The Mighty Macy

by Kwame Alexander, Kitt Thomas (Illustrator)

A young girl finds her voice—and discovers the power of speaking up for herself and her community—in this sweet and humorous chapter book by award-winning and #1 bestselling author Kwame Alexander, perfect for fans of Ivy + Bean and Ruby and the Booker Boys.

When Macy gets book one of The Mighty Zora series for her birthday, she stays up until 11:34pm finishing the book. But the next day, when Macy gets to her school library, eager to check out book two, she finds the door locked with a sign explaining that the library will now only be open a few days a week due to budget cuts. Even worse, she finds out her father won't be home to help her figure out what to do, as he will be traveling to a museum in Montgomery, Alabama to read a poem about civil rights. With help from her fellow third graders, support from her mom, and encouragement from poems written and hidden for her by her father, Macy must find her voice and learn the power of advocating for herself and her community.

Can Macy learn to be Mighty?

Genres: Middle Grade, Poetry, Novel In Verse, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Family, Activism

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but extremely watered down for the audience. Macy learns to use her voice to speak up after budget cuts affect her school library, but the decision to reinstate is made at that meeting and everything is fixed by the next day. The timeframe is not very realistic. Also, sometimes we use our voice and it doesn’t work. The school didn’t magically find the budget to operate the library. I get that she’s 8-9, but I think this could’ve been longer. Entire timeline is less than a week.

[Samantha Sunderman-Drakeford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Kwame Alexander, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to preview The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander in exchange for my sincere review. This story was perfectly woven to shed light on relevant issues from a child’s perspective. As a school librarian, it is a scary time when people come after the books.

As a child, I was very much like the main character, Macy…at times unsure of myself but wanting to make the world a better place. Using poems, the author was able to convey her emotions in a way that makes Macy relatable for all children. With the right support system (her family and friends) and just enough courage, Macy was able to make a difference and make her family proud of her.

This story featured little illustrations. These illustrations were like icing on the cake. Perfect way to help children paint a picture of Macy and helped bring the story together!

I would highly recommend this book to all future world changers! It was easy to fall in love with Macy and her inner thoughts!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Kwame Alexander, and Kitt Thomas (illustrator) for the opportunity to read The Mighty Macy in exchange for an honest review.

The Mighty Macy follows third grade girl, Macy. She is thrilled when she receives the first book in The Mighty Zora series for her birthday. She loves it so much that she stays up late to finish it. Some of us readers certainly know the feel, and it's nice to see a young person that excited about a book! Macy loves it so much, she can't wait to read the next one, so goes to her school library the next day to check out the second book. She and her friends are shocked to find the library locked with a sign stating that it will now only be open a few days a week due to budget cuts. To make matters worse, Macy learns that her father will be traveling to a museum in Montgomery, Alabama to read a poem about civil rights, leaving her unsure of how to handle the situation without him. At least the little hidden poems he hides around the house for her offer some excitement and solace in the troubling times.

Even though Macy is a third grader, the novel advocates activism and using one's voice to make change. With encouragement from her mom and her father's poems, Macy realizes that she doesn’t have to face the problem alone. She teams up with her fellow third graders, who are also upset about the new library restrictions. They even joke that they'd rather have the cafeteria closed than the library! The food certainly isn't better than a book! Together, Macy and her friends learn the importance of speaking up and advocating for what matters to them. Through determination, creativity, and growing confidence, Macy discovers the power of her own voice and how taking action can lead to positive change in her school and community. 

I absolutely adored everything about this novel. It is told in a HiLo poetic verse style, so the readability is a bit easier. I feel like it might be slightly moderate for the average third grader, though do recommend it for grades two through five. It has a lot of important elements about using one's voice to get what you want in your school community, no matter that you might be on the younger side. It's a positive way to show younger students how they can stand up for what they care about. It also features an element of music, as Macy play the violin.

A really great contemporary novel-in-verse for young readers in a world that needs the power of voice.

[Beth Given · Rating 3 out of 5]

Macy tolerates her violin practice and the food at the school cafeteria, but she LOVES to read. After staying up late to finish The Mighty Zora, she's eager to get her hands on the sequel at her school library. But then she discovers that her library is closed, its hours cut because of budget concerns. When Macy learns about school board meetings, she decides to gather her courage and speak up.

This incredibly short novel in verse will introduce young readers to activism. Its vocabulary is accessible for even lower elementary kids.

I felt like this was too short to develop any strong feelings about the characters either way.

I listened to the audio so I'd be interested in getting ahold of the book to see the illustrations.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mighty Macy is probably one of the more important books of this generation and one that I would definitely encourage anyone who can to read. The fact of the matter is that the United States government, both federal and state, are putting children in the incredibly disgusting situation of losing access to information and education. And we, as a world and society, will all suffer for it. When funding is removed from libraries, the community that this library services suffers. Always.

And we are unfortunately in a time where having continued conversations about this fact is essential for the educational competence of the people in our community.

I have long been a proponent of the concept that if access to knowledge is restricted in any way, it is educational neglect. It is also educational neglect to limit people only to the belief systems and propaganda that we, personally, want them to have. For that reason, I'm extremely against defunding libraries, removing books from public access for the purposes of an agenda, and much more. As a result, I'm deeply appreciative of The Mighty Macy and will likely recommend it far and wide.

With that in mind, this book follows a young third grader's reaction to her library losing funding and, as a result, closing its doors more frequently in order to manage what that decrease in funding means. This girl, whose father is an activist, immediately knows that she must do something about this and sets out to make the change her community needs to see. It's a truly lovely and beautiful story that helps children understand that they are not powerless against censorship and oppression, that they have a voice and they can use it.

As I suspected when I listened to the audiobook, having a physical copy is definitely a must. I loved the audio, it was done incredibly well—but it's truly difficult to say I prefer it, as replacing the visual art of poetry and the illustrations genuinely does take away a little from the overall book. For example, there's the importance of the emphasized italics, the changes in letter size to make a word really pop, the placement of words on specific parts of the page; the truth is, you get the story from the audiobook and the musicality of some of the poetry, but you don't get the impact of its visual structure. I'd highly suggest pairing the book and audiobook together.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public library copy

In this short chapter book in verse, third grader Macy is enjoying reading a new book series but not enjoying practicing her violin for an upcoming concert. When her father, who is a poet and activist, has to travel for work, he promises to be back to watch her play. Macy is devastated when the library at Sugar Hill elementary school is closed, since she wants to get the second book in the series, but now she will have to wait until Friday. When her father leaves for his trip, she wants to tell him about the library, but does manage to come up with a plan with her friends. They go to the board meeting, and Macy reads a poem she has written (which has been very difficult for her) about what the library means to her classmates. She manages to practice for the concert, and while her father isn't there at the beginning, he does make it. The school board reverses its decision, and the library is open again.

This is a book that readers of Draper's Sassy, Allen's My Tibbs, and Watson's Ryan Hart will enjoy, and its certainly good to see support for school libraries. I am a little concerned that there is a brief chapter where Macy is writing a letter to her father in cursive; the target demographic for this would be students in grades 1-4 who probably can't read script.

It's also highly unlikely that the school district would make budget cuts and they would go into effect immediately; usually cuts start at the beginning of the next year, although there was a time when my district lost study hall monitors and some library aides pretty quickly. If the library was shut down, it's not very likely that it would have reopened again so quickly. What else did the school cut if it didn't cut the library? In my district, the libraries remained this year only because a levy passed.

Objections aside, this is a good introduction to Alexander's work for elementary aged readers. The pictures add a lot to the story and will make this even more appealing.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mighty Macy is probably one of the more important books of this generation and one that I would definitely encourage anyone who can to read. The fact of the matter is that the United States government, both federal and state, are putting children in the incredibly disgusting situation of losing access to information and education. And we, as a world and society, will all suffer for it. When funding is removed from libraries, the community that this library services suffers. Always.

And we are unfortunately in a time where having continued conversations about this fact is essential for the educational competence of the people in our community.

I have long been a proponent of the concept that if access to knowledge is restricted in any way, it is educational neglect. It is also educational neglect to limit people only to the belief systems and propaganda that we, personally, want them to have. For that reason, I'm extremely against defunding libraries, removing books from public access for the purposes of an agenda, and much more. As a result, I'm deeply appreciative of The Mighty Macy and will likely recommend it far and wide.

With that in mind, this book follows a young third grader's reaction to her library losing funding and, as a result, closing its doors more frequently in order to manage what that decrease in funding means. This girl, whose father is an activist, immediately knows that she must do something about this and sets out to make the change her community needs to see. It's a truly lovely and beautiful story that helps children understand that they are not powerless against censorship and oppression, that they have a voice and they can use it.

The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Imani Parks, who I'm coming to love for her child-like voice. She does a lot of work with middlegrade and young reader type books because of how well she captures the sound of a young girl and I really appreciate her for that. There's a musicality to her narration, too, that makes this work really well for me.

That said, I do also want a chance to read the physical copy of this book as I'm very curious to see the illustrations and the visual organization of the poetry throughout.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. My library classifies this as a chapter book, though to me it didn’t feel like it quite reached that reading level, this seemed kind of like a picture book just with fewer (though always cute) illustrations. This might work for reluctant readers as the verse format makes for a very quick read, but it just felt like this was missing a bit of the depth and detail that would make this a satisfying read for kids who have graduated to somewhat wordier stories.

Given how short this is, how sparsely written, I also found myself wishing this had a more singular focus instead of having two disparate story elements (the violin and the library closure) that were both stretched thin.

I understand the author wanting to include the violin since that was part of his own daughter’s childhood, at the same time though, it didn’t seem all that necessary to this character’s story, since Macy is rarely shown enjoying the violin, it seemed like maybe having her poet dad there for her library fight would have been more important to her than a recital. If the violin aspect had been cut from this, maybe that would have left more room to dig into the emotions of her advocacy, the connection she and her dad share, her nerves about public speaking, about crafting her own poetry, etc. And maybe with more pages devoted to the library, the outcome of that could have played out with less picture book simplicity, I’m not saying it needed to be realistic to the point of ending on a downer, just maybe a little more nuanced, a little more in line with what elementary aged kids might already know from how budget cuts work in their own school lives.

To me, this one felt underdeveloped, on the plus side though it extols the virtues of libraries and offers a glimpse of a sweet father/daughter bond.

[Professor Cindy Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a warm, uplifting story about finding your voice and believing in your own strength, even when life feels uncertain. Macy is the kind of character you root for right away—curious, thoughtful, and quietly brave as she navigates challenges with family, friendship, and growing up. The story focuses on 3rd grader, Macy, who loves to read and stays up late one night finishing the first book in a series she really enjoyed. She wants to get the 2nd book from the library the next day but finds that it is closed. She is disappointed and sad to learn that, due to funding, the school library's hours will be severely cut and will only be open two days per week now. Macy is also anxious about an upcoming violin recital and hurt by the possibility that her dad—who travels often for work—might not be there to see it. To cope, Macy channels her feelings into writing a poem in support of the library to share with school leaders, and Alexander thoughtfully captures how difficult and vulnerable the writing process can feel through her struggles. Alexander’s signature lyrical style makes the emotions feel big without ever getting heavy, and the poetry woven through the story gives Macy’s journey a hopeful rhythm. Young readers will be proud of how Macy shows her courage, along with the community, when she stands up to the school board to fight for the library. Watching her learn to speak up for herself and embrace who she is feels both realistic and inspiring. The ending delivers a satisfying sense of confidence and possibility without being overly tidy. Overall, it’s a heartfelt, encouraging read that would resonate with elementary age readers who are figuring out where they belong and how to be heard.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. Kwame Alexander has crafted something truly special in The Mighty Macy, a story that's as fun and inspiring as it is deeply meaningful. Macy's journey to speak up and speak out resonates. Her nerves and angst are so relatable, reminding us that courage isn't the absence of fear but finding your voice in spite of it. Everyone can see themselves in her struggles and triumphs. The warmth radiating from the family relationships and friendships is palpable. Alexander's signature poetic style makes even the quietest moments sing.
As a parent, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as did my 10-year-old daughter. She absolutely loved it and has read it repeatedly since it arrived. We're fans of all of Kwame Alexander's writing, and he truly knocked it out of the park with this one.
In our current times, this story feels especially poignant, celebrating libraries as vital community spaces, emphasizing the power of standing up for what matters, and reminding us that young voices have impact. The Mighty Macy is more than just a beautiful read; it's a call to action wrapped in verse, friendship, and heart. Highly recommend for readers of all ages.

[Richetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @littlebrownyoungreaders for the ARC!

I just finished this gem as my afternoon read! Loved it! It's an early reader chapter book written in verse. You will fall in love with Miss Macy as she practices the violin, reads books like The Mighty Zora, spends time with her family and fights for her school library using her own poetry.

I loved the family dynamic in the book! Her dad is a poet who travels (sound familiar?😉) and when he isn't there he makes sure he plants poems around the house for her to find and to encourage her. She has an annoying little brother and a mom who volunteers at her school. This book has so many layers! The sections are named after musical words connected to her violin practice. The poetry tells Macy's story from her POV and her literacy advocacy for her library stems from her love of reading. Illustrations accompany the poems and I can't wait to see the finished version!

I would definitely recommend this book to your elementary reader! It's for ages 6-10, and Macy is a 3rd grader.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the library doors close, Macy opens her voice.
🗣️
After staying up late to finish her favorite book, third grader Macy rushes to the library only to find it closed due to budget cuts. With her dad away sharing poetry about civil rights and her beloved series just getting started, Macy feels small in the face of a big problem. But with encouragement from her family, hidden poems from her father, and the support of her classmates, Macy discovers that even a quiet voice can spark change.
📚
Sweet, funny, and empowering, this beginning chapter book celebrates the courage it takes to stand up for your community. It’s a timely novel-in-verse, especially in the book banning and censorship era we’re living in. @kwamealexander poetry is, as always, powerful and purposeful, and Macy’s pure enthusiasm for reading makes her instantly lovable: a character who will stick with kids for years. Fans of Renée Watson’s Ryan Hart series will absolutely want this one on their shelves.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of Macy please! I have been looking forward to this new Alexander book that I've had on hold as copies were ordered from the public library for forever and this one was an absolutely warm fuzzy feeling of a book even when it's couched in the obnoxiousness of budget cuts and library closures. This empowers Macy to speak up at a Board meeting when she is looking forward to borrowing the next book in a series only to find the library shuttered for days and because her father is a maestro with words and speaks poetry across the country, she is going to use her words to fight back against the closure. It's as much a family story about her father supporting her and her endeavors (including her instrument) as well as advocacy for learning and books.

This illustrated verse novel is heartwarming and Macy is the champion. I want more of Macy.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for a free eARC and ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get my paws on this ARC and it didn't disappoint! Kwame Alexander is just so good at hitting emotional impact with everyday tableaus. I do think we need more books for children that depict them dealing with multiple issues in appropriate ways! I think this is a book for everyone too. If you are an adult that was completely disconnected with your young children this is for you. And if your kiddo is struggling with finding themselves this might also be for them! It was definitely for me.

The audiobook was good and easy read.

[Mateo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mighty Macy landed differently for each of my kids. Some really connected with the story and Imani Parks’s narration, while others were less interested overall.

One of my kids especially loved seeing the main character find the confidence to stand up and give a speech, which made that moment feel powerful and memorable. As an adult listener, the writing style didn’t quite work for me, but I’m also aware I’m not the intended audience. Overall, this audiobook delivers a positive message about courage and self-expression, and it will resonate most with kids who enjoy character-focused stories.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mighty Macy gives the reader a lovely look at a solid, supportive family dealing with everyday challenges. I loved the poetry format, paticularly the poems left by Macy's dad, as they added depth, and humor when needed. I liked the narrator and for the most part the audiobook conveys the story very well. My only quibble would be the pause between the chapter title and the rest of text. I'm sure it's there to denote to the listener that a new poem or chapter is starting, but in several cases it is also the first few words of a poem, and it was jarring to hear that gap in the words. This was a very enjoyable read, and will encourage children to read, write, and support the things they love.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy of this book.

The Mighty Macy is a lovely novel in verse about a young Macy finding her voice. Kwame Alexander does such a phenomenal job bringing emotion to his characters in prose. I loved, LOVED how Macy's music and her brother's rapping was tied into the poetry in this book. How the titles of sections were musical signatures reflecting Macy finding the power of her voice. I especially liked how the students rallied to save their librarian! This was such a fun read.

[Andrew Dittmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander


Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!

Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a piece of paper kept with the physical book.


Started February 16th, 2026.
Finished February 18th, 2026.


February 16th, 2026: read pp. 1-38 in physical copy.

February 17th, 2026: read pp. 39-63 in physical copy.

February 18th, 2026: read pp. 64-author's note in physical copy.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, fun book.

Felt very real. When the author stays away from politics, he does some amazing writing. Jojo was an odd character though - his rhymes were way too good for his age. Though maybe there are little kids that can do that, but I haven't been raised in that culture, so I wouldn't really know. Anybody want a peanut?

Anyway, I enjoyed the characters, loved seeing good parents. In all reality, there were no bad guys, just a bad situation. Hard to write a good story without an antagonist, but he did it!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitty Macy is a children’s book with big aspirations. When Macy learns that her school library hours have been reduced, she sets out on a mission to make a change. By rallying her classmates and engaging determined parents, Macy takes her concerns to the school board. Along the way, she discovers the power of her own voice and shows everyone just who she can become.

This is a honest review of the book. Thanks to Net Gallery.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MIGHTY MACY by Kwame Alexander
It’s easier to do something hard if you do it with friends and family, whether it’s speaking out against cuts to school library or playing a hard minuet for a violin recital. Macy is scared, but brave enough to face fear and. work for success. This is a lovely book in verse, and.a great lesson in courage.

[Mom]

This is a book that NEEDS to be in your library.

The closing of the library...is always on the list when school boards need to save money. I find that it is also always one of the most popular items both students and parents want to save.

The description of what Macy thinks the library is to her are my very favorite. House of hope.... sheer perfection.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using rhyme, vivid imagery, and an appealing young protagonist - who just wants to read! - this story weaves together themes of identity, access, historical discrimination, and the undeniable importance of the roles that books and libraries can play in the shaping of young lives.

It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Ellie Schaben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

A sweet book told in verse - you can feel the emotions that Macy has for her library, her friends, and her wants. The way she overcomes her fears to stand up for the thing she believes in is a great lesson to learn!

[Kerry Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best early chapter books I’ve EVER read! Funny, poignant, relevant. A book both adults and kids can enjoy equally.

Macy is a shy kid who looooves her library, but when it closes because of budget cuts, she learns how to find her voice.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about finding your voice and courage to speak up about what you care about. Nothing extraordinary but good overall writing. This probably is better to read than to listen to. The pacing felt off - a few pauses were so long that I wondered if I'd accidentally stopped the audiobook.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

What a great story with poems and rhymes that tells the story of a girl finding her voice and talents when her school library gets shutdown to 2 days a week. The audio is very well done and moves the story along.

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Macy is a little quiet, but she loves to read. When her school library is put on reduced hours to save money, she realizes she will have to find a way to speak up and out to save something so important to her. Great illustrations and typical wonderful poetry.

[Sabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great YA book! Was a substitute librarian and had to read to grades 3, 4 and 5. So well written and easy to read and the students were (for the most part) engaged. Similar style as Sharon Creech's Love that Dog/Hate that Cat.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read a early chapter book written in verse. Kwame Alexander always does verse beautifully. This protagonist is darling. Extra star for having a plot revolving around a library being shut down because of funding issues. I'm excited to see how the students love this one!