Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride

by Joel Christian Gill

Have you ever been told that you’re not enough? That you’re not strong enough, tall enough, fast enough? Bessie was told she was not enough.

Bessie dreams of riding her bike with the boys after school, but they tell her she is not fast enough. When she finally gets a chance to race, she proves not only that she is fast enough, but she is faster. Fast Enough combines an imagined story of Bessie Stringfield as a young girl with historical facts about Bessie as an adult. Bessie Stringfield went on to become the first African-American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle. Not only was she fast, but she was a true adventurer, daring to ride to places unsafe for African Americans in the 1930s and ’40s. Fast Enough is an inspirational story for anyone who’s been told they are not enough.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Historical, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

Published February 5, 2019

About the author

Joel Christian Gill is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He wrote the words and drew the pictures in Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride
(published by Lion Forge, 2019) and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, as
well as, Tales of The Talented Tenth from Fulcrum Publishing. He has worked for diverse clients including the People’s United Party of Belize,
NBC, the Boston Globe and his has written for The Huffington Post. He is currently Associate Professor of Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Gill has dedicated his life to creating stories to build connections with readers through empathy, compassion, and ultimately humanity. He received his MFA from Boston University and his BA from
Roanoke College.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about Bessie Stringfield, the first African American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle in the first half of the 20th century.

For me this book is just ok. I loved some of the pages that have really beautiful illustrations.



Other pages, though, left me a bit cold with illustrations that are much busier or not consistent with the time period.



I also wish the story was a bit more fluid. I ended up feeling like I'd read two separate books when I was done instead of one story.

That said, I think that this will probably be a hit with a wide range of kids. There's sort of something for everyone here, and the added biography pages at the back of the book make for a deeper telling of the story.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a DRC of this book.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bessie Stringfield sounds like she was an interesting character. Unfortunately, I didn't really get that from this book, except in the author's note; those five pages are really the only thing worth reading here.

The rest of the book is an insipid little story about a fictionalized young Bessie who wants to ride her bike with the boys. They say she can't because she's not fast enough. So she prays to God to ask Him if she really is fast enough. Then she rides faster than the boys, discovers there's such a thing as motorcycles, and realizes she could go even faster. And that's all there is to the actual narrative.

The illustrations are really uneven. Some of them are cute, but some of them almost look like they were done by a different artist. The way Bessie is drawn isn't super consistent; at times, especially when the viewer is far away, she loses all detail... which is a weird contrast with the closeups where there's almost too much detail at times. I also question why Bessie was riding a boys' bike that lacked a step-through frame; it's possible that she got the bike secondhand, but it was never explained, and it would've been unusual (and unsightly) for a girl of that time to ride a bike that couldn't accommodate a skirt.

I think I got more out of the notes at the end (and a subsequent reading of the Wikipedia page on Bessie) than I did out of the actual story. It's pretty weak. It's too bad, because if the focus of this book had been different (perhaps concentrating on her work for the military during World War II or her stints as a carnival performer), it could've been a really interesting biographical picture book. As it is, though, it falls short.

Thank you to NetGalley and CubHouse for providing a digital ARC.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, this is a cool story about a little girl finding her power. When Bessie is teased by the neighborhood boys, who won't ride their bikes with her, and put her down, she finds an innor talent, and inner power that burst out and beats the pants off those teasing boys.

Bessie later, goes on to be a talented motorcycle rider, all around the south in the 1930s, which is amazing in itself, but doubly amazing for a black woman.

This story is cute, because apparently it is based on the stories that she told about herself.



Lovely illustrations, and cute story. I also like how the story is fact checked, and the author says that even if it didn't happen quite the way she said, she was still talented.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite page of Fast Enough, an imagined account of real-life figure Bessie Springfield’s early interest in cycling and going fast, shows young Bessie Stringfield wearing a cycling helmet and a long, dark dress with yellow stars on it as she bicycles in the night sky in her dreams.

This picture book with its vibrant illustrations is the first book by Joel Christian Gill that I’ve read and led to me look him up and add his series of graphic novels highlighting historical African-Americans to my to-read list. The story of Bessie Springfield will also be of interest to anyone who likes to learn about remarkable women in history, and I appreciated the inclusion in Fast Enough of a few back matter paragraphs about the adventuresome motorcyclist.

I read a digital copy of Fast Enough via Netgalley.

#blackhistorymonth #bhm #fastenough #netgalley

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy those little stories for kids that present interesting person that are generally no so well know by the general public. This one is about a young girl that wanted to ride a bike and be fast, to finally end up being a pioneer of motorcycles sport for women. Like I said, an interesting person but also a good book by itself, with good illustrations and a fun story to read. Very well done!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 2019, and I’m ready for more books about Black women that history hasn’t forgotten but also hasn’t had the chance to share them for bigger audiences through more mediums.

This time this offering comes in the form of a children’s book. I had no clue who Bessie Stringfield was. Her name did not ring a bell. I did know of another Bessie. Bessie Coleman was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot license. But this Bessie Stringfield, who was she? Some research on my end revealed that she was the first African-American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle among many other great accomplishments.

Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride is an imagined account of a young Bessie Stringfield who wants more: she wants to ride, and she wants to ride fast. Yet, she needs the validation and courage to do so. Young Bessie is a little girl who is taunted and left behind and verbally devalued again and again, yet she loves her bike and the power she has riding it.

It’s a bright and colorful affair, and the dream sequences of our heroine riding across bodies of water and across outer space are fun and eye candy. They instantly spur up the imagination that girls, girls that look like Bessie Stringfield with brown skin and afro puffs, can do anything–not just the impossible. This makes for a great vehicle for representing not just the future queen of motorcycles from Florida for younger readers but representing more children of color and specifically little Black girls in books for a younger age group.


Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/fast-eno...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I read Joel Christian Gill's Bessie Stringfield: Tales of the Talented Tenth, no. 2. It was my first time reading anything about Bessie Stringfield, and I was fascinated. When I found out Gill was authoring a picture book about Stringfield's life, I knew I was going to have to read it. I definitely find myself charmed by Fast Enough as well.

Stringfield led a fascinating life, and this picture book really does it justice for younger readers. I liked the way Gill presented the story in a way that children could relate to, with Stringfield's desire to be "good enough" as a major factor in the tale. Starting the story off by showing Stringfield as a vibrant young girl with a need for speed on her bicycle really worked here, especially as the story built around the character's reality and her dreams. Ending the story with a description of the life of the real woman was a nice touch, and will satisfy curious kids and adults alike.

I think the illustrations were especially lovely, with Gill's art style really bringing the characters to life, especially bringing Bessie Stringfield herself to life. Getting to see a young black girl with natural hair was especially great to see.

I definitely recommend Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride. This vibrant and vital piece of history is brought to life with lovely messages, extra historical information, a sweet and relatable story, and top notch illustrations. Kids and adults will both find something to like about this one.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been told that you were not enough?

While all of us have experienced that to some extent, it’s the lot of some to experience it more.

Bessie’s Springfield’s story is an inspiring tale of figuring out what you’re capable of in the face of a society that tells you you’re not.

Plus, this is a great children’s book, with some fantastic art. I’ve been following Joel Christian Gill for a while now, and he’s a great writer and amazing artist. I’m glad he’s telling us the stories no one else will.

Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Lion Forge for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bessie is continually told she’s “not enough” to ride a bike with the boys. She really wants to, but she’s not sure how to overcome the stereotype the boys have placed on her. After some dreaming, she finds the courage and imagination needed to overcome the stereotype, prove herself to the boys, and become acknowledged for her talents.

A wonderful introduction to Bessie Stringfield, a forgotten pioneer in the world of motorcycling and female bad@$$ery in general. While the story proper focuses on a fictional childhood reimaging of the first time she realized her potential and her dreams as a bike rider, there’s an illustrated mini-biography at the end of the book that highlights Bessie’s accomplishments when she grew up.

The illustrations are vibrant and vintagey–especially the endpapers, which I loved!

A few articles about Bessie.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!

(Cross posted on my blog.)

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully illustrated. The story itself started off nice, the end was a bit sugary meh, but was redeemed by the afterword.
All in all, faily educational and inspiring for small children.

I received a copy through Netgalley.

[Steve S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda boring.

I reserved this from my library thinking it was a graphic novel. It was clearly a little kids book upon getting it. I had also hoped it would be like Nathan Hale's books but on more obscure black people in history. The end of this book gets into that, but sadly the story misses it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful tale. Before I read this book I knew of Bessie Stringfield, but nothing about her. This book reads both as a great “girl power” bedtime story and a fabulous beginners biography. The true story at the end is just as entertaining as the fictionalized version. Plus the illustrations are amazing. Vibrant and full of life.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story of a real-life wonder woman that will encourage kids to pursue their dreams.

(Read via a digital galley provided by the publisher through Edelweiss).

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride by Joel Christian Gill. PICTURE BOOK. The Lion Forge, LLC, 2019. $18. 9781549303142

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Bessie isn’t sure at the beginning of this story if girls can ride bikes like the boys. Her mother tells her to ask “the man upstairs” and that night she dreams she is riding over oceans and skyscrapers. The next day she races the boys and keeps up and thus begins her life of speed.

This is a good book to spark interest in learning more about Bessie Stringfield, but it doesn’t in and of itself provide a lot of details. The details that are provided feel a bit like a tall tale, which is explained in the end as they author explains that there are many inconsistencies in the stories about Bessie.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Sinamile · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review

I think I enjoyed the ending but that tells us about the real Bessie more.

This is a children's book, that teaches young kids that they can be whatever they want despite what the world is telling them, which I appreciate.

Although it wasn't for me, my niece did enjoy it, and the colouring of the pages. So this is definitely a story that would be important for young kids, especially little black girls who've been told they're not enough by society. Worth mentioning, I think, I love how Bessie's hair was drawn!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to know more about Bessie Stringfield's life, unfortunately all the good stuff is at the end. The book/story concerns itself with a possibly made-up story of bullying and bike-riding. Not much there really. I wish there was a more comprehensive biography for kids about Bessie as she sounds like she had a fascinating life!

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The interesting part of her life is all in the backmatter and the main story is a mediocre picture book. Great subject, but the book design and art don't do it justice- except for the endpapers, those are awesome. Recommended for older kids who would read the lengthy backmatter.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride' by Joel Christian Gill is a storybook about someone who should be a lot more well known, and Joel Christian Gill is trying to do just that.

I was introduced to the graphic novels of Joel Christinan Gill a few months back with his Talented Tenth and Strange Fruit series of graphic novels where he tells the story of uncelebrated narratives from black history.

Here he adapts the story of Bessie Stringfield to be read to younger children. Young Bessie is told she is not fast enough. Rather than take that, she decides to become faster. Bessie went on to ride a motorcyle (and other vehicles) across the country.

I love the mission that Joel Christian Gill is on, and I really loved the illustrations in this book. Little Bessie with her defiant eyes and enormous hair is completely adorable, and someone you know will go on to do great things. I'm so glad I've found this author and learned about some amazing people.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the first junior read I've come across about Bessie Stringfield, and how she became a notoriously pioneering motorcyclist at a time of Jim Crow laws, the Green Book and still a fuddy-duddy, fusty attitude about what females can and should do. It is, though, the first to put lie to the myth she seemed to self-generate about her upbringing. But that's all in the denser, biographical script that closes out this book – before then we get a very junior version of the tale, with Bessie worrying about being excluded from the neighbourhood boys' bike rides, and them taunting her in cartoonish speech bubbles. The artwork shines really quite well, with Bessie speeding through several situations and poses on each image, and even unusual dreamscapes are done excellently. I enjoyed it so much I could forgive it the 'hey, this is relevant as chances are you've felt the same as Bessie' opening. For one thing, the pushbikes don't look of the right vintage, and appear almost modern, so I doubt they needed to push the empathy levels up so high. But still, a strong four stars.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever been told that you’re not enough? That you’re not strong enough, tall enough, fast enough? Bessie was told she was not enough.

Bessie dreams of riding her bike with the boys after school, but they tell her she is not fast enough. When she finally gets a chance to race, she proves not only that she is fast enough, but she is faster. Fast Enough combines an imagined story of Bessie Stringfield as a young girl with historical facts about Bessie as an adult. Bessie Stringfield went on to become the first African-American woman to travel solo across the United States on a motorcycle. Not only was she fast, but she was a true adventurer, daring to ride to places unsafe for African Americans in the 1930s and ’40s. Fast Enough is an inspirational story for anyone who’s been told they are not enough

[Ta'Neisha Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This began as a simple story and then turned into the history of Bessie Stringfield. I appreciate the simple context of a young girl being teased by her peers as well as the encouragement of her parents to seek God for guidance in all things. Eventually, Bessie is encouraged to try harder and push past the naysayers to reach her destiny of becoming a motorcyclist. This was a fun story with detailed history included in the back of the book. Alternate information about her childhood that was learned at a later date was also provided. Any author who paints a complete picture, especially in a children's book, is alright with me. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous as well. We recommend this for children ages 6 to 11 years old.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people have never heard of Bessie Stringfield, born in 1911. I know I hadn't. this is a picture book, fictionalized introduction to her youth. The boys said young Bessie wasn't fast enough on her bike, but she talked to the Man Upstairs and then set out to prove them wrong. The end pages give a more complete biography of Bessie, who later graduated to motorcycles and traveled all over the United States. This was quite daring for an African-American woman of the time period. the author includes controversy regarding her actual biography, providing the facts Bessie told, and what more recent research reveals. Regardless, this is a new person to celebrate in Black History Month.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book about a girl who wants to ride her bike just as fast as the boys. At the end of the book, there is a small print historical section that tells a brief story of Bessie Stringfield's life. Up until that point, I hadn't known that she was a historical figure. The real Bessie was a motorcyclist and she traveled all over the US up until her death at the age 82 in 1993. She didn't let her gender, race, or age get in the way of doing something she loved- a great message for anyone to hear.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This imagined incident from the life of motorcyclist Bessie Stringfield plays on her love of speeding along on two wheels and imitates the sort of stories she often told about her own life. The additional information at the end of the story tells of her travels as an adult on her motorcycle, including her career as the only female civilian motorcycle courier for the U.S. military. It also mentions The Negro Motorist Green Book, which was used by "black people traveling in America" to find hotels and other services that were safe for them while they were on the road.

I especially like that the author discusses the discrepancies in Bessie's accounts of her early life and those that are supported by evidence. As he says, "This kind of contradicting information often follows people whose adventures are larger than life."

This is a good book to use for units for Women's History Month, Black History Month, or with guidance lessons on self-esteem and perseverance. It is also a good picture book to put into the hands of young readers who enjoy stories about transportation and people who feel "the need for speed."

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad to have another book about this amazing woman and while I like a lot of this illustrator's other work (particularly his other Bessie Stringfield book and the one about Bass Reeves), I didn't think the art suited the subject or target audience in this biography. The text was great and I really enjoyed the way the author wrote a parallel biography in the backmatter. I would have loved to see even more in the backmatter, especially something unique and creative from this talented author-illustrator akin to some of his other work.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun picture book about a young girl who is spurred to follow her dreams after praying "to the Man Upstairs." I liked that the boys in the end accept her; I like the back matter about the real Bessie Stringfield that points out that this is fiction. I do wish there had been some sources listed for people who want to know more. There's a lot to talk about here, as well as just a fun story. Review based on an ARC from NetGalley.

[Susan]

Enjoyed, as I did not know anything about this person before reading. I really liked the long factual note at the end more than the re-imagining of childhood events, but then again, I'm not a little kid, so.

One thing to talk about with your kids when you read this with them: Does someone have to be the fastest and the best in order to deserve a place at the table and the respect of those in power? (Hint: NO! Lol.)

[Book Snuggery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being an avid cyclist myself and someone who’s heard too many times that girls can’t do certain things, I loved Bessie Stringfield’s story! The illustrations were adorable and the fact that you’re learning about a real trailblazer makes this a great one for story time. Bessie is a great role model in overcoming your haters, the doubt, societal expectations and in just being true to yourself.
Added bonus, it’s a kids book that Features diversity, something the industry needs more of!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bessie wanted to ride bikes with the boys and they told her no it's not for girls and she asked her mother and others. Finally, she decides to just ride her bike and later her motorcycle and show the boys it could be done. The story tells of her traveling across the United States with her motorcycle and using Victor Hugo Green's Motorist travel green book. And I learned there are sometimes different sources of information about the character's true story.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be mandatory reading for everybody. We all need to know that we are enough! Just the way we are.
I also never new about Bessie Stringfield. After the picture book, the last few pages are filled with fascinating facts about Bessie Stringfield the, " Negro Motorcycle Queen."
Very inspiring read and beautifully illustrated.