Life is a Canvas is a contemporary novel about finding love and self and how the choices we make early in life, particularly in our twenties, sets us on a path, positively or negatively, for the rest of our life.

Allegra Johnson is a go-getter. She graduated from college in three years, and got her master’s degree in one. At 23 she has secured a $75,000 grant to start a company, Mane Attraction. I didn’t understand this play on the word “Mane/Main” since the business doesn’t have anything to do with hair. It is a cafe in the early hours, then a lounge with live music during the evening where artists can perform spoken word or rap. Allegra wants to give “the youth a platform to perform and share their talents.” Elan is also a spoken word poet, and it is clear that this is an area she is passionate about.

There are many parallels between Allegra and Elan. Like Allegra, Elan is hearing impaired. She went to UC Berkley and Stanford University for grad school and both studied African American Studies and Education. They are both from Oakland and Berkley.

Editor’s Note:…this review has been removed as it reffered to an earlier version of this book.