crystal_reading's review
4.0
This is a fun way to learn about some of the lesser known African American people who overcame adversity in the past. I had read about Bass Reeves and Henry "Box" Brown, but otherwise the people and stories were new to me. I appreciate learning about these heroes. I would love to have a similar work that highlighted some females.
Also, Bass Reeves lived with several groups of Native Americans, but the author melded them all together. I think a better way would have been to chosen one of them to go with. The pictographs in the word balloons were not a good replacement for research.
Also, Bass Reeves lived with several groups of Native Americans, but the author melded them all together. I think a better way would have been to chosen one of them to go with. The pictographs in the word balloons were not a good replacement for research.
readreadreadbby's review
4.0
i thought the illustrations were beautiful and the writing as well. i wish that i spent more time with this book to appreciate it better.
abbyschafer's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Beautifully rendered narratives of untold Black history. Reading this makes me with there was a child in my life I could buy this book for.
ashlyluvsyellow's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Loved it, very informative and easy read.
booksandteatime's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Death, Slavery, and Colonisation
chelseamartinez's review
4.0
A great comic digest well-captured by the title. I imagined myself as a younger student (grade... 4-10?) receiving a list of people from which I had to select the subject of yet another "biography report"... this varied collection of stories has just enough detail that it would have piqued my interest about any of the subjects enough to choose them. Would be a great addition to any school library.
jessicaz's review
3.0
This graphic novel introduces the stories of lesser-known figures in African American history - Henry "Box" Brown, Harry Lew, Richard Potter, Theophilius Thompson, Marshall Taylor, Spottswood Rice - as well as the stories of Malaga Island and the Noyes Academy - in under 170 pages. So, the histories themselves are brief, but Gill does a good job of weaving a narrative thread throughout them. A great intro to history for kids who may be less than excited about picking up a history book.
mrsblack's review
4.0
4.5 I debated at putting this as a five star, but I am stingy with those and while these are interesting stories, they are short and not terribly in depth. Obviously they are not meant to be full biographies, so I am not saying that critically, just as a reason I put it below a 5. The book is fantastic for generating interest in the subjects and there is more than one that I look forward to learning about. Going in I knew none of these names or stories. I'm glad I will be able to have this in my classroom.
Some highlights for me were the depictions of births, the Harry Potter reference, and the art. I laughed and I cried reading these stories, and I'm looking forward to the second volume which is due out in February.
Some highlights for me were the depictions of births, the Harry Potter reference, and the art. I laughed and I cried reading these stories, and I'm looking forward to the second volume which is due out in February.