God Loves Hair
Self-published
God Loves Hair is Vivek Shraya’s first book, a collection of 21 short stories following a tender, intellectual, and curious child who navigates complex realms of sexuality, gender, racial politics, religion, and belonging.
Told with the poignant insight and honesty that only the voice of a young mind can convey, the stories are accompanied by the award-winning illustrations of Toronto artist Juliana Neufeld.
Now available: a 10th-anniversary edition featuring a new foreword and preface, a new story, and new illustrations.
Read the afterword
Winner
- South Asia Book Awards · Honour Book
- Applied Arts Illustration Award · Complete Book Illustration
Finalist
- Lambda Literary Awards · LGBT Children’s/Young Adult
God Loves Hair is a DIY masterpiece.
A book for all ages, this will be especially welcomed by contemporary genderqueer youth and twentysomethings, who will see themselves in these vividly realized pages.
A rich and powerful exploration of gender, sexuality, religion, race, and the desire to fit in.
Shraya’s stripped-down prose has documentary force, and Neufeld’s illustrations, with their intersecting planes of translucent color and their linoleum block-style images, add humor and bite. It’s an important addition to the library of coming-out literature.
Shraya’s endearing descriptions of childhood and adolescence are both humorous and heartbreaking.
Running the emotional spectrum from shame to pleasure and acceptance, Shraya offers a refreshing window into the intimate struggles of youth.
A touching, poetic exploration of budding sexuality, the mysticism of religion, and family dynamics.
Featured
- Outstanding International Books, 2015
(U.S. Board on Books for Young People) - Top Multicultural Fiction for Youth, 2015
(Booklist) - Top Religion/Spirituality Books for Youth, 2014
(Booklist) - Kidlit Pick, 2014 Books of the Year
(Quill & Quire) - Best Books for Kids & Teens, 2014
(Canadian Children’s Book Centre) - 2011 Rainbow Project Book List
(American Library Association) - 2011 Over the Rainbow Book List
(American Library Association) - Books to Check Out on National Coming Out Day
(NYPL) - The Short Story Advent Calendar
(2015) - Reading Recommendations for LGBT History Month
(The Radical Notion) - YA Books That Make You Proud to Be Canadian
(CBC Books) - #RainbowReading for Teens: 30 Books for Pride 2017
(NYPL)
Interviews with Vivek
More Press
- Mumbai Mirror
- FAB Magazine
- The Coast
- The New Gay
- What is Queer and Asian
- Out in Print
- Gaysi Family
- Trikone
- Revel & Riot
- Crazy Quilts
- Lindy Reads
- NOW
- Toronto Public Library
- CM Magazine
- Daily Xtra
- Lemon Hound
- Bookish Ardour
- Open Book Toronto
- Plenitude Magazine
- BookDragon
- About.com
- Unshelved
- Cite Something!
- The Gazette
- South Charlotte Weekly
- GayRVA
- American Library Association GLBT Round Table
- Asian American Literature Fans
- brokenpencil
- Beyond Hanky Code
- Canadian Literature
- Book Riot
- The Origami
- CBC Arts
- Guernica
- Gaysi Family (2)
10th Anniversary Edition
A new hardcover edition with a foreword by Cherie Dimaline, as well as a new preface, story, and illustrations by Juliana Neufeld.
Bhajans for Mom
Bhajans for Mom is a collection of eight Hindu devotional songs performed and produced by Vivek. Listen to them now, or download them all for free.
Download an excerpt
Gallery
Related projects
God Loves Hair: 10th Anniversary Edition
Book ·
Bhajans for Mom
Album ·