Summary
Only in his late teens, a young Malcolm X is imprisoned in Charlestown prison, where he witnesses firsthand the atrocities of the American criminal justice system. With only his fellow prisoners and his family members to talk to, Malcolm slowly begins to open his eyes to systemic injustice and find his voice.
He begins reading as much as he can, practicing Islam and joins the prison debate team after his transfer to a restorative prison program, where he learns the incredible power of his voice. On this journey, Malcolm learns and speaks about many topics, from race, politics and justice to religion. And as his transformative years in prison come to a close, he emerges a man with a passion awakened inside him, with his future laid out ahead of him.
Review
The Awakening of Malcolm X is a powerful and thought-provoking fictionalized account of Malcolm X’s time in prison. I think this book gives a great exploration of Malcolm X’s thoughts and ideas and is especially impactful because of how well it portrays the full spectrum of emotions through Malcolm’s experiences in prison and his spiritual awakening. I also loved how Malcolm X quotes were incorporated at the beginning of every chapter. I definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in learning about the history of civil rights leaders or the American prison system. Overall, I think this book is a fantastic introduction to Malcolm X for people of any age, but especially YA readers, as it’s sure to inspire and leave readers eager to learn more.
Info
- Ages 14 and up
- Authors: Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson
- 288 pages
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Buy local via IndieBound
Until next time,
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