Center for the literary arts in New York State
Cosponsored by the Alice Moore Black Arts and Cultural Center (AMBACC).
Major support and funding provided by the Carl E. Touhey Foundation.
THE COVID GENERATION
Mahogany L. Browne
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Conversation / Q&A
The Alice Moore Black Arts and Cultural Center
135 South Pearl St., Albany NY 12202
Mahogany L. Browne, notable American poet, writer, organizer, and educator, is the author of the new YA novel, A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe (2025).
Longlisted for the National Book Award, the book follows a variety of New York City teenagers as they cope with isolation and interrupted lives during the COVID-era lockdown, seeking purpose as well as joy. Brendan Kiely called it, “A gorgeous, tender testament to the generation of young people who shouldered the pandemic.”
Her previous YA novels include Chlorine Sky (2021) and Vinyl Moon (2022). Her books of poetry include Chrome Valley (2023), a TIME Best Book of the Year, and the celebrated book-length poem, Black Girl Magic (2018). She visited the NYS Writers Institute in 2020.
Earlier the same day, the author will visit with students at various schools in Albany.
(Photo credit: Jennie Bergqvist)
Reviews
“Heavy, important, powerful and evergreen; remembers kids during the time when the world stopped.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“An emotionally impactful read.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The book boasts memorable characters and beautiful writing—especially the poems. It is singularly relevant in its unsparing examination of the plague and its impact on young lives.” —Booklist, starred review
“An essential purchase to explore grief associated with the pandemic; give to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Elisabet Velasquez.” — School Library Journal, starred review
“[An] intriguing and heartbreaking collection of stories and poems.” — The Bulletin
Free and open to the public.
Books will be available for sale.
A signing will follow the conversation.