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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Run Like a Girl
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WEBSITE: https://www.amakajegbe.com/
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PERSONAL
Female.
EDUCATION:University of Houston, bachelor’s degree (Marketing and Psychology); University of Houston-Clear Lake, master’s degree (Industrial-Organizational Psychology).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer of contemporary and romance stories.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
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PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2025, review of Run Like a Girl.
Publishers Weekly, March 10, 2025, review of Run Like a Girl, p. 64.
School Library Journal, May 2025, Amanda Borgia, review of Run Like a Girl, p. 132.
ONLINE
Amaka Egbe website, https://www.amakajegbe.com/ (November 1, 2025).
I'm an Author
Ever since I could hold a pen, I've been writing. To me, stories are a way to explore the human experience, and the best stories are those that highlight some aspect of humanity for its readers. As a writer, I do my best to consider other perspectives in order to create authentic and impactful worlds, regardless of genre. Though my goal is to write stories across genres, I primarily write contemporary and romance stories (for now).
I studied Marketing and Psychology at the University of Houston and earned a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. These degrees, in addition to my American and Nigerian background, have helped me explore cultural differences and mental health in my writing.
I'm excited for the world to read my debut novel, Run Like a Girl, which comes out May 2025.
EGBE, Amaka. Run Like a Girl. 352p. HarperCollins. May 2025. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9781335009937.
Gr 9 Up--Chidera "Dera" Edwards's life is about to be turned upside down with her track dreams slipping away. Her mother, dealing with financial strain, sends Dera to live with her estranged father. What's worse? Her new school doesn't have a girls' track team, leaving Dera to wonder how she will get a scholarship and make it to the Olympics one day. Determined not to give up, she asks to join the boys' team, and when the administration and the coach agree, life starts to look up. But not all of the boys on the team are welcoming, and she also finds herself an outsider off the track. When classmate Rosalyn asks to interview Dera for her blog, and it goes viral, it complicates her life more than it helps. Debut author Egbe presents a wonderfully written story about following one's dreams and finding a way despite the hurdles. Key characters are diverse; Dera is one of the few Black (her father is Nigerian) students in her school, and Egbe does not ' shy away from writing about what it is like to not only be a girl on a boys' team but also a Black girl facing microaggressions. Dera is an authentic character, and her growth over the course of the novel feels genuine. Her story is messy, and the ending, though happy, is not wrapped in a bow, making it refreshingly realistic. VERDICT One does not have to enjoy track to enjoy Dera's journey-a worthwhile purchase.--Amanda Borgia
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Borgia, Amanda. "EGBE, Amaka. Run Like a Girl." School Library Journal, vol. 71, no. 5, May 2025, p. 132. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A846210272/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ec1fd41b. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Egbe, Amaka RUN LIKE A GIRL Harper/HarperCollins (Teen None) $19.99 5, 20 ISBN: 9781335009937
Unwelcome changes come at a pivotal time for one high school junior in Texas.
Chidera Edwards has always had two constants in her life: track and her mother, a Black woman from Louisiana. So she's scared and upset when her mother, who's weathering a serious financial crisis, sends her to live temporarily with her Nigerian immigrant father halfway through the school year--the very same neglectful father Dera has barely seen since her parents got divorced when she was 6. On top of that, her new school may have more funds than her old one, but they don't have a girls' track team--and the timing couldn't be worse if she hopes to get a sports scholarship for college. Dera, aware of her Title IX rights, gains permission to train with the boys' team, but she must prove herself to them while also adapting to living with her father. One bright spot is bonding with irresistibly attractive teammate Gael Garcia, whose Afro-Colombian parents were deported. Dera also navigates encounters with a standoffish new classmate, a Black girl whom she expected to bond with, and she realizes that sometimes when we stand up for ourselves, we help others get ahead, too. The story features well-developed characters readers will cheer for and cry over. The action and emotion are balanced, as are the internal and external conflicts. Debut author Egbe's writing is exceptional, capturing the nuances of adolescence, identity, and resilience.
Moving and inspirational.(Fiction. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Egbe, Amaka: RUN LIKE A GIRL." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A830532490/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ab816ff8. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Run Like a Girl
Amaka Egbe. HarperCollins, $19.99 (336p)
ISBN 978-1-3350-0993-7
Before starting her junior year, Chedera Edwards's world shatters when her financially struggling mother sends her four hours away to live in a predominantly white suburb near Dallas with her wealthy and emotionally distant Nigerian father. She resents leaving behind her mother and friends to accept "handouts from the man who'd done his best to be scarce in my childhood." Her situation takes a turn for the worse when she discovers that her new school doesn't have a girls' track team; Dera aspires to compete at the Olympics, a dream she believes hinges on having a stellar collegiate track career. How is she going to dominate the competition and impress university recruiters if she doesn't have a team to run on? Luckily, the school administration allows her to join the boys' track team, but her new teammates are less than accommodating, contributing to racist bullying online and IRL. In this admirable debut, Egbe examines, via Dera's discerning perspective, gender in sports, racial stereotypes, bullying, and family discord. Mature theming, methodical sports narration, and evergreen friendship and romantic drama provide ample entry points into this organically woven work. Ages 13-up. Agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Run Like a Girl." Publishers Weekly, vol. 272, no. 10, 10 Mar. 2025, pp. 64+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A830865116/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cdf2b471. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.