"Angel Wings and Subway Strings"

This children's book is about an 11-year-old girl, named Maya, full of big ideas about who she’s becoming. But when her family announces they’re moving from New York City to New Jersey, everything changes. How do you start over when you’re just figuring yourself out?

On the family’s last trip to their Brooklyn brownstone, Maya asks her mom for one final stroll through the neighborhood. But as she walks, her thoughts whisk her away on an unexpected journey across the boroughs of NYC. Each place offers a glimpse of who she might reinvent herself as—a business woman in Manhattan, a vocalist in Harlem, an artist in Brooklyn, and so much more. At first, it’s fun imagining the possibilities, but soon Maya feels overwhelmed. What if she never finds where she fits in?

Lost in frustration, Maya stumbles upon an old church, and something extraordinary happens. In her quietest moment, she feels the Lord’s comforting presence. His reassuring words remind her that she doesn’t need to have all the answers—He’s with her every step of the way. Just as her heart feels lighter, her grandmother appears, and the two share a moment that strengthens Maya’s hope for the journey ahead.

Will Maya discover that the person she’s meant to be isn’t about where she lives, but about who she already is? Join Maya on an inspiring journey of faith, self-discovery, and family in this heartfelt tale of change, courage, and finding home.

This labor of love has been written and illustrated by Erica Joy Huggins.