Naomi Jackson
Birth nameA. Naomi Jackson
Birth placeBrooklyn, New York, United States
Alma materWilliams College;
University of Cape Town
OccupationAuthor
Notable worksThe Star Side of Bird Hill

A. Naomi Jackson[1] is an Caribbean-American author most known for her novel The Star Side of Bird Hill, which was nominated for the NAACP Image Award[2] and was a finalist for the 2016 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.[3] The novel was also longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize,[4] along with the John Leonard Award[5] from National Book Critics as well as the International Dublin Literary Award.[6] She is a Fulbright recipient, and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She owns an apartment in Brooklyn and a house in the Bronx.[7]

Jackson's first novel, The Star Side of Bird Hill, was received positively by critics. It boasts recommendations by Entertainment Weekly, Oprah.com, The Huffington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Travel & Leisure, Bustle, Publishers Weekly, Gawker, Minnesota Public Radio, and For Harriet.[8][9]

Early life and education

A. Naomi Jackson was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, United States, to West Indian parents.[1] Jackson describes herself as "pan-Caribbean mongrel" as her father is from Antigua, her mother is from Barbados and her stepmother is from Jamaica.[10] In Harper's Magazine, Jackson talks openly about her struggles with mental health and her journey to recovery.[11]

Jackson is an graduate from Williams College[1] and earned her MA degree in Creative writing through the University of Cape Town on a Fulbright scholarship.[12] After several years of poetry and fiction workshops at Cave Canem and Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center.[12] Jackson, just shy of turning 30, was accepted into the Iowa Writers' Workshop to obtain her MFA.[12]

The Star Side of Bird Hill (2015)

Jackson's debut novel The Star Side of Bird Hill, published by Penguin Books[13] in June 2015, follows two sisters, Dionne (16) and Phaedra (10) through their summer in Bible Camp[14] in Barbados with their grandmother when their mother was unable to care for the two as she struggles with her own mental health.[10] Jackson goes on to describe one theme in the novel was based around a family of women, as it explores motherhood, girlhood, sexuality and generational wounds.[10] Jackson explains that the reason for the theme was draw upon based on her personal life, having survived, as she describes, 'Vacation Bible School in Antigua and a former acolyte in the Epsicopal Church in Brooklyn'.[14] Jackson takes inspiration in writing her novels through reading Jamaica Kincaid's novels, especially Annie John.[10]

Reception

Naomi Jackson's debut novel, The Star Side of Bird Hill, was met immediately with high praise. Highly recommended by Gawker and The Huffington Post, NPR's book review "A Lyrical Coming Of Age Tale In 'Bird Hill'"[15] was more critical. In this piece critic Michael Schaub call "[Star Side of Bird Hill] excellent for a debut novel, though it's not entirely without its flaws." He criticizes it for its treatment of supporting characters and a plot which, he writes, "seems to get away from her towards the end." However, these flaws, "are hardly mortal sins, especially for a first-time novelist." Throughout his review, he praises the writing of the character, Phaedra, which he says makes the book worth reading.

Isabella Biedenharn with Entertainment Weekly gave it a more positive review,[16] calling it, "so poetic in its descriptions and so alive with lovable, frustrating, painfully real characters, that your emotional response to it becomes almost physical." She goes on to praise Jackson's treatment of Dionne, Hyacinthe, and Errol, as well as Phaedra.

Honors and awards

Publications

Books

Stories and articles

  • "Her Kind", Harper's (December 2021)[23]
  • "One in a Million: An Elegy for Aaliyah", Harper's Bazaar (August 2021)[24]
  • Review of Zakiya Dalila Harris's The Other Black Girl, Washington Post (June 2021)[25]
  • Review of Monica West's Revival Season, Washington Post (May 2021)[26]
  • "I Wanted to Celebrate My 40th Birthday at Crop Over. COVID-19 Had Other Plans", Harper's Bazaar (February 2021)[27]
  • Review of Ladee Hubbard's The Rib King, Washington Post (January 2021)[28]
  • Review of Robert Jones, Jr.’s The Prophets, Washington Post (January 2021)[29]
  • “The Confounding Insistence on Innocence: A Conversation with Danielle Evans", Poets & Writers (November/December 2020)[30]
  • "A Litany for Survival: Giving Birth as A Black Woman in America", Harper's (September 2020)[31]
  • Review of Ingrid Persaud’s Love After Love, Washington Post (August 2020)[32]
  • Review of Zora Neale Hurston's Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick, Washington Post (January 2020)[33]
  • “Joy Comes in the Morning: Finding Sanctuary in the Wake of Pulse", Virginia Quarterly Review (June 2017)[34]
  • "Minding the Gap: On Sex & Love & the In-Between", Tin House (#69, Fall 2016)[35]
  • "Making the Road by Walking: From Brooklyn to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop", Poets & Writers (September/October 2016)
  • “Falling in Love with Bahia & Brazil: On Blackness, Saudade & Surrender", Words Without Borders (July 2016)[36]
  • "To Be Young, Gifted and Black: A Travelogue of Black Women Artists in France and America", Apogee (May 2015)[37]
  • Digital essays for BuzzFeed, Elle.com, espnW, LitHub, and New York Magazine's The Cut (2015–2016)[38][39]
  • "Bumpers", Kweli (August 2014)[40]
  • "Fever", Caribbean Beat (July/August 2005)[41]

References

  1. ^ "Bio". Naomi Jackson. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  2. ^ "NAACP Image Awards - Outstanding Literary Work". AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  3. ^ "Legacy Awards". Hurston/Wright Foundation. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  4. ^ "2015 First Novel Prize". The Center for Fiction. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  5. ^ Ciabattari, Jane (2015-12-31). "Final Round of John Leonard Award Voting Begins". National Book Critics Circle. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  6. ^ IGO (2019-09-03). "The Star Side of Bird Hill". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  7. ^ "I Miss My Black Brooklyn". New York Magazine. 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  8. ^ "Press & Praise". Naomi Jackson. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  9. ^ "Naomi Jackson". Poets & Writers. 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  10. ^ Adisa, Opal Palmer (2017-01-02). "Three Generations of Women: The Star Side of Bird Hill – Interview with Naomi Jackson". Caribbean Quarterly. doi:10.1080/00086495.2017.1302162?casa_token=lvuqbuswocgaaaaa:7xszrcybhaemktw4dsupovapblmhad8rx6qwuuiylio42rm6mi1qvy4zcpiuactp2dg501qqhy8. ISSN 0008-6495
  11. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Her Kind: On losing and finding my mind". Harper's Magazine. Vol. December 2021. ISSN 0017-789X. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  12. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Making the road by walking: from Brooklyn to the Iowa writers' workshop and back". go.gale.com. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  13. ^ "The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson: 9780143109167 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  14. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2015). "Naomi Jackson whose debut novel, The Star Side of Bird Hill, was published in June by Penguin Press". go.gale.com. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  15. ^ Schaub, Michael (2015-06-30). "A Lyrical Coming Of Age Tale In 'Bird Hill'". NPR. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  16. ^ Biedenharn, Isabella (June 26, 2015). "'The Star Side of Bird Hill' by Naomi Jackson: EW review". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  17. ^ "Schomburg Center's Scholars-in-Residence Program Announces 2021-2022 Fellows". nypl.org. New York Public Library. July 13, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "Naomi Jackson - Artist". MacDowell. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  19. ^ "2016 DEBUT-LITZER PRIZE WINNERS". Blubrry Podcasting - Podcast Hosting, Statistics, WordPress Hosting, Syndication Tools and Directory. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  20. ^ "Naomi Jackson". Hurston/Wright Foundation. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  21. ^ "NAACP Image Awards - Outstanding Literary Work". AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  22. ^ Busby, Margaret (ed.). "Contents". Daughters of Africa. UK: Myriad Editions. pp. vii–xiv.
  23. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2021-11-10). "Her Kind: On losing and finding my mind". Harper's Magazine. Vol. December 2021. ISSN 0017-789X. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  24. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2021-08-25). "One in a Million: An Elegy for Aaliyah". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  25. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Review | 'The Other Black Girl' should be at the top of your summer reading list". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  26. ^ Jackson, Naomi (May 28, 2021). "Review | The spellbinding 'Revival Season' makes Monica West an author to watch". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  27. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2021-02-18). "I Wanted to Celebrate My 40th Birthday at Crop Over. COVID-19 Had Other Plans.". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  28. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Review | Ladee Hubbard's 'The Rib King' is a fascinating look at ambition, race and revenge". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  29. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Review | 'The Prophets' reimagines the lives of enslaved people with the epic love story of two men". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  30. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2020-10-07). "The Confounding Insistence on Innocence: A Q&A With Danielle Evans". Poets & Writers. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  31. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2020-08-14). "A Litany for Survival: Giving birth as a black woman in America". Harper's Magazine. Vol. September 2020. ISSN 0017-789X. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  32. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Review | 'Love After Love' reminds readers why we go to books in search of answers to life's great questions". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  33. ^ Jackson, Naomi. "Review | For many writers, Zora Neale Hurston's work has been a guiding light. Now there's even more to read.". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  34. ^ Jackson, Naomi (June 13, 2017). "Joy Comes in the Morning". Virginia Quarterly Review. 93 (3). Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  35. ^ "Sex, Again?". Tin House. No. 69. Fall 2016. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  36. ^ Jackson, Naomi (July 2016). "Falling in Love with Bahia & Brazil: On Negritude, Saudade, & Surrender". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  37. ^ "Naomi Jackson, To Be Young Gifted and Black: A Travelogue of Black Women Artists in France and America". Apogee Journal. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  38. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2015-09-09). "Why It Matters That Serena Williams Keeps Winning". ELLE. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  39. ^ Jackson, Naomi (August 7, 2015). "Every Day Something Has Tried To Kill Me". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  40. ^ Jackson, A. Naomi (August 9, 2014). "Bumpers". KWELI / Truth From the Diaspora's Boldest Voices. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  41. ^ Jackson, Naomi (2005-07-01). "Fever". Caribbean Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-03.