Magic Enuff is a raw, wrenching collection of poetry. The beautiful cover and the titular reference to magic left me expecting more Black joy than traMagic Enuff is a raw, wrenching collection of poetry. The beautiful cover and the titular reference to magic left me expecting more Black joy than trauma, but that is not the case. This is a well done collection of poetry. Just don't go in expecting light, because most of the poems are instead very heavy and dark. So much trauma. So many content warnings. Worth it if you're in a headspace to handle it, though. I hope writing these poems helped bring more healing into Tara Stringfellow's life. and gosh, that cover really is gorgeous!
Thank you to Random House and #Netgally for an advanced digital copy of #MagicEnuff ...more
Amazing story. Lackluster writing. I appreciate the enthusiasm of the old white men telling this story, but they were very comfortable repeating some Amazing story. Lackluster writing. I appreciate the enthusiasm of the old white men telling this story, but they were very comfortable repeating some specific problematic words (N*) outside of direct quotations, and they surely missed cultural nuances they would have no way of understanding. I want to find a better book about Eugene Bullard--what a character! He deserves better.
Also, reader beware, one of the authors has a military background and no problem going into fine detail about war injuries and death in grisly detail. Some really horrifying imagery.
I finally read this book after receiving it as a physical ARC at a library conference, so thank you to the publisher, I guess....more
The Teacher's March! by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace is a historical nonfiction picture book about a event in the Civil Rights movement that iThe Teacher's March! by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace is a historical nonfiction picture book about a event in the Civil Rights movement that is not often mentioned, (I admit that I don't remember ever hearing of it before.), the Teacher's March in Selma, Alabama. Prior to the more infamous events in Selma, Alabama, featuring MLK Jr., John Lewis, and so many other brave civil rights activists, the Reverend F.D. Reese, a science teacher as well as a minister, led a group of 104 school teachers on a march through Selma to the court house to ask to register to vote...again. While they were denied their right to register at that time, they were, notably, not arrested, which made an important step in the campaign to secure the right to vote for Black Americans.
This book not only relays the story of the March itself, but also gives historical context from both before and after the March, setting it in the greater framework of the Civil Rights movement. The authors include first hand perspectives from surviving witnesses they personally interviewed, including Reverend F.D. Reese himself. The story is easy to read, with a compelling narrative structure and striking acrylic on board illustrations. Several pages at the end of the book offer an author's note which includes further information and context, as well as present day photos of two of the surviving marchers, and black and white historical photos from Selma marches. There is also a concise timeline of events and a comprehensive bibliography citing books, personal interviews and visits, films and audio resources, websites, magazines, newspapers, and journals. A portion of the proceeds from this book are being donated to the historic church featured in this story and a STEAM academy in Selma.
"The teacher's didn't breathe a word . . . but you could hear courage in their leather shoes churning up the red dirt road."
Overall this was just a great read, highly recommended for the children in your life. While honest about the nature of the resistance the Black residents of Selma faced, the book does not include detailed enough descriptions of violence to distress most young readers. Instead, this book shows how everyone can contribute to making a positive difference and standing up for what is right, and sheds a light on one historical event, set within a greater historical context--neither of which should be forgotten.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Astra Publishing for sharing a free advance copy of #TheTeachersMarch with me....more
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head is beautifully raw and unflinching poetry. Absolutely haunting, and so gorgeous, especially as an audBless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head is beautifully raw and unflinching poetry. Absolutely haunting, and so gorgeous, especially as an audio book read by the author. War. Displacement. Violence. Life as a refugee. Loss after loss, and the resulting pain and addiction and trauma and abuse, the fracturing of family and relationships. The lyrical beauty of the poetry does not diminish its emotional potency. There were scenes the author described that I couldn't get out of my head, and I had to read something else before I could fall asleep that night. Highly recommended, just take care to check the content warnings, because wow, there's a lot.
Thank you to Random House and #NetGalley for a chance to read an advance digital copy of the gorgeous #BlesstheDaughterRaisedbyaVoiceinHerHead ...more
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