A Glorious Year is a heartfelt middle-grade chapter book set in a small African American private school in 1970s Los Angeles. The story follows Denise, a fifth-grade student who has grown up alongside her classmates since early childhood in a close-knit school community. When a new teacher, Mrs. Grace, arrives midyear, the classroom begins to change in unexpected ways. Through everyday moments, quiet observations, and meaningful lessons, Denise witnesses what it looks like for a teacher to truly see her students and respond to their needs. From helping a classmate learn to read, to building confidence, leadership, and responsibility, the year becomes more than just another school year - it becomes a turning point. Told with warmth, honesty, and reflection, this story captures a time when children were shaped not only academically, but personally, in ways that stayed with them for life. At its heart, A Glorious Year is a story about belonging, growth, and being taught your worth before the world tries to define it.
