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To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Longlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction
What does it mean – and how does it feel – to grow up as a Black artist today?
‘This exceptional book, written with a mother’s love for her seven creative children, sensitively offers profound and original insights and perspectives that enrich our culture. I feel so much wiser for reading it.’ Bernardine Evaristo
When Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s eldest daughter, Isata, made her solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2023, she could not have been prouder. Watching years of hard work transform into a transcendent performance was profoundly moving, both as music-lover and parent.
All fractured when her younger daughter turned to her in tears a few days later, having read online abuse about her sister. Isata, it was declared, did not deserve to be there. How do you prepare your child for the fact that no matter their talent, technique or dedication, they will be told they do not belong?
Through conversations with her extraordinarily gifted family, Kanneh-Mason explores what it’s like to come of age in these turbulent times, when Black artistic self-expression is so often met with disparagement and abuse online – and offers a hopeful, powerful way through.
‘This exceptional book, written with a mother’s love for her seven creative children, sensitively offers profound and original insights and perspectives that enrich our culture. I feel so much wiser for reading it.’ Bernardine Evaristo
When Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s eldest daughter, Isata, made her solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2023, she could not have been prouder. Watching years of hard work transform into a transcendent performance was profoundly moving, both as music-lover and parent.
All fractured when her younger daughter turned to her in tears a few days later, having read online abuse about her sister. Isata, it was declared, did not deserve to be there. How do you prepare your child for the fact that no matter their talent, technique or dedication, they will be told they do not belong?
Through conversations with her extraordinarily gifted family, Kanneh-Mason explores what it’s like to come of age in these turbulent times, when Black artistic self-expression is so often met with disparagement and abuse online – and offers a hopeful, powerful way through.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
21 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 29, 2025
Heartfelt, tough, family…. Very family.
How in the 2020’s can the general run of the mill public accept the racism shown to this incredibly talented family.
How can it be acceptable that a black person should forgo displaying their musical talent- well any talent- and accept that a white person - whether equally talented or not- has the overall right and expectance to be chosen ahead of a black person. Chosen solely based on colour…. ?!
Have we moved on at all in the last 70 odd years?
How in the 2020’s can the general run of the mill public accept the racism shown to this incredibly talented family.
How can it be acceptable that a black person should forgo displaying their musical talent- well any talent- and accept that a white person - whether equally talented or not- has the overall right and expectance to be chosen ahead of a black person. Chosen solely based on colour…. ?!
Have we moved on at all in the last 70 odd years?
February 18, 2026
3.5 rounded up
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February 24, 2026In a Sentence:
A heartfelt blend of memoir and reflection on race and belonging in classical music that may feel familiar if you read a lot of nonfiction on the topic, but will resonate with readers who enjoy personal storytelling.
TLDR Review:
I picked up To Be Young, Gifted and Black because I wanted to read something from the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction longlist, and I specifically wanted to choose a nonfiction book by a black author in honor of Black History Month. This one stood out immediately. The premise follows Kadiatu Kanneh‑Mason as she reflects on her family’s life in classical music, the pressures and joys of raising seven children who are all musicians, and the complicated realities of navigating race, belonging, and public scrutiny in a world that still resists full inclusion.
The book moves between personal storytelling and broader reflections on identity. Kanneh‑Mason writes about her daughter Isata’s Proms debut and the racist backlash that followed, and she uses those moments to explore who is allowed to take up space in classical music and who is questioned at every turn. The structure felt to me like a blend of memoir and essay collection, shifting between intimate scenes and larger cultural conversations about race, art, and the weight of being visibly different in a traditionally white space.
The story is well‑told and heartfelt. Even though memoirs aren’t usually my favorite, I appreciated the essay‑like quality of the writing and the way she uses her family’s experiences to open up bigger questions. I found the sections about classical music especially compelling, and I liked how she wove her reflections on identity into the narrative without losing the emotional core of her family’s story.
My main criticism is that if you’ve read a lot of nonfiction about race, there isn’t much here that feels new beyond the specific lived experiences she shares. The broader points are important, but they’re familiar, and I’ve seen them explored with more depth or nuance in other works. That’s less a flaw in the book and more a mismatch between my reading history and what this particular book offers. For readers who haven’t read widely in this area, these ideas will likely feel more impactful.
I do recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy memoirs or like having memoir woven into their nonfiction. If you don’t read a lot of nonfiction but appreciate personal storytelling, this is a thoughtful and accessible book that raises meaningful questions about race, identity, and who gets to belong in the arts.
A heartfelt blend of memoir and reflection on race and belonging in classical music that may feel familiar if you read a lot of nonfiction on the topic, but will resonate with readers who enjoy personal storytelling.
TLDR Review:
I picked up To Be Young, Gifted and Black because I wanted to read something from the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction longlist, and I specifically wanted to choose a nonfiction book by a black author in honor of Black History Month. This one stood out immediately. The premise follows Kadiatu Kanneh‑Mason as she reflects on her family’s life in classical music, the pressures and joys of raising seven children who are all musicians, and the complicated realities of navigating race, belonging, and public scrutiny in a world that still resists full inclusion.
The book moves between personal storytelling and broader reflections on identity. Kanneh‑Mason writes about her daughter Isata’s Proms debut and the racist backlash that followed, and she uses those moments to explore who is allowed to take up space in classical music and who is questioned at every turn. The structure felt to me like a blend of memoir and essay collection, shifting between intimate scenes and larger cultural conversations about race, art, and the weight of being visibly different in a traditionally white space.
The story is well‑told and heartfelt. Even though memoirs aren’t usually my favorite, I appreciated the essay‑like quality of the writing and the way she uses her family’s experiences to open up bigger questions. I found the sections about classical music especially compelling, and I liked how she wove her reflections on identity into the narrative without losing the emotional core of her family’s story.
My main criticism is that if you’ve read a lot of nonfiction about race, there isn’t much here that feels new beyond the specific lived experiences she shares. The broader points are important, but they’re familiar, and I’ve seen them explored with more depth or nuance in other works. That’s less a flaw in the book and more a mismatch between my reading history and what this particular book offers. For readers who haven’t read widely in this area, these ideas will likely feel more impactful.
I do recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy memoirs or like having memoir woven into their nonfiction. If you don’t read a lot of nonfiction but appreciate personal storytelling, this is a thoughtful and accessible book that raises meaningful questions about race, identity, and who gets to belong in the arts.
February 25, 2026
Like a lot of people, I cam to know the Kanneh-Mason family through the royal wedding and if I'm honest, I haven't given them much thought since then. But I am a classical music fan and I have listened to numerous songs by them and the talent in the family is wonderful, and their music just makes me feel happy. As a white woman, I cannot pretend to know how race and racism can affect an upbringing, a career, a life, and so I found that element interesting. And so whilst I admit it wouldn't have been a book I'd have picked myself, I am pleased I did because I found it interesting and enjoyable.
March 2, 2026
This was an exceptional read. Divided into seven sections. The author attempts to explore each of them through lived experiences and also through the lens of her growing children.
I can’t help but notice certain similarities to my own lived experiences in my own country as a minority. This was such a relatable book for me.
Overall, this is a must read book by all.
I can’t help but notice certain similarities to my own lived experiences in my own country as a minority. This was such a relatable book for me.
Overall, this is a must read book by all.
November 27, 2025
Thought provoking
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March 5, 2026Family. Racism. Music. Privilege. Thought-provoking.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews