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jmanchester0's review against another edition
5.0
Have you ever been told that you were not enough?
While all of us have experienced that to some extent, it‰ЫЄs the lot of some to experience it more.
Bessie‰ЫЄs Springfield‰ЫЄs story is an inspiring tale of figuring out what you‰ЫЄre capable of in the face of a society that tells you you‰ЫЄre not.
Plus, this is a great children‰ЫЄs book, with some fantastic art. I‰ЫЄve been following Joel Christian Gill for a while now, and he‰ЫЄs a great writer and amazing artist. I‰ЫЄm glad he‰ЫЄs telling us the stories no one else will.
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Lion Forge for a copy in return for an honest review.
While all of us have experienced that to some extent, it‰ЫЄs the lot of some to experience it more.
Bessie‰ЫЄs Springfield‰ЫЄs story is an inspiring tale of figuring out what you‰ЫЄre capable of in the face of a society that tells you you‰ЫЄre not.
Plus, this is a great children‰ЫЄs book, with some fantastic art. I‰ЫЄve been following Joel Christian Gill for a while now, and he‰ЫЄs a great writer and amazing artist. I‰ЫЄm glad he‰ЫЄs telling us the stories no one else will.
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Lion Forge for a copy in return for an honest review.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is a charming way to learn about a woman who broke color and gender barriers in the US. I enjoyed the book and think it will be a fun and empowering read for kiddos to.
etienne02's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy those little stories for kids that present interesting person that are generally no so well know by the general public. This one is about a young girl that wanted to ride a bike and be fast, to finally end up being a pioneer of motorcycles sport for women. Like I said, an interesting person but also a good book by itself, with good illustrations and a fun story to read. Very well done!
sinamile's review against another edition
3.0
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review
I think I enjoyed the ending but that tells us about the real Bessie more.
This is a children's book, that teaches young kids that they can be whatever they want despite what the world is telling them, which I appreciate.
Although it wasn't for me, my niece did enjoy it, and the colouring of the pages. So this is definitely a story that would be important for young kids, especially little black girls who've been told they're not enough by society. Worth mentioning, I think, I love how Bessie's hair was drawn!
I think I enjoyed the ending but that tells us about the real Bessie more.
This is a children's book, that teaches young kids that they can be whatever they want despite what the world is telling them, which I appreciate.
Although it wasn't for me, my niece did enjoy it, and the colouring of the pages. So this is definitely a story that would be important for young kids, especially little black girls who've been told they're not enough by society. Worth mentioning, I think, I love how Bessie's hair was drawn!
jdgcreates's review against another edition
3.0
A great book for girls who want to break through restrictions and norms! I liked the illustrations in this book better than in Gill's comics too. Bessie Stringfield was an amazing woman!
elizabethlk's review
4.0
Earlier this year, I read Joel Christian Gill's Bessie Stringfield: Tales of the Talented Tenth, no. 2. It was my first time reading anything about Bessie Stringfield, and I was fascinated. When I found out Gill was authoring a picture book about Stringfield's life, I knew I was going to have to read it. I definitely find myself charmed by Fast Enough as well.
Stringfield led a fascinating life, and this picture book really does it justice for younger readers. I liked the way Gill presented the story in a way that children could relate to, with Stringfield's desire to be "good enough" as a major factor in the tale. Starting the story off by showing Stringfield as a vibrant young girl with a need for speed on her bicycle really worked here, especially as the story built around the character's reality and her dreams. Ending the story with a description of the life of the real woman was a nice touch, and will satisfy curious kids and adults alike.
I think the illustrations were especially lovely, with Gill's art style really bringing the characters to life, especially bringing Bessie Stringfield herself to life. Getting to see a young black girl with natural hair was especially great to see.
I definitely recommend Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride. This vibrant and vital piece of history is brought to life with lovely messages, extra historical information, a sweet and relatable story, and top notch illustrations. Kids and adults will both find something to like about this one.
Stringfield led a fascinating life, and this picture book really does it justice for younger readers. I liked the way Gill presented the story in a way that children could relate to, with Stringfield's desire to be "good enough" as a major factor in the tale. Starting the story off by showing Stringfield as a vibrant young girl with a need for speed on her bicycle really worked here, especially as the story built around the character's reality and her dreams. Ending the story with a description of the life of the real woman was a nice touch, and will satisfy curious kids and adults alike.
I think the illustrations were especially lovely, with Gill's art style really bringing the characters to life, especially bringing Bessie Stringfield herself to life. Getting to see a young black girl with natural hair was especially great to see.
I definitely recommend Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride. This vibrant and vital piece of history is brought to life with lovely messages, extra historical information, a sweet and relatable story, and top notch illustrations. Kids and adults will both find something to like about this one.
librarianryan's review
5.0
What a wonderful tale. Before I read this book I knew of Bessie Stringfield, but nothing about her. This book reads both as a great “girl power” bedtime story and a fabulous beginners biography. The true story at the end is just as entertaining as the fictionalized version. Plus the illustrations are amazing. Vibrant and full of life.
divineblkpearl's review
4.0
It is 2019, and I’m ready for more books about Black women that history hasn’t forgotten but also hasn’t had the chance to share them for bigger audiences through more mediums.
This time this offering comes in the form of a children’s book. I had no clue who Bessie Stringfield was. Her name did not ring a bell. I did know of another Bessie. Bessie Coleman was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot license. But this Bessie Stringfield, who was she? Some research on my end revealed that she was the first African-American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle among many other great accomplishments.
Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride is an imagined account of a young Bessie Stringfield who wants more: she wants to ride, and she wants to ride fast. Yet, she needs the validation and courage to do so. Young Bessie is a little girl who is taunted and left behind and verbally devalued again and again, yet she loves her bike and the power she has riding it.
It’s a bright and colorful affair, and the dream sequences of our heroine riding across bodies of water and across outer space are fun and eye candy. They instantly spur up the imagination that girls, girls that look like Bessie Stringfield with brown skin and afro puffs, can do anything–not just the impossible. This makes for a great vehicle for representing not just the future queen of motorcycles from Florida for younger readers but representing more children of color and specifically little Black girls in books for a younger age group.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/fast-enough-bessie-stringfields-first-ride-review/
This time this offering comes in the form of a children’s book. I had no clue who Bessie Stringfield was. Her name did not ring a bell. I did know of another Bessie. Bessie Coleman was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot license. But this Bessie Stringfield, who was she? Some research on my end revealed that she was the first African-American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle among many other great accomplishments.
Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride is an imagined account of a young Bessie Stringfield who wants more: she wants to ride, and she wants to ride fast. Yet, she needs the validation and courage to do so. Young Bessie is a little girl who is taunted and left behind and verbally devalued again and again, yet she loves her bike and the power she has riding it.
It’s a bright and colorful affair, and the dream sequences of our heroine riding across bodies of water and across outer space are fun and eye candy. They instantly spur up the imagination that girls, girls that look like Bessie Stringfield with brown skin and afro puffs, can do anything–not just the impossible. This makes for a great vehicle for representing not just the future queen of motorcycles from Florida for younger readers but representing more children of color and specifically little Black girls in books for a younger age group.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/fast-enough-bessie-stringfields-first-ride-review/
elizabethd's review
4.0
Into motorcycles? Then Bessie Stringfield is your gal! Like my husband, she was born to wheels. She first fell in love with bicycles and then motorcycles. However, this was at a time when girls, let alone black girls, didn't do things like ride around the country on motorcycles. Bessie truly blazed her own path that many others followed.