ice_lasha's review
4.0
Though this book is below my age range, I decided to request the advanced reader copy. I am beyond glad that I did.
Indigo’s story is one of passion and justice. Watching Indigo navigate friendship, racism, family, and her passion for journalism was heartwarming and inspiring.
This was a quick read for me, I recommend that you pick this one up.
Indigo’s story is one of passion and justice. Watching Indigo navigate friendship, racism, family, and her passion for journalism was heartwarming and inspiring.
This was a quick read for me, I recommend that you pick this one up.
jaz_gets_literary's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Indigo is a budding reporter who sets off in getting herself sent to detention to report on an injustice she thinks is going on. The story she finds ends of being bigger than she could have ever thought. While in detention the teacher gives the students an assignment, pick a book about an influencer and right a paper on it. Indigo finds a book about Ida B. Wells. When she opens it she realizes that the book holds more than what it first appears to be and maybe it will help her uncover the truth of everything happening at her school.
Middle school is such a weird time for children. The hormones and all the changes are difficult to deals with and we see Indigo and her friends try to tackle these changes. These changes are especially hard when race, gender identity, classism, and popularity come into play. The parallels between Indigo and Ida!!! Those parallels helped Indigo search within her herself and find who she truly is, what she believes in and what she stands for. I don’t really agree with most school reading list but this book should be on all middle school reading lists. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Middle school is such a weird time for children. The hormones and all the changes are difficult to deals with and we see Indigo and her friends try to tackle these changes. These changes are especially hard when race, gender identity, classism, and popularity come into play. The parallels between Indigo and Ida!!! Those parallels helped Indigo search within her herself and find who she truly is, what she believes in and what she stands for. I don’t really agree with most school reading list but this book should be on all middle school reading lists. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Transphobia
mixedgirlreading's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Indigo and Ida follows the story of Indigo, an aspiring journalist as she discovers racist practices within her school. As she attempts to make decisions on whether she will speak up or be quiet and get along, she finds letters written by Ida B. Wells in a copy of her biography.
Within this book, Heather Murphy Capps does a great job of bringing forward the racism faced by Black students in a way that I think will educate young readers without being too didactic. Many middle grade novels which deal with social justice issues, I’ve noticed being a bit didactic in how they approach them, and Capps is able to avoid this in her writing. The book draws from Black history and uses it as a way to empower the main character Indigo.I found Indigo’s personality to be realistic and her struggles to feel real. This book feels similar to the YA novel We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in its themes and presentation, but written for a younger audience. Overall, the story was engaging and I really enjoyed the character of Indigo. I would recommend this for the middle grade reader in your life.
Thank you Netgally and Carolrhoda Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Within this book, Heather Murphy Capps does a great job of bringing forward the racism faced by Black students in a way that I think will educate young readers without being too didactic. Many middle grade novels which deal with social justice issues, I’ve noticed being a bit didactic in how they approach them, and Capps is able to avoid this in her writing. The book draws from Black history and uses it as a way to empower the main character Indigo.I found Indigo’s personality to be realistic and her struggles to feel real. This book feels similar to the YA novel We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in its themes and presentation, but written for a younger audience. Overall, the story was engaging and I really enjoyed the character of Indigo. I would recommend this for the middle grade reader in your life.
Thank you Netgally and Carolrhoda Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Trigger Warnings: Racism, bullying, white privilege, transphobia, references to lynching
After eighth grader Indigo intentionally gets herself detention trying to expose an unfair school policy, she gets an assignment that causes her to stumble across a book by journalist and activist Ida B. Wells - with private letters by Ida tucked inside. While reading the letter, Indigo gets inspired to investigate more into her school’s policies - and she notices that the school’s disciplinary policies seem to be enforced harsher on students of color.
When Indigo reports on this issue, her friends tell her she’s overreacting and her classmates tell her she’s too aggressive, loud, and annoying.
By continuing to read Ida’s letters, Indigo realizes she’ll have to choose between keeping quiet and taking the easy way out or possibly standing alone to fight for justice.
An inspiring middle grade novel about a young journalist being inspired by Ida B. Wells as she finds her voice to stand against the injustice taking place at her school. So much happens in this book that I sometimes found it hard to believe it all took place in one week! But this covers a few heavy topics and the author does so in a way that makes it easier for middle grade readers to understand - segregation, lynching, racism, protests, white privilege, transphobia (just to name a few).
I believe young readers will enjoy this book as it addresses many issues they see today and is written in a way they can understand and relate to. Indigo is also an amazing example of a young person standing up for what they know is wrong - even if they’re standing alone.
*Thank you Carolrhoda Books and LibraryThing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
librarygirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
qace90's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
Keep your eyes out for this book, and this author, because this was excellent and I need everyone to read it.
Full review closer to release.
Full review:
Oof, this book is a heavy hitter, but also so important and so emotional and so good. It feels similar to We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in how a young Black girl finds her voice and strength through the stories of Black women who came before them - in this case, Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I also loved the element of letters that were exactly what Indigo needed to hear in order to speak the truth and keep making noise, even as administration and her peers tried to silence her. Uncomfortable topics are just that - uncomfortable - but if we can’t have those conversations then nothing can change. And we need change, as Indigo makes clear with her recognition of the racist application of school policies to disproportionately punish Black and brown students. This story takes place over just a week, and what an intense week it is. I found this to be an unputdownable story and look forward to the stories Heather Murphy Capps will write in the future.
Keep your eyes out for this book, and this author, because this was excellent and I need everyone to read it.
Full review closer to release.
Full review:
Oof, this book is a heavy hitter, but also so important and so emotional and so good. It feels similar to We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in how a young Black girl finds her voice and strength through the stories of Black women who came before them - in this case, Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I also loved the element of letters that were exactly what Indigo needed to hear in order to speak the truth and keep making noise, even as administration and her peers tried to silence her. Uncomfortable topics are just that - uncomfortable - but if we can’t have those conversations then nothing can change. And we need change, as Indigo makes clear with her recognition of the racist application of school policies to disproportionately punish Black and brown students. This story takes place over just a week, and what an intense week it is. I found this to be an unputdownable story and look forward to the stories Heather Murphy Capps will write in the future.
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