Kaitlyn Greenidge

Kaitlyn Greenidge is an American writer. She received a 2017 Whiting Award for Fiction for her debut novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman. Her second book is a historical novel called Libertie (2021).[1][2]

Kaitlyn Greenidge
Greenidge at Cambridge Friends School in 2019
Greenidge at Cambridge Friends School in 2019
Born41–42
Boston, Massachusetts
OccupationWriter
LanguageEnglish
Education
GenreLiterary fiction
SubjectCulture, society, reviews
Notable worksWe Love You, Charlie Freeman
Notable awardsWhiting Award for Fiction (2017)
Children1
Website
www.kaitlyngreenidge.com

Early life and education

Greenidge was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in the neighboring communities of Somerville and Arlington.[3][4] She and her two sisters were raised by her mother, a social worker, after her parents divorced when she was 7.[5][1] Greenidge and her sisters were some of the few students of color in their wealthy school district.[1]

While in college, Greenidge lived in Alaska for several months.[6]

Greenidge received her bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and her MFA from Hunter College.[1][7]

Career
Kaitlyn Greenidge in October 2019

Greenidge has written nonfiction for outlets such as Elle.com, Vogue, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.[8][7] In September 2020 she was hired as the features director for Harper's Bazaar.[9]

Books

Greenidge's debut novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, was released in 2016. It tells the story of an African American family, the Freemans, who adopt a chimpanzee and raise it as a family member for an institutional research project.[2] The book received positive critical reception; it was called "masterful"[10] in a Paste review, and a "vivid and poignant coming-of-age story"[11] by Kirkus. Greenidge received a 2017 Whiting Award for the book.

She received a 2018–2019 fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute, where she worked on "an untitled novel based in part on the life of Susan Smith McKinney Steward, the first black female doctor in New York State."[7] The novel, Libertie, was released by Algonquin in March 2021.[12] In a starred review by Publishers Weekly, the book was called "another genius work of radical historical fiction."[13] Kirkus wrote in a similarly positive review: "Greenidge explores issues that are still real today while also inviting readers into historical moments that will be new to many."[14]

Personal life

Greenidge resides in central Massachusetts with her daughter (born 2019).[1]

Accolades

Works

Books
  • We Love You, Charlie Freeman (2016), Algonquin, ISBN 978-1-61620-467-9
  • Libertie (2021), Algonquin, ISBN 978-1-61620-701-4

Articles

References
  1. Alter, Alexandra (March 21, 2021). "Excellence Runs in the Family. Her Novel's Heroine Wants Something Else". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  2. Honorees, Whiting (March 22, 2017). "Kaitlyn Greenidge, Fiction". The Paris Review. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  3. "Fan of histories that force us to rethink history - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  4. Greenidge, Kaitlyn. "Dear President: What You Need to Know About a Racialized Imagination | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  5. Cheng, Bill (June 16, 2016). "In fiction, anyone can be a protagonist: "I don't understand this desire to only read about people who are like oneself"". Salon. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  6. Seriously Entertaining: Kaitlyn Greenidge on "Long, Strange Trip", retrieved July 6, 2023
  7. "Kaitlyn Greenidge". Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. April 5, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  8. Grady, Constance (January 22, 2020). "The controversy over the new immigration novel American Dirt, explained". Vox. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  9. Hopkins, Kathryn (October 9, 2020). "Samira Nasr Makes Three New Hires at Harper's Bazaar". WWD. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  10. Nathans-Kelly, Steve (March 8, 2016). "We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge Review". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  11. "We Love You, Charlie Freeman". Kirkus Reviews. January 1, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  12. Lefferts, Daniel (November 20, 2020). "With Her New Book, Kaitlyn Greenidge Practices Radical Care". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  13. "Libertie". www.publishersweekly.com. December 14, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. "Libertie". Kirkus Reviews. December 15, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  15. Greenidge, Kaitlyn (June 18, 2021). "What Walmart Doesn't Get About Juneteenth". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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