Thanks Christie Wright Wild for this challenge, I will continue to celebrate and focus on nonfiction books which embraces our culture.
Title: MALCOLM LITTLE: THE BOY WHO GREW UP TO BECOME MALCOLM X.
Author: Ilyasah Shabazz
Illustrator: A.G. Ford
Type: Nonfiction
Publisher: Atheneum
Publishing Year: 2013
Word Count: 3539-words
Summary: This biography of Malcolm X focuses on his childhood and the events that influenced later choices and actions in his life.
I love this book. I am a huge fan of Malcolm X. I always felt like he was misunderstood. I love the first sentence in the book.
BEGINNING: "Malcolm X was one of the most influential man in American History. But before he became Malcolm X, he was Malcolm Little."
The first page introduces Malcolm and his family. The book tells us that Malcolm's mother was from the West Indies (like me). It tells us he was a follower of Marcus Garvey (like me) {Marcus Garvey was born in Jamaica - like me}.
My favorite paragraph on the first page stated, "Malcolm's father was Earl Little, but there was nothing little about him. Papa Earl was a strong, broad, and towering man. His smooth dark skin was as beautiful as the midnight sky. His voice resounded like gentle thunder whenever he spoke. His protection and guidance stretched up and around his family like the great live oak trees in his home state of Georgia."I love the use of lyrical language. The way the author refers to the midnight sky as beautiful. I love the first spread of his mother and father. A.G. Ford is amazing.
ENDING: "Malcolm Little, the boy who was raised on the vision of freedom and justice, was elected class president by the students in his seventh grade class!"
This is not the book ending. But I think this is where the book should have ended. It would have brought the story full circle. It would also show the development of Malcolm as a leader. It showed that he was destined to lead the life of an activist. What are you reading?
