A marvelous, stirring homage to writer Toni Morrison uses a second-person voice addressing Morrison herself to chronicle people, places, and events that shaped and defined her before describing how she, in turn, helped shape the literary landscape, nurturing Black writers as an editor before becoming one of the seminal voices in contemporary American literature. “You so love language that by first grade you—the sole Black student in the room—are the only one who can read. All by yourself.” At college (where a mistaken classmate called her Toni—a name she claimed), immersed in theater and literature and studying Black characters in Shakespeare, “you listen for coins and cans of sardines inside care packages your mother sends …. That is how love sounds.” In writing novels, “You listen to the haunted and unholy places that your characters call home … You echo the deep pain of our past and the vast possibilities of our future.” With details of Morrison’s life and references to her works as touchstones throughout, this richly woven tapestry can serve as an introduction to Morrison but also inspire further exploration of her writing and life. Masterfully composed mixed-media paintings illustrate the exceptional narrative. An author’s note, timeline, and bibliography round out the volume.