Tour SCHEDULEJanuary 3rd Azeezat @ The Euphoriczat– Review + Book Recommendations Brittany @ Books Eats and Booze – Instagram Review January 4th Paula @ The Paper Reels– Review + Favorite Quotes Margie @ Margie Must Reads– Review + Excerpt Nikhat @ It’s Nikhat– Review January 5th Alexis @ Lex With the Text – Review Hafsah @Hafsa’s Creative Corner– Review + Excerpt January 6th Amani @ Amani’s Honest Reviews– Review + Book Recommendations Dahabo @ Dee’s Library – Review + Favorite Quotes January 7th Hana @ Linh Hermione– Review + Favorite Quotes Dee Jay @ DJ Reads Books– Review January 8th Rameela @ Star All Booked Up – Review Odalis @ Bookish Plants – Review + Excerpt January 9th Ashley @ Reading Stewardess – Review + Interview Gargee @ Wilder Girl Reads – Review + Reading Vlog SynopsisThe Awakening of Malcolm X is a powerful narrative account of the activist’s adolescent years in jail, written by his daughter Ilyasah Shabazz along with 2019 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe award-winning author, Tiffany D. Jackson. No one can be at peace until he has his freedom. In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, Malcolm drifts through days unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library, joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken — emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X. Here is an intimate look at Malcolm X’s young adult years. While this book chronologically follows X: A Novel, it can be read as a stand-alone historical novel that invites larger discussions on black power, prison reform, and civil rights. My ReviewI'll admit, my knowledge about Malcolm X is limited to his Wikipedia page, so I was looking forward to reading about the life of this familiar figure. The Awakening of Malcolm X provides an eye-opening snapshot into Malcolm X's adolescent years and what shaped him into the activist he became. The book is written through Malcolm X's own eyes during his early incarceration as he navigates the horrible conditions of Charlestown State Prison and his later "awakening" in Norfolk Prison Colony, with the help of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. The book focuses on Malcolm's grappling of race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. It shows his highs and lows during his time in prison, and his struggles in his relationships. It also explores the treatment of black people in the two prisons. While one of them had significantly better conditions to the other, they are still treated with prejudice, directly or indirectly. During this time, Malcolm X reaches out to Elijah Muhammad, the self-proclaimed 'Messenger of God', and Malcolm converts to Islam. Malcolm X cites Elijah Muhammad for giving him newfound wisdom and a purpose in life. The end of the book sets up for Malcolm X's doubts in the Nation of Islam and his eventual departure from it, but those events don't happen in the book. Each chapter starts with a quote from Malcolm X that reflect the ideas he learns and shares later in life. The book is enriched with the family's letters to each other. The end of the book contains historical notes about the two prisons and a list of books that Malcolm read in prison that educated and enlightened him on Black history, politics and more. The author's note also mentions that she took creative liberties with the story and where there were changes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it showcases Malcolm X's life in an easy-to-read, digestible story. It's perfect for those who want a Young Adult book that informs and educates, even for those who don't read a lot of non-fiction, like me. The memoir is written like a story- it's fast-paced and hard to put down. It also prompts further reading and thought about the inherent racism of the justice system during that time. I would recommend this book for ages over 12 - I think that everyone can take something out of this enlightening and interesting memoir! My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars) Book links: Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop.org Read an excerptAbout the authorsILYASAH SHABAZZ Ilyasah Shabazz, third daughter of Malcolm X, is an activist, producer, motivational speaker, and the author of the critically acclaimed Growing Up X and the picture book Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X Goodreads TIFFANY D. JACKSON Tiffany D. Jackson is the critically acclaimed author YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and GROWN. Website | Goodreads Thanks for reading this book tour! I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to check out the other book tour posts in the schedule at the top!
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