In anticipation of the release of her new book, At-Risk, and the book-release party taking place on campus this coming Monday, we would like to take this time to turn the Ex Libris spotlight on DePaul’s own Prof. Amina Gautier.

Praise for At-Risk, winner of the Flannery O’Connor award for Short Fiction:

“In this wonderful collection Amina Gautier writes with exhilarating insight and confidence about the lives of teenagers who are indeed at risk from themselves, their families and their friends. These are urgent and important stories.”
—Margot Livesey, author of The House on Fortune Street and Eva Moves The Furniture

“In these always engaging stories, Amina Gautier reminds us that behind the disturbing headlines are vibrant young people whose lives matter immeasurably. Gautier employs unflinching honesty to capture those lives, and she does so with clarity, dignity and genuine insight. At-Risk will break your heart even as it leaves you full of hope. It is a truly lovely book.”
—David Haynes, author of The Full Matilda

Amina Gautier is an assistant professor of English at DePaul University. Her work has appeared in the anthologies Best African American Fiction and New Stories from the South and in numerous literary journals including Antioch Review, North American Review, Iowa Review, Kenyon Review, and Southern Review.

The forthcoming At-Risk is a collection of stories set in Brooklyn, where some kids make it and some kids don’t, but not in simple ways or for stereotypical reasons. Gautier’s stories explore the lives of young African Americans who might all be classified as “at-risk,” yet who encounter different opportunities and dangers in their particular neighborhoods and schools and who see life through the lens of different family experiences.

On Monday, Oct. 10 please join the English Department, African and Black Diaspora Studies, and Women and Gender Studies in celebrating the release of this award-winning short-story collection. This book release party will take place at 6 p.m. at 325 Student Center. All are welcome to attend and congratulate Prof. Gautier on her amazing accomplishment!

NOTE: Last week, Ex Libris posted about Women’s Voices Weekend at Women and Children First bookstore. Please note that the lineup and some workshops in this event have been changed. Please visit the original Ex Libris post which has now been updated with the most recent information and flyer.