Ayana Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayana Gray
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Gray at the 2022 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | March 13, 1993 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Education | University of Arkansas (BA) Pulaski Academy |
| Genre | Fantasy, Children's literature |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Notable works | Beasts of Prey |
Ayana Gray, born on March 13, 1993, is an American writer. She writes exciting books for young adults. Her first book, Beasts of Prey, came out in 2021. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller, which means lots of people bought and loved it!
Contents
About Ayana Gray's Life
Ayana Gray was born in Atlanta, Georgia. When she was thirteen, her family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. She went to Pulaski Academy and finished school there.
After high school, Ayana went to the University of Arkansas. She studied political science and African and African-American Studies. She earned her degree in 2015.
How Ayana Gray Started Writing
Ayana Gray began writing her first book, Beasts of Prey, in May 2015. This was right after she finished college.
In July 2020, a big publisher called Putnam Books for Young Readers bought her book. They also bought two more books to go with it. This meant her story would become a series!
Beasts of Prey Book Series
Beasts of Prey was published on September 28, 2021. It is the first book in a series of three. The story takes place in a magical world inspired by African cultures.
The book follows two Black teenagers, Koffi and Ekon. They go on a dangerous adventure into a magical jungle. Their goal is to find and hunt down an ancient monster.
Beasts of Prey was very popular. It reached number 4 on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2021, Netflix announced that they would turn the book into a movie!
Ayana Gray's Home Life
Ayana Gray lives in Little Rock, Arkansas today. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Awards and Special Recognition
Ayana Gray's work has received several honors:
- In 2022, her book was chosen by the Arkansas Center for the Book.
- Also in 2022, it was selected by the Georgia Center for the Book.
In March 2023, the Beasts of Prey series was picked for a special event. It was the featured series for "If All Arkansas Read the Same Book." This means many people in Arkansas read her series together.
