Title: The Stella Trilogy
Author: Yecheilyah Ysrayl
Author Website: www.yecheilyahysrayl.com
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UPDATE: Book four is in the works!
(1) Stella: Between Slavery and Freedom
In volume one, Cynthia McNair and her boyfriend, Alex, discuss certain racist attitudes toward black people. They visit Cynthia’s grandmother, Sidney McNair, who recounts the tale of Stella, an ancestor who was held as a slave. Cynthia is unaware of her African heritage and the depth of this rabbit hole.
(2) Stella: Beyond the Colored Line
Stella, who was given her great-grandmother’s name, is teased by her classmates because of her fair complexion and struggles to fit in to a world where she is too light to be Black. That is, until a conversation with Aunt Sara, who regularly passes for white, inspires Stella to do the same, a choice that will profoundly affect not just her life but also the lives of her children and grandchildren.
(3) Stella: The Road to Freedom
Joseph and his friends, eager to experience life on their own, have quit school and the lives they were leading to join the freedom movement. The seven friends—three Black and four white—set out on the road with no money and practically no plan when they are stopped by a racist cop who forces them out of the car. The teenagers are unaware that a group of Klansmen is waiting for them at the bus station in New Orleans. Learn how Joseph and his friends realize that freedom has never been free.
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About The Stella Trilogy:
The Stella Trilogy is a historical fiction series that was first released between 2015 and 2016. It stands out because it focuses on one woman’s journey of self-discovery against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom, justice, and racial equality. In this three-part drama, we watch three people struggle to conquer the same obstacle while living in different eras and meticulously woven together by one bloodline.
New covers, New Edits, and an Alternate Ending!
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Book 1
“Yecheilyah Ysrayl takes us on a colorful and thought provoking journey through the eyes of a mulatto slave woman, Stella. Generations later, Stella’s descendant Cynthia McNair has no idea of Stella’s life as a slave, nor the true identity of their bloodline. Since Cynthia is a racist, she is in for a rude awakening. Stella is reminiscent of a wonderfully written slave narrative, a story of history and pain; it is a brilliant opener of the Stella series.“
-Kathryn Reed
Book 2
“Stella: Beyond the Colored Line is a fascinating walk through the ages–from slavery, to segregation, to the black power movement, to modern times. Through the eyes of one mixed-race woman, the author touches on major events in African American history, allowing the reader to experience them in real time. The story deepens when Stella decides to live as a white woman and raise her children as whites. As her family grows and develops within a changing society, Stella and her children reveal complex perspectives and attitudes that make it clear that it doesn’t matter who your ancestors were. Nothing is just simply black or white.”
-Christa Wojo.
Book 3
“The third in a series, The Road to Freedom – Joseph’s Story, is able to stand alone. However, in order to get the full experience of the story arc, it would be a good idea to start from the beginning. It was very well written. Historical without being boring. Accurate but not preachy. Brutal without over-dramatizing. It would be appropriate for teen and adult readers alike. In particular, I would recommend it for literature classes or history classes. It’s only 65 pages long, and it provides ample discussion topics with authentic learning opportunities. Adults who want to read it for personal growth should absolutely do so. I finished this book days ago, and I’m still thinking about it.”
– Mama Pete
The Author
“Yecheilyah is a gifted poet and writer of whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the last couple of years. She writes evocative literature dedicated to the promotion of African American culture and American literature.”
– Colleen Chesebro
“I consider myself and anyone else aware of her to be pretty lucky already, as this author has a pretty powerful perspective and is more than capable of articulating her experiences and thought processes as they relate to the cultural upbringing of the African American experience. Her name is Yecheilyah Ysrayl.”
– Dottie Daniels
The PBS Blog 
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