Praise for IntersectionAllies

“A joyous affirmation of how we are all connected”—TIME

“Highly recommended”—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (*Starred Review)

“A welcoming resource for conversations about equality and social justice.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“If ever a book belonged in every pediatrician’s office, clinic, daycare, shelter, classroom, and home, this is it.”—LIT HUB

Love without Bounds: An IntersectionAllies Book about Families

By Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, & Carolyn Choi

Illustrations by Ashley Seil Smith

On Sale January 24, 2023

ISBN 9781948340519 (Hardcover)

Chelsea Johnson

I grew up in a nuclear family as the youngest of my siblings, what we affectionately called the “kiddies three.” My extended family lived a road trip’s distance from our home in Illinois, which made me look forward to Easter, when my grandma Mildred would make her famous mac and cheese, and the Saturday before Christmas, when I’d learn about my cousins’ new friends over a plate of fried rice. When I think of family, I also think of my Soul Sistahs, my Spelman sisters, and my CLC sisters—a chosen family of strong women who have protected my heart through bullies, breakups, and big life changes. The transformative power of sisterhood is part of what brought me to feminism and inspired my research and writing on Black women’s activism and beauty cultures, the topic of my scholarly work. I bring that same spirit to my research in tech, which centers how to design for trust and safety on the internet. When I’m not researching or writing, you’re most likely going to find me snuggled up with the latest evolution of my family—my husband Jonathan, Bichpoo Lala, and a baby on the way.

LaToya Council

I grew up in a mother-headed household with my older sister, Sabrina. When I think about family, I feel a combination of joy and sadness. My father died when I was three, and my mother died when I was eighteen, three months into my college experience at Spelman. When I get sad that my parents aren’t here to share in the new and exciting adventures my sister and I are having, I find comfort in knowing my sweet grandmother, aunties, uncles, and many cousins are a phone call away, ready to listen and reminisce with me about my ancestors. I’ve made friends who are like family. So, while my nuclear family is just me and my sister, my extended family is abundant. These experiences are why I became a family sociologist. Now I’m an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at Lehigh University, studying Black middle-class families and their experiences with work, life, and self-care practices. (I’m working on a book project, for instance, that focuses on heterosexual Black middle-class couples with children, exploring their time use related to work, family, and personal well-being. ) When I’m not working, you might find me baking something sweet, checking out a cool coffee shop, reading, or hanging with my cat, Mimi.

Carolyn Choi

I grew up in a mother-headed household with my younger sister. The tightness of our little family made it feel like we were three sisters learning together, encouraging one another, and sharing care work. Through life’s ups and downs, my omma (mom), sister, and I continue to be each other’s rocks, confidants, and best friends. Recently, I’ve reconnected with my apa (father), who is currently undergoing treatment for his health. Our relationship has taken the long road, but I feel blessed that I can now support him when he needs it most. As an adult, I’ve created a chosen family that includes my partner and a medley of fur friends. My pug, Mr. Bobos, is my truest companion, and his little siblings—Gogi, a fellow pug, and Soondae, a spirited pit bull puppy—make my house feel like a home. My family’s story of immigration from Korea to Koreatown, Los Angeles, inspires my work as a researcher on international migration, as well as one of my favorite ways to spend my downtime: playing pansori, a form of Korean folk music.