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hollyxbear's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a giveaway at the ALA conference in Chicago.
This was a very digestible way to see history. That is the first thing I think when I remember this book. Learning about some of the most important people in Black history through prose was a very new idea but it worked so well. This book opened my eyes to new ways to encourage younger kids to read about history!
This was a very digestible way to see history. That is the first thing I think when I remember this book. Learning about some of the most important people in Black history through prose was a very new idea but it worked so well. This book opened my eyes to new ways to encourage younger kids to read about history!
mfwestfall's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
In case some of you don’t finish reading this review, I’m going to put this command right here at the top - All librarians and middle school and high school teachers reading this, go buy this collective biography of Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King, Junior, and Barack Obama and share it with your students! Want to know why? Keep reading . . .
Sometimes a book or a piece of writing comes along and after you finish reading it, the lightbulb goes off, the fog clears, and a jigsaw puzzle of realization comes together in your head. You want to share this newly gained knowledge with as many people as you can, and wish that everyone could join you in this newly enlightened frame of mind. That’s where Ray Anthony Shepard’s beautifully rendered biographical story poems of six African-American icons takes you. Experiencing this unusual format of nonfiction is enough reason on its own to read this book. Add to that the new perspectives you will gain on the African-American leaders and other historical figures - Martin Luther King Jr. as an imperfect, sometimes even flawed leader, George and Martha Washington as cruel enslavers. And the message at the core of this incredible book, that we are still on the long road to the destination of “we the people” and “ a more perfect union.” This book is going on my forever favorites shelf. Even with all I’ve read over the years and having taught social studies myself, I still learned so much from this book, proving we are all still students. And I love author Ray Anthony Shepard’s intro to the unique format of the book:
“Nonfiction in verse may sound like an oxymoron, a mashup
gone astray, as awful as a sardines and sauerkraut breakfast sandwich. Instead, I hope to serve you banana and peanut butter spread on a toasted sesame seed bagel - delicious, but not your usual fare.”
Absolutely phenomenal.
shorereader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
bickie's review against another edition
5.0
Highly readable "work of creative nonfiction told in five story-poems - flash lines of verse, prose, and quotes - anchored in historical facts" following the "significant events" in 5 Black historical figures' lives from 1773-2008 "that show how they tilted the country's moral arc toward liberty, freedom, and justice" (quotes from the preface by the author). While the stories contain snippets of hard history, they focus on the resistance and perseverance of the people to continue working "toward a more perfect union" where there is social and racial justice.
All chapters/story-poems are made up of many individual poems, most labeled with a place and date, and all titled. The individual poems are impressionistic, and many have a rhythm that would work well when read aloud. They are peppered with italicized quotes from primary sources. The five chapters are bookended by poems "Did You Even Wonder?" and "The Long Time" (labeled as an Epilogue). Back matter includes a timeline from 1775-2008, "History Clips" listing internet resources to primary sources, and "Further Reading" providing age-appropriate suggestions on the topics of "Enslavement and Emancipation," "Freedom and Justice," and "The Promise of America." There is also an extensive Bibliography and Source Notes section listing primary and secondary sources used as well as the sources of the italicized quotes for each chapter as well as a comprehensive index.
Given the people's life experiences, there is mention of rape, beatings, lynching and other murder, alcohol and cannabis use, and extra-marital affairs. Two quotes contain profanity: one from President Lyndon B. Johnson ["What is that g*dd***ed n*****r preacher doing to me?"] and one from Barack Obama's white grandfather ["Should be one h*ll of a Christmas"].
All chapters/story-poems are made up of many individual poems, most labeled with a place and date, and all titled. The individual poems are impressionistic, and many have a rhythm that would work well when read aloud. They are peppered with italicized quotes from primary sources. The five chapters are bookended by poems "Did You Even Wonder?" and "The Long Time" (labeled as an Epilogue). Back matter includes a timeline from 1775-2008, "History Clips" listing internet resources to primary sources, and "Further Reading" providing age-appropriate suggestions on the topics of "Enslavement and Emancipation," "Freedom and Justice," and "The Promise of America." There is also an extensive Bibliography and Source Notes section listing primary and secondary sources used as well as the sources of the italicized quotes for each chapter as well as a comprehensive index.
Given the people's life experiences, there is mention of rape, beatings, lynching and other murder, alcohol and cannabis use, and extra-marital affairs. Two quotes contain profanity: one from President Lyndon B. Johnson ["What is that g*dd***ed n*****r preacher doing to me?"] and one from Barack Obama's white grandfather ["Should be one h*ll of a Christmas"].
kiperoo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
The verse format really works for this heavy topic--biographies of well-known Black figures and the difficulties they faced. I learned so much I didn't know!
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.
I think this was a read now on NetGalley and the premise seemed interesting, but it's missing the lyrical flow of many verse novels. There were also major issues with the formatting, so I'm not even sure if it was in order most of the time. There was good historical content and some few good quotes, but it felt underwhelming in terms of verse and tying the stories together. I do like the emphasis on specific people, though.
Merged review:
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.
I think this was a read now on NetGalley and the premise seemed interesting, but it's missing the lyrical flow of many verse novels. There were also major issues with the formatting, so I'm not even sure if it was in order most of the time. There was good historical content and some few good quotes, but it felt underwhelming in terms of verse and tying the stories together. I do like the emphasis on specific people, though.
I think this was a read now on NetGalley and the premise seemed interesting, but it's missing the lyrical flow of many verse novels. There were also major issues with the formatting, so I'm not even sure if it was in order most of the time. There was good historical content and some few good quotes, but it felt underwhelming in terms of verse and tying the stories together. I do like the emphasis on specific people, though.
Merged review:
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.
I think this was a read now on NetGalley and the premise seemed interesting, but it's missing the lyrical flow of many verse novels. There were also major issues with the formatting, so I'm not even sure if it was in order most of the time. There was good historical content and some few good quotes, but it felt underwhelming in terms of verse and tying the stories together. I do like the emphasis on specific people, though.