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goodem9199's review against another edition
5.0
This book should be required reading for every American child. It would be uplifting to see the truth about this country in its infancy, instead of the biased stories we are all taught in grade school. Kudos to Kadir Nelson for telling this story in the most gorgeous way imaginable. He manages to find beauty in something that should enrage us all.
gmamartha's review against another edition
3.0
This non-fiction is the story of African Americans throughout US history.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
Told in the voice of a grandmotherly African American who lived through the depression and saw the first black president elected, Heart and Soul is the story of African Americans throughout American history. This is a brief book, so some parts are told more quickly than others, and some (Malcolm X) are glossed over very, very quickly. But there is a lyrical quality to the telling that makes sit a very easy read. The illustrations are gorgeous and rich and are not just there to decorate the pages. They really add to the book, putting names and faces to the history, just as this telling of the story does throughout.
thebrainlair's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Would hv loved to read more abt Buffalo Soldiers, Inventions of Black people, black suffragists, or any pieces of African American history that are usually passed over. Hopefully the success of this novel will lead to more stand-alone nonfiction pieces that focus on our unwritten, and therefore unread, history. The paintings were amazing, though! They get 5 stars!!
jaij7's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning! The illustrations are unbelievably beautiful enough to earn this book 5 Stars. Katie Nelson is incredibly talented. His illustrations are so telling and often heart wrenching. The story is also well told.
beyondevak's review against another edition
5.0
Quick Summary: Brutally honest and quite comprehensive
Comments: I appreciated the unique perspective presented in this book. The history of the United States is dark and yet colorful. Nelson did a tremendous job of bringing the African American experience to life.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes (highly)
Audience: All
Status: NF, Hx
Shelf: Favorite
Keeper: Yes
Comments: I appreciated the unique perspective presented in this book. The history of the United States is dark and yet colorful. Nelson did a tremendous job of bringing the African American experience to life.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes (highly)
Audience: All
Status: NF, Hx
Shelf: Favorite
Keeper: Yes
brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
With this book you get exactly what is advertised, The Story of America and African Americans, told brilliantly in surprisingly few pages. And then there are the pictures, which are colorful and vibrant representations of the story being told, that contain stories within themselves. Kadir Nelson did an excellent job with both mediums he employed to tell this complex story.
simtara's review against another edition
5.0
How do you condense 400+ years of history into less than 100 pages? I ask this from a place of awe. Considering the audience - children - this story makes African American history really accessible and, hopefully, piques people's curiosity to read more about each topic presented.
I walked away learning something new, which isn't entirely surprising given how much the history text books and our education systems are whitewashed.
I listened to this as an audio book and can only imagine how much more the illustrations must add to the overall experience and value of this book. 100% recommend it to everyone!
I walked away learning something new, which isn't entirely surprising given how much the history text books and our education systems are whitewashed.
I listened to this as an audio book and can only imagine how much more the illustrations must add to the overall experience and value of this book. 100% recommend it to everyone!
beths0103's review against another edition
5.0
One of the reasons kids (and adults for that matter) find history so boring is because they are forced to read "un-biased" texts void of any voice. Told from the perspective of a "grandmother-like figure who would allow me to focus on major historical milestones that affected both her family and the rest of the country" Kadir Nelson creates a history of the African American experience full of, well, Heart and Soul.
Once you put a book like this in the hands of students, suddenly history comes alive.
I am not ashamed to admit that I teared up a couple times while reading this book. For a non-fiction text to do that is quite a feat.
A great mentor text to use with kids about voice and writing about history through someone else's lens.
Once you put a book like this in the hands of students, suddenly history comes alive.
I am not ashamed to admit that I teared up a couple times while reading this book. For a non-fiction text to do that is quite a feat.
A great mentor text to use with kids about voice and writing about history through someone else's lens.