When the Ground Is Hard

WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE • In this poignant coming-of-age tale, two black girls break all the rules on race, class, and gender to bravely become more themselves.

“Accidents, lies, thefts . . . secrets . . . dead bodies, and illicit rendezvous make for riveting reading.”—School Library Journal

Two girls from different worlds. One powerful bond.

At Keziah Christian Academy, a boarding school in the heart of Swaziland, sixteen-year-old Adele Joubert is one of the top girls. She’s well-mannered, a good student, and most importantly, has a white father who can pay her school fees. But on the bus back to Keziah after holiday break, Adele discovers her best friends have replaced her with a new top girl—one whose father is wealthier than her own. Worse, now booted from the top girls’ quarters, Adele has to share a room with Lottie Diamond, a poor outcast who likes to fight and doesn’t follow the rules. Adele is determined to win her top spot back, but instead slowly finds herself caught in Lottie’s gravitational pull.

Lottie forces Adele to think about things she’s never considered before, like whether her father might love her mother and what future could possibly exist for a colored girl from Swaziland—even one who follows all the rules. Adele is soon forced to make a choice: betray Lottie to regain her social status or forge ahead with her new friend and become an outcast herself. Before Adele can decide, tragedy strikes the school, and the two girls find themselves investigating the suspicious circumstances of a classmate’s disappearance. Their investigation doesn’t lead where either girl expects.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs