the future can be bright through a family of friends.”
— Ken Setterington, author of Righting Canada’s Wrongs: The LGBT Purge
Biographical note
KAMILAH HAYWOOD (aka Kwoodz) is a queer Black Canadian fiction author of Jamaican heritage who writes books depicting the unfiltered, authentic, occasionally dark side of Toronto life. Through raw details and intimate narratives, they have captured issues including female incarceration, sex trafficking, relationships, coming of age, and spirituality in their intensely gripping novels.
As an active artist, activist and facilitator, they are also part of their purpose! They are co-founder of the International Writers’ Workshop and the Find Your Voice and Warrior Women Winning workshops with the Toronto Urban Book Expo. They are also an advisory committee member of the Canadian Coalition for Children with Incarcerated Parents with the University of Ottawa and advisory council member of the Prison Transparency Project with the University of Carleton. They live in Toronto.
