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A review by jecoats
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
5.0
I discovered this picturebook while searching for winners of the Caldecott Medal (which this book was awarded in 2020) on Goodreads. I checked out a physical copy from my local library.
The Undefeated is a beautiful picturebook that truly is, as the description in the sleeve states, “a love letter to…Black America.” Using very few words on each page, author Kwame Alexander captures the joy, majesty, grace, ingenuity, perseverance, sorrow, and limitlessness of the Black American experience. Almost every page feels like a celebration of what has made Black Americans great. However, there are several pages that also mourn the loss of Black life, and unflinchingly depict the unspeakable horrors of both slavery and the murders of so many innocent Black men and women. Despite these depictions, the book does ultimately offer a more hopeful and uplifting portrayal of the Black experience.
The Undefeated is also a wonderful, stunning piece of artwork. Kadir Nelson’s illustrations amplify the book's many messages, and provide brilliant, realistic depictions of the many Black Americans the book celebrates. Each page perfectly balances the illustrations and the text, creating a picturebook that feels incredibly succinct and unified. There is a lot of negative space on the page, which I think not only helps the illustrations really jump off the page, but also helps create some very jarring and thought provoking images. For instance, early in the book there is a completely blank page, which helps to underscore the idea that there are many Black Americans who did not survive “America.” The use of color is something to behold as Nelson makes use of light, texture, and shadow, as well as a wide spectrum of skin tones, to make these images feel lifelike. I think if the text were removed, this would still be an incredibly powerful picturebook.
This is an absolute mirror of a book. It's not only a love letter to Black America, but to the beauty of Black Americans themselves. The illustrations show such an appreciation - an undiluted love - for Black people and each page is a celebration of being Black. I cannot stress the beauty of the artwork enough - each page is a legitimate masterpiece. And while I do think this book could also be used as a window, even if only to showcase the beauty of being a Black American, I think it a mirror first and foremost.
I would recommend this book for all grade levels. I think every student, regardless of age or reading level, can find something in The Undefeated to inspire them. This picturebook could spark so many wonderful conversations about the Black experience and what it means to be Black in America today. It could be used as a way to introduce units on Civil Rights, the Civil War, Black Lives Matter, or to introduce students to any of the famous Black Americans depicted within. This is a glorious title that I highly recommend.
The Undefeated is a beautiful picturebook that truly is, as the description in the sleeve states, “a love letter to…Black America.” Using very few words on each page, author Kwame Alexander captures the joy, majesty, grace, ingenuity, perseverance, sorrow, and limitlessness of the Black American experience. Almost every page feels like a celebration of what has made Black Americans great. However, there are several pages that also mourn the loss of Black life, and unflinchingly depict the unspeakable horrors of both slavery and the murders of so many innocent Black men and women. Despite these depictions, the book does ultimately offer a more hopeful and uplifting portrayal of the Black experience.
The Undefeated is also a wonderful, stunning piece of artwork. Kadir Nelson’s illustrations amplify the book's many messages, and provide brilliant, realistic depictions of the many Black Americans the book celebrates. Each page perfectly balances the illustrations and the text, creating a picturebook that feels incredibly succinct and unified. There is a lot of negative space on the page, which I think not only helps the illustrations really jump off the page, but also helps create some very jarring and thought provoking images. For instance, early in the book there is a completely blank page, which helps to underscore the idea that there are many Black Americans who did not survive “America.” The use of color is something to behold as Nelson makes use of light, texture, and shadow, as well as a wide spectrum of skin tones, to make these images feel lifelike. I think if the text were removed, this would still be an incredibly powerful picturebook.
This is an absolute mirror of a book. It's not only a love letter to Black America, but to the beauty of Black Americans themselves. The illustrations show such an appreciation - an undiluted love - for Black people and each page is a celebration of being Black. I cannot stress the beauty of the artwork enough - each page is a legitimate masterpiece. And while I do think this book could also be used as a window, even if only to showcase the beauty of being a Black American, I think it a mirror first and foremost.
I would recommend this book for all grade levels. I think every student, regardless of age or reading level, can find something in The Undefeated to inspire them. This picturebook could spark so many wonderful conversations about the Black experience and what it means to be Black in America today. It could be used as a way to introduce units on Civil Rights, the Civil War, Black Lives Matter, or to introduce students to any of the famous Black Americans depicted within. This is a glorious title that I highly recommend.