Status
Available
Local notes
Fic Sha
Collection
Genres
Publication
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (2018), 256 pages
Description
Raised by her aunt until she is six, Betty, who will later marry Malcolm X, joins her mother and stepfamily in 1940s Detroit, where she learns about the civil rights movement.
Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2020)
Cardinal Cup (Honor — Young Readers — 2019)
CCBC Choices (2019)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2019)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
256 p.; 6.09 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: Very strong fictional biography conveying the time, the personal challenges, and the racism while developing an empathetic portrait. Unfortunately, the cover targets the book towards younger readers than the actual reading interest of 10-14.
LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: Very strong fictional biography conveying the time, the personal challenges, and the racism while developing an empathetic portrait. Unfortunately, the cover targets the book towards younger readers than the actual reading interest of 10-14.
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Chronicles the life of Betty Shabazz as a young girl. From being raised by a paternal aunt in the South and moving to Detroit in the 1940s, the book follows Betty's development into a teenager. A difficult relationship with her biological mother ends with her living with the Malloy family, church
A strong afterward gives additional insights into Betty's story.
The audiobook was read by the author.
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leaders and activists promoting black businesses as a way to promote independence and rights. A strong afterward gives additional insights into Betty's story.
The audiobook was read by the author.
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LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: Very strong fictional biography conveying the time, the personal challenges, and the racism while developing an empathetic portrait. Unfortunately, the cover targets the book towards younger readers than the actual reading interest of 10-14.
LibraryThing member fionaanne
A three-star story but bonus points for having such a clear author's note separating fact from fictional liberties.
LibraryThing member jennybeast
This is a really well done book -- great voice, great pacing, solid history -- altogether a very enjoyable read. There's a lot of faith in here, but even as a reader who does not appreciate the koolaid, I found it to be reasonable, compelling and appropriate. I appreciate the first hand account of
The only thing that really threw me is the scene where they are preparing for the large tea party and making Lavender Lemonade. Mrs. Malloy tells them to use manuka honey, and that seems incredibly unlikely -- was New Zealand really exporting raw honey to Detroit in the 1940s? I'd love to hear more if that is true.
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1940s Detroit, the positive activism, the strong bonds of family (chosen and not), and Betty's lively mind and unwillingness to take racism lying down. The lynching scene was shocking, and the murder of a 15 year old boy was awful, but both are depressingly important to depict. The only thing that really threw me is the scene where they are preparing for the large tea party and making Lavender Lemonade. Mrs. Malloy tells them to use manuka honey, and that seems incredibly unlikely -- was New Zealand really exporting raw honey to Detroit in the 1940s? I'd love to hear more if that is true.
Show Less
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Lexile
810L
Pages
256