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A review by librarybonanza
X: A Novel by Kekla Magoon, Ilyasah Shabazz
5.0
Age: High School+
History: Harlem Renaissance, 1930s-1940s
First line: "Friends tell me trouble's coming."
A restless teen transforms into a man who changes history in this blend of fiction and nonfiction by Malcolm X's daughter. The unfolding of Malcom X's character is in-depth and organic without dragging, detailing the background story behind a great leader. I am fascinated by origin stories and I love the uniqueness this biography holds by being fictionalized. We experience his growth--and downfalls--as he does, with all the justifiable angst and uncertainty of a boy whose childhood is marked by the outspoken strength of his parents and marred by their demise at the hands of racism. Without his parents, Malcom is adrift as a teen, futilely trying to make his mark in a high-paced world of hustling, drugs, and fear.
The scene with the song Forgotten Fruit sung by Billie Holiday is absolutely breathtaking and re-hooked me back into the story. Do yourself a favor and listen to the song.
"Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's nothing but a pack of lies—after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer.
But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory when what starts as some small-time hustling quickly spins out of control. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can't run forever.
X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today" (Goodreads review)
History: Harlem Renaissance, 1930s-1940s
First line: "Friends tell me trouble's coming."
A restless teen transforms into a man who changes history in this blend of fiction and nonfiction by Malcolm X's daughter. The unfolding of Malcom X's character is in-depth and organic without dragging, detailing the background story behind a great leader. I am fascinated by origin stories and I love the uniqueness this biography holds by being fictionalized. We experience his growth--and downfalls--as he does, with all the justifiable angst and uncertainty of a boy whose childhood is marked by the outspoken strength of his parents and marred by their demise at the hands of racism. Without his parents, Malcom is adrift as a teen, futilely trying to make his mark in a high-paced world of hustling, drugs, and fear.
The scene with the song Forgotten Fruit sung by Billie Holiday is absolutely breathtaking and re-hooked me back into the story. Do yourself a favor and listen to the song.
"Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's nothing but a pack of lies—after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer.
But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory when what starts as some small-time hustling quickly spins out of control. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can't run forever.
X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today" (Goodreads review)