https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events daily 0.75 2025-11-19 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/slj-x-prh-winter-book-author-festival-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/ev16h17ud6r0w4prf5bymemr33eiy5 monthly 0.5 2025-03-07 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/ncte monthly 0.5 2024-11-14 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/bcala-national-conference-of-african-american-librarians monthly 0.5 2024-06-10 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/greensboro-bound-literary-festival monthly 0.5 2024-03-11 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/lexington-book-festival monthly 0.5 2024-01-25 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/scbwi-workshop-creating-compelling-characters monthly 0.5 2024-01-25 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/ncte-2023-annual-convention monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/ala-aasl-2023-national-conference monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/bookelicious-book-club monthly 0.5 2023-07-27 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/texas-library-association-tla-annual-conference monthly 0.5 2023-02-23 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/york-county-reads-with-author-chrystal-d-giles monthly 0.5 2023-02-24 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/book-launch-event-1 monthly 0.5 2023-02-01 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/book-launch-event monthly 0.5 2023-02-01 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/in-conversation-with-janae-marks monthly 0.5 2023-01-09 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/national-council-of-teachers-of-english-ncte monthly 0.5 2022-09-23 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/scasl-annual-conference monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/21st-annual-african-american-cultural-celebration monthly 0.5 2022-01-28 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/2021-ncte-national-convention monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/festival-of-books-authors monthly 0.5 2021-08-06 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/905-summer-reading-challenge monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/2021-scripps-national-spelling-bee monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/bronx-book-festival monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/nvnr-presents-march-madness monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/san-antonio-book-festival monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/middle-grade-magic-2021-school-library-journal monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/writeoncon monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/the-north-texas-teen-book-festival-virtual monthly 0.5 2021-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1612661219862-I0KTSWJR6DEGTYRN3HKQ/EtkCPbaXcAUZQwZ.png events - The North Texas Teen Book Festival (virtual) https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/middle-ground-book-fest-balance-beam-panel monthly 0.5 2020-08-02 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/events/event-three-g8sw7 monthly 0.5 2021-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1610554418118-77S4HQP3P4CBGJRJM1QW/49DE64BD-EE07-4D53-A247-682E277F3AA9.jpeg events - Virtual Book Launch Event https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/about daily 0.75 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/96bab474-d492-4358-be19-68998a94b30c/CDGiles-HeadshotY-2025-HD.jpg about - About Chrystal Chrystal D. Giles is a champion for diversity and representation in children’s literature. Chrystal often says she’s a lover of both words and numbers, she spent fifteen years as an accountant before transitioning to writing full-time. Chrystal made her debut with Take Back the Block, which received multiple starred reviews, was a Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and NPR Best Book, and won the IRA Social Justice Literature Award. Her latest middle-grade novel, Not An Easy Win, received four starred reviews and was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. She is continuing to expand her catalog with new releases in 2026, a novel, Listen to the Girls, and her debut picture book, We Are Joy, illustrated by Kitt Thomas. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and son. For an audio name pronunciation click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1589758668571-9NUAZQMZAGJAREHJBA0N/Chrystal%2BGiles%2B-%2B6th%2BGrade-page-0.jpg about - More about Chrystal Chrystal was born and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has always been a lover of books. One of her favorite places to visit as a young girl was her local public library. She would wander the aisles collecting books, return home with a tall stack, and read them as fast as she could. She also wrote lots of stories throughout her childhood and sometimes performed those stories in the form of a play (complete with props) with her siblings. Her mom cheered from the couch. Throughout her teenage years, her love for reading continued and a new passion for accounting and business formed. She was a member of the Academy of Finance at her alma mater, Garinger High School. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and started her professional career in the accounting field. In 2015, after her son was born, her love for children’s books was reignited. While reading to her son every night, she soon realized she had lots of stories lying dormant in her heart and imagination—so she started writing! After drafting many stories (some not so good), she completed the first draft of Take Back the Block in 2017, her middle-grade debut novel published by Random House Books for Young Readers. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte with her husband and son. In her free time she likes to read (of course), travel, eat great food, have deep conversations, and binge watch TV shows with her husband. https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-11-08 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/take-back-the-block daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1608239925851-SYPFJXC7RBJHVRVY3G1K/8D1E2D2C-D42D-4D43-980F-88B1A3CE14FD.png take back the block - Take Back the Block RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS, JANUARY 26, 2021 Cover Art by Richie Pope | Cover Design by Michelle Cunningham Brand-new kicks, ripped denim shorts, royal-blue Supreme tee—Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That—and hanging out with the crew (his best friends since little kid days) and playing video games—is what Wes wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to. But when a powerful developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks—the neighborhood Wes has lived in his whole life, everything changes. The grown-ups are supposed to have all the answers. But all they’re doing is arguing. Even Wes’s best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn’t about to give up the only home he’s ever known without a fight. He’s always been good at puzzles and he knows there must be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it…before it’s too late? Exploring community, social justice, family and friendship with an irresistibly deft and relatable touch, Take Back the Block introduces Wes, a 6th grader readers will fall in love with and asks what it means to belong—to a place and a movement—and to fight for a cause you believe in. BUY NOW at Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Target | Books A Million | Walmart Buy a signed copy from Park Road Books, located in Charlotte, NC https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/press-kit daily 0.75 2020-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1592264496783-9K2DZ3NJR5L4CF55YIYI/159504BF-5EBA-4702-BDA4-4DD9BC0EA42A.jpeg press kit Photo credit: Bryan Bazemore Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1592352681699-XIETTPCP1E7YDRY2P604/TakeBackBlock_FinalArt.jpg press kit Cover artist: Richie Pope https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1592264914504-5A7F6GM863VIUPT7FJT2/Thanku+-+Cover.jpg press kit Cover artist and illustrator: Marlena Myles https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/home daily 1.0 2026-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/88522354-1532-4896-bc56-7292b82e0ed3/CDGiles-HeadshotB-2025-HD.jpg home - Meet Chrystal Chrystal D. Giles is an author of books for young readers. Her books have been nominated for multiple state book awards, earned several starred reviews, and been named on numerous ‘best of’ lists. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte, NC and is working on her next novel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/5a11943f-9094-447e-a3a7-97ab666d21ac/Banner+-+All+books.png home - Praise for Not an Easy Win ⭐️ “The characters are multidimensional and authentic: Complex issues, including poverty, parental incarceration, and racism, are explored with sensitivity, offering readers opportunities for reflection. Giles skillfully illustrates the nuances and cultural tensions that arise in multigenerational homes and masterfully captures the origins, cadences, and mannerisms common to many African American elders with compassion. Stellar.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review ⭐️ “VERDICT: This is an all-consuming read about a young Black boy finding community and purpose. Essential middle grade and tween realistic reading.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review ⭐️ “Fans of Akeelah and the Bee and Brooklyn Castle will cherish this well-characterized, compassionately told story…” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review ⭐️ “Chess proves a perfect lens through which to observe Lawrence’s struggles and growth, and the appealing protagonist is sure to inspire readers to get their hands on a game board of their own. A wise and wonderful story.” —Booklist, Starred Review https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/authorvisits daily 0.75 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg author visits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/428d30e7-24bf-4d21-838c-122c6e342a8f/FC06255B-55AB-48E8-8EC0-A1B548F0441A.jpeg author visits Piedmont Middle School - Charlotte, NC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/a0531050-633b-4756-b3a3-35c91fd5d787/2238B4CC-0BFB-4E6D-AE9F-22AA4C6817EC.jpeg author visits Piedmont Middle School - Charlotte, NC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/37213eb6-107c-48a6-8095-7cf502e88452/LeadGirls-05510.jpg author visits LEAD Girls of NC - Winston-Salem, NC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/897e8ee5-9184-4e82-bdaa-f0b830c4d455/IMG_3684.jpeg author visits Phillips Middle School - Chapel Hill, NC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/91cf3da4-bbf6-4f77-b7d9-593190b46f75/IMG_5948.jpeg author visits KIPP NOLA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/69f78df6-94c9-44ce-8ce2-6743727cd3a4/IMG_3081.jpeg author visits KIPP NOLA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/fd1b81c0-fd83-4cf7-9233-7d9cff67716d/IMG_5923.jpeg author visits KIPP NOLA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/863ca69f-3c87-4d4f-9196-b5dc389f5765/IMG_4098.jpeg author visits Piedmont MS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/17c35637-df57-4cde-b743-790318bf752f/4C0312BB-E4DE-4E66-BA41-246E0BEA3C59.jpeg author visits Piedmont MS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/98e0995a-f989-41ff-a24f-6ef3f108605c/IMG_7321.jpeg author visits Piedmont MS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1667851507018-72HMR5BYIL5LTPQEIHF9/LeadGirls-05510.jpg author visits https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/news daily 0.75 2026-03-21 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/resources daily 0.75 2025-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1608239451376-EV1OOAZBC2C1ZMQEI7QV/F2559B8D-87E2-4E96-857E-8052B8259D2F.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1611663364450-NSVQBLPOH84PU5LPZXN1/Guide+Cover.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/d945c2a7-6307-4c23-adb5-36eba9f887f4/IMG_5424.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/52eb1633-1b44-4544-b1a5-463d5eb2a0b9/66472A2A-6EE7-4AA5-88EF-4C2DFC3DC6B7.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/131a42af-d64a-47dd-b40f-6d43fd06e91b/Screenshot+2023-05-02+at+2.51.57+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/53c5e3a1-7507-4c6c-bed5-f7800d67dfd8/NaEW+Educator+Guide+-+RHCB+-+Image.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/117d08de-131f-4d69-bab1-b1c820c848bc/paper_chess-500x500.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/631f1f00-8a28-48ba-9c60-93f4cddfb91b/Screenshot+2023-03-31+at+5.38.03+PM.png resources Click on above image to access Chrystal’s TeachingBooks profile. Please note: some content requires a membership. https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/books-2 daily 0.75 2022-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/1592345097380-PAZGIXDWVGLPTP3LVB04/Thanku+-+Cover.jpg thanku: poems of gratitude - Thanku: Poems of Gratitude LERNER / MILLBROOK, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 This poetry anthology, edited by Miranda Paul, explores a wide range of ways to be grateful (from gratitude for a puppy to gratitude for family to gratitude for the sky) with poems by a diverse group of contributors. Each sale of the book will benefit the nonprofit organization We Need Diverse Books. Poems by: Joseph Bruchac, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kimberly Blaeser, 신 선 영 Sun Yung Shin, Ed DeCaria, Becky Shillington, Padma Venkatraman, Gwendolyn Hooks, Jane Yolen, Janice Scully, Charles Waters, Carole Lindstrom, Sylvia Liu, Carolyn Dee Flores, Sarvinder Naberhaus, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Baptiste Paul, Patti Richards, Margarita Engle, Kenn Nesbitt, JaNay Brown-Wood, Diana Murray, Megan Hoyt, Jamie McGillen, Rénee M. LaTulippe, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Traci Sorell, Edna Cabcabin Moran, Charles Ghigna, and Liz Garton Scanlon. Featuring: “Dimples” by Chrystal D. Giles. Cover Art and Illustrations by Marlena Myles BUY NOW at Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/not-an-easy-win daily 0.75 2026-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/6a6224d7-5487-472f-8ffe-909adf80d83f/NAEW3DStraight.png not an easy win - Not an Easy Win RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Cover Art by Xia Gordon | Cover Design by Katrina Damkoehler Can Lawrence figure out how to get on the board, even though the odds are stacked against him? Introducing a powerful novel about family, forgiveness, and figuring out who you are when you don’t make the rules—just right for middle grade fans of Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds. Lawrence is ready for a win . . . Nothing’s gone right for Lawrence since he had to move from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina, to live with his granny. When Lawrence ends up in one too many fights at his new school, he gets expelled. The fight wasn’t his fault, but since his pop’s been gone, it feels like no one listens to what Lawrence has to say. Instead of going to school, Lawrence starts spending his days at the rec center, helping out a neighbor who runs a chess program. Some of the kids in the program will be picked to compete in the Charlotte Classic chess tournament. Could this be Lawrence's chance to go home? Lawrence doesn’t know anything about chess, but something about the center—and the kids there—feels right. Lawrence thought the game was over . . . but does he have more moves left than he thought? BUY NOW at Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Target Buy a signed copy from Park Road Books, located in Charlotte, NC https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/authorvisitcontact daily 0.75 2022-10-17 https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/we-are-joy daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/a0a70743-a9a4-4d11-b3c5-225cbbdae60a/We+Are+Joy+-+Cover.jpg https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/listen-to-the-girls daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/6fe06a2f-05fa-4e8c-97f5-ba9b94740601/Listen+to+the+Girls+cover.jpg https://www.chrystaldgiles.com/links daily 0.75 2026-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e6c294211654c7854d61a67/88522354-1532-4896-bc56-7292b82e0ed3/CDGiles-HeadshotB-2025-HD.jpg