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andreiaoh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
devastatingly beautiful illustrations. very touching, and the poems were crafted wonderfully, and incredibly moving.
chromatography's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Had this read to me in a Drag Story Hour for Juneteenth. Beautiful and powerful story. Incredible illustrations. A wonderful book for younger audiences and adults alike.
heart_inaprairie's review against another edition
5.0
This short story based from the 1619 Project is beautiful! Highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
Read this during Black History Month and it’s touching! I teared up in the end. Representation matters.
Read this during Black History Month and it’s touching! I teared up in the end. Representation matters.
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this for my children for Christmas. It's just gorgeous and honest, powerful and moving. I can't wait to read it to them!
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
5.0
Lives up to all of the accolades. A powerful and uplifting testament to the rich history of the kingdoms of West Central Africa. And to perseverance in the face of the brutality of America’s slavery and racism.
happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
The illustrations are stand-out gorgeous in this picture book. I really like the frame story of the child wondering about her family history. I think I would want to make it clear to the children reading this that it is one child's family history—that there is a wide range of experiences in history, and this is one of many stories.
(For example... Some slave cargo ships came over much more recently than 1619—some smuggled in even after it was outlawed. Some were kidnapped and sold into slavery by neighboring tribes. There were also born freemen who were caught in the Northern states and enslaved illegally. And of course more recently there are African immigrants with no family history of American slavery. Depending on the age group, I think it would also be good to explain about human trafficking specifically in the 17th - 19th centuries: penal colonies, indentured servants, slavery, etc.)
(For example... Some slave cargo ships came over much more recently than 1619—some smuggled in even after it was outlawed. Some were kidnapped and sold into slavery by neighboring tribes. There were also born freemen who were caught in the Northern states and enslaved illegally. And of course more recently there are African immigrants with no family history of American slavery. Depending on the age group, I think it would also be good to explain about human trafficking specifically in the 17th - 19th centuries: penal colonies, indentured servants, slavery, etc.)
frmvivian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Beautiful poetry and illustrations, a must read to share with youth
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
cchapple's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent. My daughter had a lot of questions, even though we read it right before bed.