Light For the World to See

November 1, 2020
The widely acclaimed author of nearly three dozen books for children, Alexander turns his poetic attention to three milestones in recent U.S. history: the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, the kneeling protests of Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem before NFL games, and the election of Barack Obama. Alexander works through these events in reverse chronological order, committing one long poem apiece to each of the three turning points. The poems are defined as much by their direct language and stark imagery (""we can't hold a gun / we can't stop that whip / we can't wear this skin"") as by the highly stylized typography: much of the text appears on yellow banners against black backgrounds, mimicking police tape at crime scenes. Other pages include broken chains in grayscale and the American flag with its stars replaced by X's. One of the most powerful passages occurs when Alexander lists the names of Black individuals murdered by police and white vigilantes and stirs his readers to action. A brave intervention by a talented writer of conviction.

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December 21, 2020
In his essay “A Report from Occupied Territory,” James Baldwin writes: “People are destroyed very easily. Where is the civilization and where, indeed, is the morality which can afford to destroy so many?” In his taut, lyrical book, Alexander (Booked) writes from that “occupied territory,” a world in which “we can’t see our home/ we can’t breathe our air.” Alexander explores and brings to life a world where so much exists in the negative: “we can’t be ourselves/ we can’t be at home/ we can’t be alone,” never shying away from the use of a collective “we” in his report of racial experience in America. There is sorrow here, as well as critique that develops toward hope. Channeling Gwendolyn Brooks, Alexander writes: “This is for the unbelievable./ The We Real Cool ones.” Throughout, he enters and calls upon a chorus of voices from past and present, pushing toward a future of liberation and equality. This serves as an apt and timely reminder of the ongoing inequities in America, as well as of the power of collective hope.

February 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-This slim volume collects three previously published poems about racial injustice in the U.S. In a foreword, Alexander calls it a "rally in verse." Each poem is starkly presented, with large font set against a simple yet clever gray scale design with pops of pale yellow. The first poem, "American Bullet Points," opens with the title repeated against white and yellow strips, crisscrossed to evoke caution tape at a crime scene. Then, like a bulleted list, this poem relays things Black Americans cannot do without fear of violence. The poem undulates in a consistent, metrical rhythm and juxtaposes racist assumptions with their deadly consequences: "we can't be unarmed / we can't shoot ourselves." The next poem, "Take a Knee," opens with a design that suggests an upside-down American flag with mass graves for stars. The poem also references slain Americans-"take Tamir / take Trayvon"-while delivering a steady, unwavering, and insistent beat. The final poem, "The Undefeated" (the collaboration with Kadir Nelson that, in picture book form, won the 2020 Caldecott and received a 2020 Newbery Honor), ends the collection on a hopeful note, invoking all the ways Black Americans have, throughout history, overcome incredible challenges. VERDICT This collection poignantly captures the pain, rage, injustice, and resistance that mark this moment in American history. A solid purchase for all teen collections.-Erica Ruscio, Ventress Memorial Lib., Marshfield, MA

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