Author: Robin Farmer
Genre: historical fiction
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Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
My opinion: We get a fair number of books about kids becoming aware of or coming to terms with the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr, plenty about learning non-violent resistance. This book is in that vein but with a distinct difference: the figure Roberta is learning to emulate. Malcolm X is perhaps a more challenging figure but that provides more complex ideas. Roberta is learning when to simply resist and when to make a fuss. When to stand up and shout and fight to be heard. There's aggression and compassion in equal measure and Roberta has to learn to balance these things as well. Add in the more standard middle grade themes of questioning your religion and your view of your family and there's a lot going on. This does mean that the plot is a bit scattered. Tonally, it's more suitable for older middle grade kids or young teens. Not a book for everyone but could certainly have a place on supplementary reading list.
More information: Malcolm and Me releases November 17.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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