Scan barcode
A review by elizabethlk
Strange Fruit, Volume II: More Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History by Joel Christian Gill
5.0
Joel Christian Gill has an incredible talent for bringing the stories of important but lesser-known figures from Black history into the spotlight. The stories Gill shares in Strange Fruit Volume II are the exact kind of stories I wish I had heard as a child, but I am incredibly glad for everyone, adult or child, who gets to read these stories now.
Gill uses an accessible art style to portray history in a way that is appealing without ever feeling condescending, as well as in a way that is interesting without ever appearing sensational. The storytelling style feels exactly the same, and there's something that I think is vital in getting to experience these stories for the first time from someone who cares about how those stories are being presented.
The assortment of people who are featured in this collection is quite broad. I had only properly read about one of them before (Mary Fields), and I had heard of maybe two others. I am always delighted when a collection of biographies can show me so many incredible figures that I was unfamiliar with before. I think the ability to make unknown figures known and accessible for a broad audience is vital and makes Gill a force to be reckoned with.
I highly recommend all of Joel Christian Gill's work, and Strange Fruit Volume II is no exception. Reading the first volume is not necessary to read and love the second volume. While the series isn't targeted towards younger readers, I think that anyone middle grade and up will find something to love here.
Gill uses an accessible art style to portray history in a way that is appealing without ever feeling condescending, as well as in a way that is interesting without ever appearing sensational. The storytelling style feels exactly the same, and there's something that I think is vital in getting to experience these stories for the first time from someone who cares about how those stories are being presented.
The assortment of people who are featured in this collection is quite broad. I had only properly read about one of them before (Mary Fields), and I had heard of maybe two others. I am always delighted when a collection of biographies can show me so many incredible figures that I was unfamiliar with before. I think the ability to make unknown figures known and accessible for a broad audience is vital and makes Gill a force to be reckoned with.
I highly recommend all of Joel Christian Gill's work, and Strange Fruit Volume II is no exception. Reading the first volume is not necessary to read and love the second volume. While the series isn't targeted towards younger readers, I think that anyone middle grade and up will find something to love here.