Meet Akosua Harvey
Akosua LauraJeanne Faye Harvey is an educator, writer, and medium whose work explores the intersections of ancestry, culture, identity, and community. A passionate storyteller, Akosua channels her experiences as a Black woman and educator to challenge, uplift, and inspire. With a background in physics and science literacy, her unique perspective aims to blend intellect and artistry in a way that is accessible to young minds, offering a voice that is both authentic and impactful. Akosua’s works are celebrations of resilience, creativity, and the transformative and healing power of words.
"You’re not in control when you’re in the Traverse, but it does respond to the things you ask for."
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After spending the entire summer at her great aunt’s house in Ocala, Florida, Marsha Claire Swallowtail cannot wait to go home to Maryland. Her excitement is short-lived, however, when her parents drop an unexpected bomb on Marsha and her three siblings: they will not be returning home to Maryland. Her father had decided, after having a disturbing prophetic dream about his sick twin brother, that the family would be moving back to Ocala, the Swallowtail ancestral home. Now, Marsha must come to terms with being the new girl in town, not to mention the fact that she has been having strange dreams of her own––dreams where she finds herself in a parallel world called the Traverse. These dreams have revealed Marsha’s troubling family history, the mystery of a missing deed to long-disputed land, and a family tree in danger of going up in flames. Marsha must overcome her fear and anger and learn how to communicate with her ancestors in order to find the truth and help save her family.
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Praise for Why the Birds Fly Back
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"Akosua's novel is a must-read!"
- Ariel Felton, journalist, The New York Times and Vogue
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"Why the Birds Fly Back is a fantastic tale written by an extraordinary new talent."
- Jamila Minnicks, award-winning author of Moonrise Over New Jessup
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"When we leave Ocala, Florida, and enter the Traverse dreamworld with our heroine, Marsha Swallowtail, we enter a place where history is alive, the dead speak, and long-held secrets are revealed...Adults who grew up on L'Engle and Hamilton will want to recommend this book to the teens they love."
- Eman Quotah, award-winning author of Bride of the Sea and The Night Is Not for You
Previous Works
The Race
Akosua's debut as a screenwriter, this monologue uses the metaphor of a race to explore innovation, identity, and cultural reclamation—declaring that true progress comes not from looking back, but from starting anew without limitations.
Starring & Narrated By// Reyna Fallin
Written By// Laurajeanne Faye
Directed By// J.R. "RUFF" Ruffin
