About the Author

Leah Henderson tells stirring stories featuring black heroes and heroines. She is the author of the middle-grade novel, One Shadow on the Wall, and her short story will be included in the YA anthology, Black Enough: Stories in Black Teenhood in America. She lives in Washington, DC. Find Leah on Twitter @LeahsMark and on her website at leahhendersonbooks.com.

Reviews

“Ailey Benjamin Lane can dance outta this world and even drop a dope rhyme, but he struggles to perform his best under the spotlight. Henderson’s characters have such powerful names, evoking a legacy of Black excellence that dovetails triumphantly with this story of facing regrets and achieving redemption. (A list of these names is appended.) . . . Black excellence, Black fantastic, and Black family combine for a transformational story of passion and persistence.” —Kirkus (Starred review) 

"Henderson weaves magical realism and historical fiction together, offering hard lessons about trying and grit, alongside overwhelming love of family, a lot of laughs, and a ‘smidgen of magic.’ ” —Booklist (Starred review)

"A fast-paced story about family, bravery, and the arts, this story will have readers wanting to visit Harlem and tap alongside Ailey, Grampa, and Bojangles himself."—School Library Journal (Starred review)

“The Magic in Changing Your Stars is an enchanting story of a boy whose dream of becoming a star will take readers on a most wonderfully magical journey—a heartfelt tribute to legendary African American performers and their place among the stars.” —Ibi Zoboi, New York Times bestselling author of My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich

"The value of family, perseverance, and believing in oneself takes center stage in this bighearted multigenerational story tinged with enchantment."—Publisher's Weekly

“Leah Henderson brings heartfelt magic to this culturally rich journey of hope, self-discovery and familial love.” —Rita Williams Garcia, New York Times best-selling author of the Gaither Sisters trilogy

"This story is family, and time-travel, plus Harlem, plus tap (and rap), with a dash of The Wiz. Come and get it." —Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me and The List of Things That Will Not Change

"A fast-paced story about family, bravery, and the arts, this story will have readers wanting to visit Harlem and tap alongside Ailey, Grampa, and Bojangles himself."–School Library Journal, starred review

“Ailey Benjamin Lane can dance outta this world and even drop a dope rhyme, but he struggles to perform his best under the spotlight. Henderson’s characters have such powerful names, evoking a legacy of black excellence that dovetails triumphantly with this story of facing regrets and achieving redemption. (A list of these names is appended.) . . . Black excellence, black fantastic, and black family combine for a transformational story of passion and persistence.” —Kirkus, starred review 

“The Magic in Changing Your Stars is an enchanting story of a boy whose dream of becoming a star will take readers on a most wonderfully magical journey—a heartfelt tribute to legendary African American performers and their place among the stars.” —Ibi Zoboi, New York Times bestselling author of My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich

"The value of family, perseverance, and believing in oneself takes center stage in this bighearted multigenerational story tinged with enchantment."—Publisher's Weekly

"Henderson weaves magical realism and historical fiction together, offering hard lessons about trying and grit, alongside overwhelming love of family, a lot of laughs, and a ‘smidgen of magic.’ ” —Booklist, starred review

“Leah Henderson brings heartfelt magic to this culturally rich journey of hope, self-discovery and familial love.” —Rita Williams Garcia, New York Times best-selling author of the Gaither Sisters trilogy
  This story is family,
and time-travel,plus Harlem,plus tap (and rap),with a dash of The Wiz.Come and get it. —Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me and The List of Things That Will Not Change