Reviews

The Awakening of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson, Ilyasah Shabazz

shirat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

skrajewski's review against another edition

4.0

Malcolm Little believes his white girlfriend, Sophia, will be the witness to keep him from going to jail for robbery. Instead, she’s the witness for the prosecution that put him in jail for 8-10 years. When Malcolm arrives at Charlestown State Prison, he is frustrated, angry, and hurt. During his first few years, he avoids his family and creates problems for himself, trying to figure out how to find his way in prison. When he begins reading, and thus learning, however, his eyes begin to open to the world around him, as well as a possible future.

I plan to share some of the excepts about the importance of reading with my students. So powerful! Though much of this book is based on historical research, the author took some liberties and changed some information, making this a novel. I’d rather read nonfiction.

emordnilap's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Not meant to be a non-fiction book, Shabazz and Jackson took creative liberty as they are not Malcolm X. I found the book very interesting as someone who is white and grew up learning that Malcolm X was a bad person, that his ideas of freedom and how to reach it were wrong. As I get older and broaden my understanding of the world around me, I find it important to learn from many angles and I found the origins of Malcolm X and the comfort he found in Islam to be refreshing. While I have not questioned my belief in the Christian faith for the same reason as Malcolm X I found many of his ideas on why God had abandoned him and left him to be alone relatable into my own experiences as Queer person. This take on Malcolm X is one that I think many school systems need to look at and understand because not everyone who isn't Christian is a bad person even though it seems like many schools seem to teach that even if they are not "religious". 

thegood_books's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mrsleeth's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

decklededgess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

trigger warnings: incarceration, assassination, forced institutionalization, racism, physical violence, grief, death of parent, medical trauma, police brutality

This was a slow build book. I was very confused and disoriented by the switching timelines early on because I did this in audio but once I caught on, I was hooked. As someone who is only familiar with Malcolm X through what I have learnt in recent anti racist research, this was a great starting point for me to start digging into his writings more and more. 

I thought this was a really great piece of work to introduce high school kids to Malcolm X outside of the "he was violent" narrative that the education system pushes and has pushed for decades. I hope this book gets integrated into curriculum asap so that kids can start seeing history through a more antiracist lens.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence

goddessreads's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

thebeesknees79's review against another edition

5.0

I will admit, my knowledge of Malcolm X is basic. But this was an eye opening book! I cannot wait to get it in the hands of my students. To see the portion of Malcolm’s life that lead him on the path that brought him success, the struggles, the questions, the doubt. To see his time in jail woven with his life before was beautifully done. The story flowed, I was hooked, and I feel more informed after reading it. Well done.

clairewrobel's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

learntodream's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0