J K CHUKWU is a writer and visual artist from the Midwest. She holds an MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University and was a 2019 Lambda Fellow. Her work has appeared in Black Warrior Review, DIAGRAM, and TAYO.
<p>‘[A] playful, powerful debut… A poignant reminder of how tight a hold mental illness can have’ Zakiya Dalila Harris</p><p>‘Chukwu meticulously and brilliantly balances tough topics like depression with biting comedy, crafting a narrative about a young woman trying to survive and help others do the same’ Shondaland</p><p>Dear Reader,</p><p>It has come to my attention that smoking kills, along with police, loner white boys, and looks. While embroiled in the process of trying to live, I have written this honors thesis. It is dedicated to the first years who haven’t yet died from alcohol poisoning, exhaustion, or overdosing. This work has been a labor of love and of hate. In it, you will find juxtaposition, verisimilitude, French, Freud, and anything else I’ve wasted 60K a year to learn.</p><p>I would like to thank my advisors: Mr. White Supremacy, Mr. Capitalism, Ms. Racism, and, of course, my Life Partner for all the guidance they have provided during this process.</p><p>Set in the mind of a young Black woman who is losing hers, THE UNFORTUNATES is a darkly funny debut about the realities of elitist institutions from an exceptional new writer.</p><p>Early readers are loving The Unfortunates:</p><p>‘Chukwu's style and format were incredibly creative and pertinent . . . I'd like to petition universities in America + Britain to give this out as a “Things You Should Know Before Applying”’ 5*</p><p>‘A powerful exploration of mental health and race at a US college with a creative style and structure. . . it refreshed the idea of what a campus novel could be’ 5 *</p><p>‘Such a powerful book about our struggles with mental health. What the author does so well is tackle the issue powerfully but also with biting humour’</p>
