Alexis Williams
Illustrator
Alexis Williams is a digital illustration artist based in Philadelphia. She was born in Montgomery, Alabama and raised by her grandparents in West Philadelphia. Her passion for the arts stemmed from childhood as she dealt with bullying and depression during her younger years. As she grew older, she discovered the world of anime, comic books, and cartoons, and began creating her own comic books in her spare time. After graduating from high school, Alexis attended Moore College of Art and Design, where she grew her passion for illustration, creating her very first published children's book. With the support of her family, friends, and professors, Alexis graduated with a BFA in Illustration and was awarded the William David Brown Award for Most Improved In Illustration. She is currently pursuing her dreams as an artist, creating unique and diverse digital art while at work on her second children's book.
Alexis Williams illustrated:
“Poignant and powerful . . . the students write with fresh power about loss, about the failures of the system around them, and how to decide when, how and where they should speak out.” —Publishers Weekly
“Our young people are asking that we sit with them, that we listen to them, and that we see their lives in all of their complexity. The stories in What It Cost Us must be read. They must be remembered." —Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed: Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
“Authentic and sincere.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A momentous account of a time we must remember.” —Wendy Wan-Long Shang, author of The Secret Battle of Evan Pao
Foreword by Candice Iloh
In this collaborative novel, ten diverse young writers from Washington, DC recreate the historic year 2020 from their perspectives, through fictional stories inspired by their own lived experiences. Told chronologically from the onset of the pandemic to the insurrection of January 6th, their stories of change and resilience are accompanied by maps, social media, original artwork, and real-life headlines to create an immersive experience of an unprecedented coming of age.
You’ll meet Faiza, a Muslim high school student, who struggles to celebrate Ramadan during the worst of the COVID-19 shutdowns. You’ll protest with Roman, the only Black student in his class, whose relationships are challenged in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. You’ll face the fraught 2020 election with Dennis, a young Nigerian immigrant, as he questions a democracy that seems to count him out.
By examining the shards of this shattered year, these authors explore “what it cost us” through stories that both acknowledge loss and celebrate what got us through.
ISBN: 978-1-950807-55-0
Age: 12+
Lexile: 780L
Page Count: 329
Published: Spring 2023