Fourteen young Black authors, aged 6 to 16, have made history by publishing UNSUNG, the first-ever online KidsZine. This groundbreaking publication, launched to mark Women’s History Month, highlights the voices, achievements, and untold stories of 17 remarkable women from across the UK. Through exclusive interviews and bold storytelling, the young writers provide fresh perspectives on figures ranging from local leaders and poets to researchers and activists. More than just a magazine, UNSUNG is an initiative that challenges the lack of diversity in publishing and empowers young Black authors to tell their own stories.
At the heart of the project is 12-year-old Editor Lauryn-Rose Teixeira, a multi-award-winning author from West London. Her debut book, Lauryn That’s Me: The Powerful Journey of an African Girl, has been translated into English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, making her one of the youngest British authors to have her work published internationally. Now, as Editor of UNSUNG, she hopes to amplify the voices of young Black writers and push for better representation in literature. She describes UNSUNG as more than just a magazine but a movement, one that allows young Black voices to be heard in ways they often are not. She believes this is just the beginning of a much larger shift in the literary world.
Supporting her in leading the project is 16-year-old Romeo Bremmer, a published author of nine books who is also passionate about mentoring young writers. He began writing at the age of seven and won his first Scribe Award at just eight years old. In 2022, he was named a finalist for Outstanding Achievement to Literature at the London Chamber of Commerce Black Excellence Awards, where he stood alongside literary figures such as Akala, Professor David Olusoga OBE, and Candice Brathwaite. Now working on his tenth book, Romeo is determined to help other young writers find their voices and make an impact. He describes writing as his superpower, a tool that has not only helped him express himself but has also provided healing during challenging times. When his mother suffered a heart attack and required bypass surgery, writing became his refuge. He credits it with opening doors to extraordinary opportunities, from meeting pop stars to engaging with Barons in the House of Lords.
The young authors behind UNSUNG are determined to challenge the lack of diversity in children’s literature, a concern that Juliet Coley BCAe, the publisher behind the project, has been addressing for years. As the founder of Young LIT Stars, a publishing house dedicated to books written by Black children, she has spent over a decade ensuring that young Black voices are heard. In 2024, she also launched the Children’s Black Book Fair UK, an event celebrating young Black British authors aged 6 to 17.
Despite the growing conversations around representation in publishing, statistics show that diversity in children’s literature is still declining. The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education’s ‘Reflecting Realities’ report found that in 2023, only 17 percent of children’s books published featured a racially minoritised character, a significant drop from 30 percent in 2022. The number of books featuring racially minoritised main characters also fell from 14 percent in 2022 to just 7 percent in 2023. Juliet Coley sees UNSUNG as a direct response to this troubling decline, proving what can be achieved when young Black writers are given the platform and resources to tell their own stories. She believes major publishing houses need to step up and actively support initiatives that promote meaningful representation, stating that young Black literary talent is still missing from GCSE-level texts in schools. She challenges the publishing industry to recognise that children cannot aspire to be what they do not see.
UNSUNG is now available, bringing the stories and achievements of remarkable women to life through the voices of the next generation of Black British authors. The magazine stands as proof that young Black writers have powerful stories to tell and deserve the space to tell them. It is more than just a publication—it is a blueprint for change.
📖 Read UNSUNG now: Click the link or scan the QR code to explore:
🔗 https://heyzine.com/flip-book/5ebf6f4041.html