A thoughtful and skillfully written history for young readers.
A Black mother explains slavery and the African diaspora to her young son in this illustrated work for children.
In this debut, inspired by a real-life discussion between attorney Moore-Janvier and her 9-year-old child, a mom explains slavery, racism, and the African diaspora in a forthright but age-appropriate way. She starts with basic geography, then defines the concept of slavery before digging into its history in the United States and how enslaved people resisted their captivity. The mother and son then discuss the experiences of Black people in America and around the world: the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow; and the American civil rights movement. The book includes profiles nearly a dozen prominent historical figures, as well as contemporary Black role models. Bouthyette’s colorful cartoonlike illustrations of the mother, child, and other figures appear throughout, along with historical photos. There are also numerous excerpts from primary and secondary historical sources, with full citations in endnotes. Moore-Janvier does an excellent job of presenting complex and potentially painful information in a sensitive way that respects young readers’ intelligence. Some of the text seems specific to the author and her son’s experience (“All we will need are our cozy blankets, our pillows, the world map over there, and our book of pictures showing the Country Spotlights that were created in school”), but readers receive sufficient context, including reproductions of the aforementioned Country Spotlights, to make it broadly appealing. Mom’s narration is engaging, accurate, and emotionally resonant, and she makes it clear that although slavery is a fundamental part of Black history, it’s not the entirety of it, and presents a holistic picture of Africans and African Americans. With its prose narrative and somewhat advanced vocabulary, the book seems aimed at a slightly older audience than most illustrated children’s books. Overall, Moore-Janvier effectively shows how the history of slavery can be taught to young children accurately and honestly. As such, the book will be equally well suited to classrooms, libraries, or home bookshelves.
A thoughtful and skillfully written history for young readers.Pub Date: June 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64543-623-2
Page Count: 248
Publisher: Mascot Books
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Essential.
A guidebook for taking action against racism.
The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author’s note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms “folx,” because it is gender neutral, and “global majority,” noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities’ voices; "white" is not capitalized. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change makers, the author’s personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism.
Essential. (author’s note, further reading, glossary, select bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy.
Through the author’s own childhood diary entries, a seventh grader details her inner life before and after 9/11.
Alyssa’s diary entries start in September 2000, in the first week of her seventh grade year. She’s 11 and dealing with typical preteen concerns—popularity and anxiety about grades—along with other things more particular to her own life. She’s shuffling between Queens and Manhattan to share time between her divorced parents and struggling with thick facial hair and classmates who make her feel like she’s “not a whole person” due to her mixed White and Puerto Rican heritage. Alyssa is endlessly earnest and awkward as she works up the courage to talk to her crush, Alejandro; gushes about her dreams of becoming a shoe designer; and tries to solve her burgeoning unibrow problem. The diaries also have a darker side, as a sense of impending doom builds as the entries approach 9/11, especially because Alyssa’s father works in finance in the World Trade Center. As a number of the diary entries are taken directly from the author’s originals, they effortlessly capture the loud, confusing feelings middle school brings out. The artwork, in its muted but effective periwinkle tones, lends a satisfying layer to the diary’s accessible and delightful format.
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy. (author's note) (Graphic memoir. 8-13)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-77427-9
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
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