Yaa Gyasi Books in Order

This reading order guide helps you find a complete list of Yaa Gyasi books in order, from the first to the latest, and is always kept up to date so you won’t miss anything!

About Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi is a talented American author with Ghanaian roots, best known for her remarkable debut novel, Homegoing. Born in 1989 in Mampong, Ghana, Yaa moved to the United States with her family when she was just two years old, settling in Huntsville, Alabama. Her father, Kwaku Gyasi, was a university professor, and her mother was a nurse. Despite the challenges of being an immigrant and adjusting to life in the U.S., Yaa found solace in books. She used literature as an escape and began to develop a love for writing at an early age, even winning writing competitions during her youth.

Yaa Gyasi pursued her passion for writing by studying English at Stanford University, followed by an MFA from the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop. It was during this time that she began working on Homegoing, a novel that would later take the literary world by storm. The novel, which explores the intertwined fates of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, and their descendants, highlights the impact of slavery and the African diaspora across generations. Drawing from personal experiences and extensive research, including a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle, Yaa created a story that offers a powerful exploration of history, identity, and the legacies of colonialism.

Her debut novel not only earned widespread acclaim but also landed her a significant book deal, propelling her into the spotlight as one of the most promising voices in contemporary literature. With her unique perspective and eloquent storytelling, Yaa Gyasi continues to captivate readers around the world, offering fresh insights into the African-American experience and the complexity of human connections.