Nelson George
“Kristal Brent Zook has written an honest, illuminating look at her life, loves and culture.”
Beverly Guy-Sheftall
“Brilliantly capturing the complexities of contemporary black women’s experiences, The Girl in the Yellow Poncho is the most riveting, compelling memoir I have read.”
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Kristal Brent Zook’s memoir is a wrenching, riveting and luminous coming-of-age story about what it means to grow up biracial. Her journey reads like a multigenerational tale woven by strong biracial and black women—in this case, the daughters, mothers and grandmothers of Zook’s family. With grace and generosity, Zook...
Read moreGloria Feldt
“Kristal’s story touched me deeply. It will touch everyone who has struggled with feeling the ‘in-betweenness’ that propels her riveting heroine’s journey to define herself and create the family for which she yearned. The writing is as powerful as the message: love ultimately triumphs.”
Kevin Merida
“Kristal Brent Zook’s coming-of-age memoir is a thought-provoking tale of triumph outdistancing pain, of never giving up on love and hope despite childhood traumas and a broken family. Kristal writes so beautifully and urgently. The Girl in the Yellow Poncho will absolutely absorb you.”
Ada Calhoun
“After thirty years of reporting, Kristal Brent Zook has turned inward to write a deeply personal, frank, and inspirational story about race and class.”