The George Padmore Institute (GPI) is delighted to announce the publication of it first young adult (YA) book, Roots and Roti, a novel-with-verse by award-winning writer Kat François.
Written for readers aged 11–13, this moving and often humorous book is inspired by the histories of the UK’s Black, Asian and Caribbean communities which are depicted in the unique archive collections held by the GPI. The novel tells the tale of a tall Black teen nicknamed Tiny and his struggles in twenty-first century London, echoing experiences still encountered by too many Black teens around the country.
This is the first novel by poet, playwright and educator Kat François, whose previous work included the play Raising Lazurus about Caribbean soldiers in the First World War. Being commissioned to write the novel after an open call by the GPI was an opportunity Kat grabbed. She said:
‘Combining my interests of Black British history, story writing and poetry into one novel has been an exciting and rewarding journey. The importance of our stories, voices and history being shared in a manner accessible to young people is unquantifiable.’
Editor and GPI trustee Sharmilla Beezmohun said:
‘The GPI’s late co-founder, John La Rose, aimed to break what he called the “discontinuity of information” between generations of Britain’s diverse peoples through publishing books about their experiences. This great novel continues this ethos, with a finely crafted work which lovingly depicts family relationships as they are impacted by issues ranging from bullying and illness to hidden stories from the past.’
Award-winning YA author of Black historical fiction Catherine Johnson points to the vital need for such stories to fill the gap in the teen reading market, where few novels represent diverse communities. She said:
‘Books that explore the real Black presence in Britain are more important than ever. The history of this country is so rich and belongs to all of us, and honouring and recognising this should be a natural and embedded part of our story. Books exploring and acknowledging our part and our belonging can go some ways to help build a cohesive future.’
The GPI will publish a second YA novel in 2027, after releasing two books for early readers by Black author-illustrator Ken Wilson-Max in the last five years. It is more important than ever; in 2025 journalist Lanre Bakare stated that:
‘… a number of Black literary figures say there has been a noticeable downward shift in the number of Black writers being published’ (‘UK Publishing Less Accessible to Black Authors Now Than before 2020’, Guardian 26 March 2025).
Roots and Roti by Kat François
Tiny is twelve years old and six feet tall.
His secondary school is an hour from home.
He doesn’t know a single person.
His sister is unwell and he keeps clashing with his parents.
Then the bullying begins — and, somehow, he’s the one who’s punished.
Packed off to spend the summer with his gran.
Tiny faces a nightmare: no phone, no gaming, no internet.
But Gran has other things to offer.
The best food.
The best stories:
Of Grenada and his Caribbean family,
Of coming to England,
Of black history, music — and resilience.
As the summer unfolds Tiny learns how his roots – and his gran’s roti – can help him to face his problems.
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NOTES
1. Roots and Roti by Kat François is a novel for 11-13-year-olds published by the George Padmore Institute. ISBN: 978 1 9996198 9 3, July 2026, 243pp, £7.99
2. Funded by Arts Council England, the novel is the latest in the Reaching New Generations series of children’s books designed to fill a gap in the market for literature representing diverse communities. The first two books in the series were illustrated picture books for 5-8-year-olds written by Zimbabwean award-winning children’s author Ken Wilson-Max. Dream to Change the World: The Story of John La Rose and Jump Up! A Story of Carnival are both available on our website: www.georgepadmoreinstitute.org/shop
3. Kat François is a poet, performance artist and educator whose previous publications include a short story in the Hidden Realms collection. She has also published the play Raising Lazurus, following the story of a Grenadian soldier who left his tiny island in 1915 to fight for King and country. François’ poetry is included in George the Poet’s collection Part of a Story That Started Before Me: Poems about Black British History. She is also a former BBC3 TV slam champion and a World Poetry Slam Champion. See www.katfrancois.com
4. George Padmore Institute was founded in 1991 and is an archive, education centre and publisher with archive collections relating to the black communities of Caribbean, African and Asian descent in Britain. Based in Finsbury Park, north London, the GPI’s unique collections and publications highlight the vital cultural, political and social contributions of the UK’s diverse communities. The Institute’s work combines conservation, outreach, workshops, events and publishing.
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