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Where I'm From by Ebony Walden
Published by She Writes Press on 9/8/2026
Genres: Travel Essays, Travelogues, People of African Descent & Black Studies
Pages: 304
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In 2010, twenty-nine-year-old poet Ebony Walden quits her job to go to on an eight-month solo journey across fifteen countries and five continents. Propelled by a sense of purpose and adventure, she moves from teaching English and volunteering in places like Guatemala and India to conducting poetry workshops in Kenya, walking the ruins of Machu Picchu, and paragliding over the Swiss Alps.
Along the way, Ebony writes “Where I’m From” poems with the people she meets—intimate reflections that capture family, identity and culture, weaving their voices into her own unfolding journey. But each destination also challenges her in unexpected ways, forcing her to reckon with the hardships of growing up in New York in the ’80s and ’90s. Through breathtaking landscapes, unexpected setbacks, and profound encounters with strangers, Ebony begins to understand that travel is not just about seeing the world—it is about allowing the world to change you.
Part travel memoir, part coming-of-age story, Where I’m From invites readers to take their own journey beyond borders and come home to themselves.
Where I’m From by Ebony Walden is a beautiful reminder that sometimes we have to step outside of everything familiar to discover more about ourselves.
It’s inspiring to see someone brave enough to chase a dream without knowing the outcome. I liked how honest and open Ebony was in sharing her story. What stands out in this book is how she brings together people, poetry, and the idea of home. The “Where I’m From” poems add emotion and remind us that everyone’s story is important, no matter where we start.
I also appreciated that this journey wasn’t presented as one beautiful experience after another. Growth comes from discomfort, lessons from uncertainty, and healing from confronting parts of ourselves we may have spent years avoiding.
This is the kind of book that encourages you to reflect on your own life, the chances you have taken, and perhaps the ones you are still afraid to take. More than anything, it left me thinking about how much of ourselves we carry wherever we go.
Sometimes finding yourself isn’t about discovering a new place. It’s about finally understanding the person you’ve been all along.
Reviewed by: Orsayor
