Julian Randall
Julian Randall
Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. He was the author of five books before he was thirty years old. His books for adults include Refuse (Pitt, 2018), winner of the 2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and a finalist for a 2019 NAACP Image Award; and his award-winning memoir The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi and Black TV Nerd Shit (Bold Type Books) which was named one of People Magazine’s Best New Books of 2024. He is also the author of four middle grade novels the Pilar Ramirez novel duology, The Chainbreakers, and Shook: A Novel in Verse (2026).
He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Callaloo, BOAAT and the Watering Hole. Julian is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. Also, he is the only ever solo winner of the National College Slam Best Poet Award. Julian is the winner of the 2019 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award from the Publishing Triangle.
His writing has been published in New York Times, Esquire, PEOPLE Magazine, and POETRY and anthologized in Black Boy Joy (which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list), Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, and Furious Flower. He has essays in The Atlantic, Vibe Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other venues.
Julian Randall holds an MFA in Poetry from University of Mississippi. He was an award winning, nationally recognized slam poet and has been performing for audiences of all ages for over a decade. Julian has performed his work and hosted events at over fifty colleges and universities, alongside numerous festivals.
He can be found at @JulianThePoet and on his website JulianDavidRandall.com.
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Hardback
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In this action-packed fantasy, thirteen-year-old Violet Moon must rescue her father and save her enchanted underwater world—perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Tristan Strong series.
All Violet Moon has ever wanted is to be a Reaper captain like her father. Born on the Tides of the Lost, a magical world beneath the waves of th...Read More
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Trade Paperback
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The Land of Stories meets Dominican culture and mythology come to life in Julian Randall's Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon, the action-packed fantasy duology finale—for fans of the Tristan Strong series and Amari and the Night Brothers.
After being magically transported to the mythical island of Zafa and re...Read More
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Trade Paperback
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The Land of Stories meets Dominican myths and legends come to life in Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa, a blockbuster contemporary middle-grade fantasy duology starter from Julian Randall. Fans of Tristan Strong and The Storm Runner, here is your next obsession.
"A breathtaking journey . . . readers better ho...Read More
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Any performance or speech can be paired with an audience age-appropriate workshop upon request. This is just a sample of Julian Randall’s workshop offerings. Please inquire for a complete list.
Verse in Chapter: Telling Stories through Poems [Workshop]
A generative workshop on verse storytelling where students craft their own poetic short story seeds! [Can be adjusted for multiple age groups]
Thanks For Writing It How We Talk: Constructing Authentic Young Voices [Craft Talk/Lecture]
A talk from Julian Randall on spanglish, mirrors and crafting authentic young characters.
Poems Your Students (Probably) Won’t Hate and How to Find Them [Workshop/Lecture]
A talk and workshop on teaching poetry, voice and creative writing to young people from award winning slam poet and children’s author Julian Randall.
“Julian Randall explores the boundless possibilities of the stories we inherit”
“Book club: Fantasy meets Dominican history in ‘Pilar Ramirez’”
Listen to an excerpt from “#Julian4Spiderman” in The Dead Don’t Need Reminding.
Listen to an excerpt from “T-Pain Essay” in The Dead Don’t Need Reminding.
Praise for The Chainbreakers
“Long live the Chainbreakers! A fantastical, mind-blowing adventure. . . Violet and her friends don’t just smash barriers; they’ll win over your heart, too.”
— Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times–bestselling co-author of The Sun and the Star
“A breathtaking, magical saga. Readers of all ages will find a place in their hearts for Violet Moon and her ragtag found family in this moving tale that’s as poetic as it is swashbuckling.”
— Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times–bestselling author
“A magical high-seas adventure led by a strong girl with a powerful message of hope.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“A propulsive fantasy adventure that entertains while sparking thoughtful discussions about grief, legacy, and revenge.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Julian Randall is masterful at creating vivid, magic-filled, fantastical worlds that leap off the page.”
— Dominican Writers Association
“A fresh new fantasy for readers who enjoy feisty, brave protagonists doing what they feel is right with heart and humor.”
— School Library Journal
“…will likely inspire readers.”
— BCCB
Praise for Pilar Ramirez
“A breathtaking journey through a world teeming with fantasy and history.”
— Kwame Mbalia, New York Times–bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series
“Randall takes history and myth and weaves a tight fantasy that is as funny as it is poignant. This novel is sure to delight and awe.”
— Elizabeth Acevedo, National Book Award Winner
“Magic awaits around every corner in Zafa. Nonstop action and plenty of heart create a story worth escaping into.”
— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“An undeniable page-turner.”
— Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Incredible voice that jumps right off the page. Pilar is the hilarious hero we need right now.”
— Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times–bestselling author of Ghost Squad
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