Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution

Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution (2022) is a middle grade novel by Sherri Winston. The narrative follows Lotus Bloom, a seventh grader in Miami, Florida, who is attending the Atlantis School of the Arts, a newly built school for performing arts. As a violinist, Lotus sees the opportunity as a chance to pursue her music career—something that would not be possible with the limited resources of her old school, MacArthur Middle. However, when Lotus is bullied by jealous students that use her Black skin, afro, and retro-style as a source of ridicule, she faces pressure from her friends and family to stand up for herself and stand against the very school that gives her the opportunity she desperately wants. Lotus’s journey of empowerment and self-discovery explores themes of Collective Support Against Institutionalized Racism, Music in Personal and Political Expression, and Finding One’s Voice in the Fight Against Prejudice.

This guide is based on the paperback edition of the novel published by Bloomsbury in 2024.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of bullying, racism, anti-gay bias, and child abuse.