This book describes the evolution of Malcolm X. As a child, his parents always told him that he can achieve anything and the color of his skin will not hold him back. But when his father gets murdered and mother is taken away, Malcolm starts to doubt his parents’ words. He gives up on his life ambitions and moves to Boston with his sister, Ella. There he is attracted by Boston’s nightlife and starts to sell drugs and do other bad things. He gets into even more trouble when he is unfairly arrested for stealing. At jail, he finds a new faith, Islam, and this helps him realize that he cannot run away from segregation any longer.
I liked how the author described Malcolm’s life. It gives me a clear picture on all Malcolm had to go through as a kid and a young adult. The part I did not like was that Malcolm nearly destroyed his life in Boston. If he just believed in himself then, he would not have to go through the suffering he went through.
One memorable thing about this book was when Malcolm went back to his family in Lansing. When he was in Boston, his whole family missed him always wrote letters to him to come back. This let him reunite with his siblings and relive his childhood.
Reviewed by Ashwin, grade 6, Twin Hickory Area Library
Published by AdrienneTheLibrarian
ABOUT … Adrienne, Teen Librarian & Digital Media Lab Librarian at Libbie Mill Library.
Hi, I’m Adrienne, and I’ve been a Teen Librarian at HCPL since 2006. I started at Twin Hickory and moved to Libbie Mill in 2015. Come visit our Teen Room and check out all we have for you -- books, great study and hanging out space, free computers, free classes in 3D design & printing, Coding, Photoshop and soooo much more!
Random stuff about me:
* Favorite book: Hmmmm, this is hard, since it changes all the time as I read new stuff and depending on what mood I’m in. However, there is one book that I know will still make me snort with laughter even when I’m 80 years old — The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams.
* Favorite food: perfectly made toast
* Favorite band/music: Cake. I will never get enough Cake.
* Favorite reference question: Q: How long does it take the galaxy to rotate once? A: It’s called a galactic or cosmic year and it takes about 225-250 million earth years.
* Pets: I have two cats and a dog. Marcus and Grey are the cats who were rescued from a box in the woods when they were just little puffballs. When they are not acting insane, they are very sweet and purr loudly. My dog is named Peter and he's a medium size poodle mix (we call him the substandard poodle). He's got floppy ears, snores and loves green beans.
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