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Malcolm and Me
Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Malcolm and Me is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Malcolm and Me is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.
259 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2020
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1458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 4, 2021
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Roberta is a memorable young middle schooler, learning about herself, race and family. Throughout the book she reads Malcom X's autobiography, and deals with her parents tumultuous relationship. Since Roberta attends Catholic School has to grapple with how religion and God can intersect with how we see and deal with race. The great character development had me rooting for and believing in Roberta the entire time. She is a young talented writer who is learning to navigate her school and dealing with authority figures outside of the rules that her mother has taught her.
While Roberta deals with family conflict and pursues her writing she has to come to terms with how society and her school operates. The pacing and many levels to Roberta's development kept me interested and reading. The solid dialogue and nostalgic details, definitely makes me want to pick up more middle grade books in the future.
A thoughtful and thought provoking look into a young girls life that I know will resonate with everyone who reads it. If you enjoy contemporary story's that explore race, class and adolescence, you should definitely read this book.
Roberta is a memorable young middle schooler, learning about herself, race and family. Throughout the book she reads Malcom X's autobiography, and deals with her parents tumultuous relationship. Since Roberta attends Catholic School has to grapple with how religion and God can intersect with how we see and deal with race. The great character development had me rooting for and believing in Roberta the entire time. She is a young talented writer who is learning to navigate her school and dealing with authority figures outside of the rules that her mother has taught her.
While Roberta deals with family conflict and pursues her writing she has to come to terms with how society and her school operates. The pacing and many levels to Roberta's development kept me interested and reading. The solid dialogue and nostalgic details, definitely makes me want to pick up more middle grade books in the future.
A thoughtful and thought provoking look into a young girls life that I know will resonate with everyone who reads it. If you enjoy contemporary story's that explore race, class and adolescence, you should definitely read this book.
October 26, 2020
Robin Farmer's new novel 'Malcom and Me' is an honest examination of a teenager grappling with issues of racial prejudice, religion and her own identity. Roberta is one of the few black girls in her year group at Catholic school, high flying and intelligent with dreams of being a writer. When an incident in class, a clash between Roberta's recently fuelled urge to speak out against racism versus her teacher's prejudicial beliefs, causes Roberta to be suspended from school, she becomes increasingly inspired to act on her outrage. Roberta is further driven by her reading of Malcom X's autobiography and emerging family issues in her previously harmonious home setting,
Farmer's novel struck me because of my search for books on racial division appropriate for young teenagers. It doesn't pack the violent and gritty punch of some other young adult books on the same topic (Such as 'Dear Martin', 'The Black Kids' and 'The Hate U Give') but it deals with the issues in a way which would aid the understanding of my younger teenage students at the same stage of their childhood as the strong and powerful Roberta. The setting of the 1970s and the backdrop of the Catholic school add further layers to Roberta's action against racism and introspection throughout the novel. A really interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Farmer's novel struck me because of my search for books on racial division appropriate for young teenagers. It doesn't pack the violent and gritty punch of some other young adult books on the same topic (Such as 'Dear Martin', 'The Black Kids' and 'The Hate U Give') but it deals with the issues in a way which would aid the understanding of my younger teenage students at the same stage of their childhood as the strong and powerful Roberta. The setting of the 1970s and the backdrop of the Catholic school add further layers to Roberta's action against racism and introspection throughout the novel. A really interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2020
Tell your class mates that the Panthers ten point program will be as meaningful fifty years from now as it is today"
"In fifty years I'll be an old lady daddy, we won't need it" I say
"Let's hope not. As a betting man, those are odd I would not take"
Malcolm and Me is a middle age book about Roberta, a 13 year old African American trying to find her way in life in the 70s at a Catholic school and how she uses Malcolm Xs autobiography to get through the hardest things in life.
Oof, I'm not too sure where to start this review...
Probably with the fact that this book should definitely be in American schools. Also how incredibly sad that this was based in the 70s and yet we still face the same prejudice and racist behavior today.
I know as a white female I will never be able to understand what goes on in America and never truly be able to sympathise with what it's like to have coloured skin and the horrible things that they face daily. I can, however, do my best to educate myself and the people around me, as to what is going on in the world and not be blinded to the police brutality, the racism and the violence.
Malcolm and Me doesn't have the impact of All American Boys, How it Went Down or even THUG and it's not as in depth but it does hit hard in certain places and brings to light similar views for younger readers.
I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to everyone to pick up, and give it a read.
"In fifty years I'll be an old lady daddy, we won't need it" I say
"Let's hope not. As a betting man, those are odd I would not take"
Malcolm and Me is a middle age book about Roberta, a 13 year old African American trying to find her way in life in the 70s at a Catholic school and how she uses Malcolm Xs autobiography to get through the hardest things in life.
Oof, I'm not too sure where to start this review...
Probably with the fact that this book should definitely be in American schools. Also how incredibly sad that this was based in the 70s and yet we still face the same prejudice and racist behavior today.
I know as a white female I will never be able to understand what goes on in America and never truly be able to sympathise with what it's like to have coloured skin and the horrible things that they face daily. I can, however, do my best to educate myself and the people around me, as to what is going on in the world and not be blinded to the police brutality, the racism and the violence.
Malcolm and Me doesn't have the impact of All American Boys, How it Went Down or even THUG and it's not as in depth but it does hit hard in certain places and brings to light similar views for younger readers.
I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to everyone to pick up, and give it a read.
November 13, 2020
When I see a debut book by an author from Philadelphia with a story based in Philadelphia… I’m all in (because it’s my hometown)!
This story is about Roberta Forest, a 13-year old black girl growing up in Philadelphia in 1973 during the post-civil rights era. Roberta is in the 8th grade, goes to a Catholic school, is very smart and enjoys writing poetry. She also enjoys reading her dad’s copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X and she begins to question and analyze racial prejudice. She also questions her mom, her dad, her brother and her teacher (who she is basically at war with).
Roberta tends to see things in black and white, until she encounters some gray areas in her life. It was interesting to see how her relationship with various characters evolved throughout the story. Roberta went on a journey that felt true, authentic and refreshing. This book also showed the influence and impact reading can have in the lives of children. I really, really enjoyed this book!
This story is about Roberta Forest, a 13-year old black girl growing up in Philadelphia in 1973 during the post-civil rights era. Roberta is in the 8th grade, goes to a Catholic school, is very smart and enjoys writing poetry. She also enjoys reading her dad’s copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X and she begins to question and analyze racial prejudice. She also questions her mom, her dad, her brother and her teacher (who she is basically at war with).
Roberta tends to see things in black and white, until she encounters some gray areas in her life. It was interesting to see how her relationship with various characters evolved throughout the story. Roberta went on a journey that felt true, authentic and refreshing. This book also showed the influence and impact reading can have in the lives of children. I really, really enjoyed this book!
September 22, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Malcolm and Me in exchange for an honest review!
First off, I'm pretty sure a lot of my criticisms of this book are super invalid. I went into it thinking it was YA when this very clearly is a middle grade read and as a result, had a lot of trouble getting invested because of how surface level the writing style and characters were. There is nothing wrong with this book, it just wasn't the book for me.
Malcolm and me follows our 13 year old protagonist, Roberta, as she tries to navigate family drama, her strict catholic school, and her attempts to navigate the changing human rights climate of the 1970s all while coping with that through learning about Malcolm X. It accomplishes everything it sets out to do and asks and answers a lot of interesting questions about race, but this is the kind of middle grade book that's for middle schoolers (revolutionary, I know), so if you also pick this up after seeing it misshelved as a YA book, you might also have trouble getting invested.
First off, I'm pretty sure a lot of my criticisms of this book are super invalid. I went into it thinking it was YA when this very clearly is a middle grade read and as a result, had a lot of trouble getting invested because of how surface level the writing style and characters were. There is nothing wrong with this book, it just wasn't the book for me.
Malcolm and me follows our 13 year old protagonist, Roberta, as she tries to navigate family drama, her strict catholic school, and her attempts to navigate the changing human rights climate of the 1970s all while coping with that through learning about Malcolm X. It accomplishes everything it sets out to do and asks and answers a lot of interesting questions about race, but this is the kind of middle grade book that's for middle schoolers (revolutionary, I know), so if you also pick this up after seeing it misshelved as a YA book, you might also have trouble getting invested.
October 17, 2020
I really liked this book. It’s the story of a smart 13-year old black girl in a majority-white Catholic school in 1973. She gets in trouble for calling out the truth of Jefferson’s hypocrisy, and while suspended from school, she reads “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” which electrifies her and helps her get perspective on life and on her parents’ strained marriage. The many period details are great. I’m white and I particularly enjoyed reading this not only because it was both funny and heart-wrenching but because it allowed me to glimpse the world through the eyes of a black girl.
March 12, 2021
It has been a long time since I have fallen for a YA novel the way I have for Malcolm and Me by Robin Farmer. I LOVE this book! First of all, it’s just a beautiful book to look at. Its cover is a palette of rich, fun colors. The perfect backdrop to highlight the black and white rendering of an African American girl with an afro to die for and the face of a child in search of so much. Farmer makes sure that all of the pathos in her face follows young Roberta Forest throughout the novel. You get what you see. A girl not only searching for herself, but also trying to hold her family together all the while attempting to understand her place in the ever-changing racial landscape of America. Her growth in this area is mirrored and influenced by the growth of Malcolm X as she reads The Autobiography of Malcolm X throughout this story. The book helps her find the nuanced spaces of understanding race and I truly believe that Malcolm and Me can help provide that same kind of understanding for any young person reading it. That’s why I am recommending it to every educator that I can find. Robin Farmer is a master storyteller. She gets to the message without having to stop and preach. An art that I completely appreciate.
Roberta, the protagonist, is as engaging a character as I’ve come across in a YA novel. She is a fully developed character, and we see all sides. The funny, the irreverent, the kind, the hurt, the loved and the giver of love. She's smart. She’s an agitator. She’s a daughter with a big bold and needy heart. You will love her, and she will teach you a few things along the way too.
Robin Farmer provides the reader with seamless, powerfully reflective storytelling. This will definitely be on my favorites list for 2021. Get it! Read it! Tell people about it!
Roberta, the protagonist, is as engaging a character as I’ve come across in a YA novel. She is a fully developed character, and we see all sides. The funny, the irreverent, the kind, the hurt, the loved and the giver of love. She's smart. She’s an agitator. She’s a daughter with a big bold and needy heart. You will love her, and she will teach you a few things along the way too.
Robin Farmer provides the reader with seamless, powerfully reflective storytelling. This will definitely be on my favorites list for 2021. Get it! Read it! Tell people about it!
July 22, 2025
Absolutely fantastic read!
I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed this story. Roberta's character is real and raw, portraying the struggles of a Black woman in the 70's. Robin Farmer eloquently but truthfully covers such topics as religion, racism, and learning how to navigate a world where the two are inescapable. I also really enjoyed the historical points made. It all created a story that was easy to follow, captivating and educational. I highly recommend it.
I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed this story. Roberta's character is real and raw, portraying the struggles of a Black woman in the 70's. Robin Farmer eloquently but truthfully covers such topics as religion, racism, and learning how to navigate a world where the two are inescapable. I also really enjoyed the historical points made. It all created a story that was easy to follow, captivating and educational. I highly recommend it.
November 8, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Malcolm and Me: A Novel
Author: Robin Farmer
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black MC and characters
Recommended For...: anti-racist reading
Publication Date: November 17, 2020
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (race and racism, some discussion about divorce, religion, racist remarks made at the MC)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 229
Synopsis: Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Angel Dressed in Black is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book did well with the story and it was compelling and gripping from page one. The book talks about the 70s where we saw a lot of human rights change, but we can draw parallels between that time period and now. The book raised a lot of important questions and topics dealing with race and racism, and I definitely recommend it especially for younger teens and middle graders!
The only things I didn’t like are that the writing was clearly middle grade, but it kinda marketed to be young adult. I think the writing could have been matured a bit, but I do like that the book is MG because every age group needs to learn about racism and how to be anti-racist.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
Book: Malcolm and Me: A Novel
Author: Robin Farmer
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black MC and characters
Recommended For...: anti-racist reading
Publication Date: November 17, 2020
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (race and racism, some discussion about divorce, religion, racist remarks made at the MC)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 229
Synopsis: Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Angel Dressed in Black is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book did well with the story and it was compelling and gripping from page one. The book talks about the 70s where we saw a lot of human rights change, but we can draw parallels between that time period and now. The book raised a lot of important questions and topics dealing with race and racism, and I definitely recommend it especially for younger teens and middle graders!
The only things I didn’t like are that the writing was clearly middle grade, but it kinda marketed to be young adult. I think the writing could have been matured a bit, but I do like that the book is MG because every age group needs to learn about racism and how to be anti-racist.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
May 24, 2021
I enjoyed Roberta’s character very much, a little slow in places but the more I think about it the more I realize it’s not a typical fiction with one major climax, more like real life, it has lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. Definitely for fans of Dear Martin, Roberta examines and questions her life through the lens of Malcolm X’s writings.
June 18, 2021
A Philadelphia story abt racism, Catholicism, and colorist. (And Malcom X). Loved the old school details abt Philly and the struggle of a young girl dealing with complex situations.
November 6, 2020
Review closer to release date.
December 20, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Malcolm and Me was so good! In it, you will meet Roberta who is a 13 year old girl living in the 70's. I will also point out the fact that she is African American and is trying to navigate through life while attending a Catholic School. There should be no surprise or shock as to how people were treated throughout this but it doesn't make it an easy pill to swallow either.
Never been to Catholic School before, unless you count Sunday school? (which I wouldn't), and I'm not a big fan of prejudice or racism either. It's still depressing that it exists even today. That being said, I can't say that I've gone through anything that Roberta did. So while I can't fully understand it all or even go through what she (or anyone really) did, I will do my very best to continue to educate myself on everything until the day I die.
Honestly, I loved this book to pieces and think everyone should dive into it. Just to educate yourself and others. Definitely recommendable.
Malcolm and Me was so good! In it, you will meet Roberta who is a 13 year old girl living in the 70's. I will also point out the fact that she is African American and is trying to navigate through life while attending a Catholic School. There should be no surprise or shock as to how people were treated throughout this but it doesn't make it an easy pill to swallow either.
Never been to Catholic School before, unless you count Sunday school? (which I wouldn't), and I'm not a big fan of prejudice or racism either. It's still depressing that it exists even today. That being said, I can't say that I've gone through anything that Roberta did. So while I can't fully understand it all or even go through what she (or anyone really) did, I will do my very best to continue to educate myself on everything until the day I die.
Honestly, I loved this book to pieces and think everyone should dive into it. Just to educate yourself and others. Definitely recommendable.
July 1, 2021
Malcolm and Me is about a girl named Roberta Forest who stands up to racism, learning about herself, family and race in 1970's Philadelphia. Roberta deals with her tumultuous relationship with her family, she grapples with how religion and God can intersect with how we look at race while attending Catholic school. It's told in Roberta's point of view.
Roberta is a young talented writer who comes to terms in dealing with how her school and society operates. Malcolm and Me is an engaging book that everyone should read with the challenges we face today in addressing racism.
Roberta is a young talented writer who comes to terms in dealing with how her school and society operates. Malcolm and Me is an engaging book that everyone should read with the challenges we face today in addressing racism.
October 15, 2020
*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
For me this book is sitting at a 2.5 which J rounded up to a three.
I saw another review of this book which said that they thought the idea of this book was bigger than what was produced and that explains my feelings entirely.
I had gone into it expecting a YA. I'm pretty sure I saw it marketed as a YA somewhere, so I was a little thrown off when I started reading what is clearly a middle grade.
Having said that, I have read some great middle grade stuff, so I was more than willing to give it a try.
For me, this book was OK. It could have been a bit more developed and engaging, especially with such a compelling theme.
However, for the age it's written for, it's a decent book.
For me this book is sitting at a 2.5 which J rounded up to a three.
I saw another review of this book which said that they thought the idea of this book was bigger than what was produced and that explains my feelings entirely.
I had gone into it expecting a YA. I'm pretty sure I saw it marketed as a YA somewhere, so I was a little thrown off when I started reading what is clearly a middle grade.
Having said that, I have read some great middle grade stuff, so I was more than willing to give it a try.
For me, this book was OK. It could have been a bit more developed and engaging, especially with such a compelling theme.
However, for the age it's written for, it's a decent book.
November 7, 2020
I loved this book! I received a finished copy of this book from Booksparks as part of their Fall stacks promotion, in exchange for a permanent post on my Instagram feed. I really was not sure what I was getting into at first, but ended up really loving it and I could relate to Roberta at times, as well as connect this book to events and prejudices we see even today.
This book is set within the time period of the Watergate scandal, which is mentioned once and once only, where we get to see a glimpse into Roberta's life for a whole year -- the year she turned 13. She goes to a Catholic private school, where she receives blatant racist comments from Sister Elizabeth and grapples with her love for God and for religion. She has read Malcolm X's biography not once, but twice this year, and she continually uses his examples and life experiences to connect with her own or to be "what would Malcolm do." Roberta is at the right age where she starts to notice things a little more outside her own circle, mainly including racism and the hypocrisy seen not only in our churches but from the President of the United States as well.
On top of the racism and religion issues, Roberta is also dealing with her family that has fallen apart because of its own scandal. Because of that, she is coming to terms with the fact that even parents make mistakes and may not always be truthful, and has to learn to love her father again and try to not let anger rule over her life. She honestly believed that winning an essay competition would put her family back together, but slowly learns it probably will not and she just has to come to terms with the way her family will be split from now on.
I loved watching Roberta mature and learn throughout this book, as well as empowering her few other Black classmates at this school. She got every Black kid in her grad, and then the whole school, to stand during the pledge of allegiance but not say a word! The chills I got from reading that part....I also love how proud she is of her hair, even when people touch it without asking, and she often equated her moods with how bouncy/droopy her hair was that day. I was just rooting for her the whole time, hoping everything would end up going her way. We also get to see her poetry entries she wrote when it was hard to get feelings out, so this book is split up a bit that way as well.
Overall, this book had me smiling and rooting for Roberta, yelling "hell yeah!" every time she was able to affect change. Despite the time period this book is set in, sadly we still see a lot of the same problems and prejudices today, but I think any young adult or even middle grade reader that picks up this book will see that they are not alone, it is okay to question things, it is okay to love God but not religion, and that sticking to what you believe is true is the most important thing of all. This book was inspiring, and I am grateful I got the chance to read it.
This book is set within the time period of the Watergate scandal, which is mentioned once and once only, where we get to see a glimpse into Roberta's life for a whole year -- the year she turned 13. She goes to a Catholic private school, where she receives blatant racist comments from Sister Elizabeth and grapples with her love for God and for religion. She has read Malcolm X's biography not once, but twice this year, and she continually uses his examples and life experiences to connect with her own or to be "what would Malcolm do." Roberta is at the right age where she starts to notice things a little more outside her own circle, mainly including racism and the hypocrisy seen not only in our churches but from the President of the United States as well.
On top of the racism and religion issues, Roberta is also dealing with her family that has fallen apart because of its own scandal. Because of that, she is coming to terms with the fact that even parents make mistakes and may not always be truthful, and has to learn to love her father again and try to not let anger rule over her life. She honestly believed that winning an essay competition would put her family back together, but slowly learns it probably will not and she just has to come to terms with the way her family will be split from now on.
I loved watching Roberta mature and learn throughout this book, as well as empowering her few other Black classmates at this school. She got every Black kid in her grad, and then the whole school, to stand during the pledge of allegiance but not say a word! The chills I got from reading that part....I also love how proud she is of her hair, even when people touch it without asking, and she often equated her moods with how bouncy/droopy her hair was that day. I was just rooting for her the whole time, hoping everything would end up going her way. We also get to see her poetry entries she wrote when it was hard to get feelings out, so this book is split up a bit that way as well.
Overall, this book had me smiling and rooting for Roberta, yelling "hell yeah!" every time she was able to affect change. Despite the time period this book is set in, sadly we still see a lot of the same problems and prejudices today, but I think any young adult or even middle grade reader that picks up this book will see that they are not alone, it is okay to question things, it is okay to love God but not religion, and that sticking to what you believe is true is the most important thing of all. This book was inspiring, and I am grateful I got the chance to read it.
November 20, 2020
Malcolm and Me is an excellent MG book. Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Our protaganist is thirteen years old. It straddles the line between MG and YA but I would put it more towards MG. She goes to a private Catholic school in the seventies and right in the very first chapter it shocks you with the reminder of what used to be considered acceptable, as well as how overt racism was. It provides an excellent backdrop to talk about racial justice, liberation, and "being too black" through a historical lens that we often forget is historical. The way Farmer weaves her journey against the changing times of the post-Civil Rights era for a black girl, with a passing mother and dark skinned father was wonderful. It occasionally has bumps in the flow but the book is well written with an incredibly strong voice, set in a decade we need way more from. I found myself shocked by the things she went through while also being incredibly proud of her, and thinking about the way her incident would have been treated in the modern era. Highly recommend.
November 23, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 8, 2022
Roberta Forest is in 8th grade at a Catholic middle school in Philadelphia in 1973. She's bright, motivated, and a gifted writer who has a good friend in Bonnie, who shares her interest in records, junk food, and Soul Train. She is also keenly aware of the social unrest in her community over Civil Rights issues. This is brought home in a horrible way when her history teacher, Sister Elizabeth, asks her why Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence even though he had slaves. Even though Roberta is usually careful with her responses, since she is one of the few Black students in the school, she replies "He was a hypocrite". This does not go over well with the sister, and an altercation ensues. Sister Elizabeth makes a racist remark, the two scuffle, and Roberta is sent to the office and eventually suspended, even though her parents agree that the teacher was in the wrong. This results in a host of complications-- Roberta is grounded, her parents have a horrible argument, and it's rumored that Sister Elizabeth is in the hospital with a heart attack! When the dust settles, Roberta's grades suffer, her father moves out, and her teacher is fine... and oddly nice to her. The two have a weird detente, and there are times when Roberta almost likes her teacher. The racist remark is reasoned away by the Sister Elizabeth being stressed about her brother being ill, but Roberta sees other troubling glimpses of racism in the nun's behavior. She has bigger problems to worry about; she wants to write a piece for an essay competition, she has to think about the high school she will attend, and she misses her father dreadfully. She's angry at her mother, and the two frequently quarrel. Roberta's behavior at school is often mouthy, and she is eventually told she can't submit as essay to the contest because of it. She decides to enter an essay contest in Right On! magazine instead. Roberta is very concerned about her future, but as secrets come out about both her teacher and her father, she finds it increasingly difficult to behave in the way adults want her to. Will she be able to find a way forward?
Good Points
A good historical novel needs good historical details, and since this book is loosely based on Farmer's life, there are a LOT of good details. From school uniforms to television programs, to random phrases of the day, the feel of 1973 is well captured. The social upheaval of the time mirrors the unrest we have today, sadly, and Roberta's emotions are as complicated and messy as the world around her is. Young readers might be enticed to investigate how they can grow their own hair to emulate Roberta's Afro; after all, since it's too big for her classmates to see around, she often gets put in the back of the class.
Sister Elizabeth is a fascinating character, and her actions (as appalling as they will seem to the modern eye) were certainly indicative of the way nuns acted during this time period. My Latin teacher liked to tell the tale of a Sister Benignia who threw a future mob boss across the classroom in his desk because he sassed her! Roberta's parents aren't happy with the school, but they want the best education for her, and know the reality of how parent complaints were taken at the time. Sister Elizabeth has her own reasons for her racist actions, but I couldn't help thinking that many of Roberta's problems were caused by the fact that she attended a Catholic school! (I grew up in a largely Catholic community, and good stories about Catholic schools were pretty rare.)
While the Forest's marital problems are pretty extreme, divorce in the 1970s was very common but somehow more sensational than it is today. The emotions and family dynamic that result from the father leaving seem like they will speak to young readers today, who are perhaps more used to the idea of divorce but suffer just the same.
While there are a lot of books about the Civil Rights movement that are set in the 1950s and 1960s in the South, I am always looking for ones that are set a bit later, and in other parts of the country. What I would LOVE to see is a book set in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1970s, when busing was a huge issue! There are a few, like Traci Jones' Finding My Place (2010, but set in 1975 Denver), Budhos' The Long Ride (2019, set in 1971 New York), and Frank's Armostrong and Charlie (2017, 1970s California), and I'm glad to be able to add this title to that list. I also know just the student who needs this book, and it's perfect; like Tanita Davis' novels, this is decidedly upper middle grade, and would be perfect for high school readers as well.
Good Points
A good historical novel needs good historical details, and since this book is loosely based on Farmer's life, there are a LOT of good details. From school uniforms to television programs, to random phrases of the day, the feel of 1973 is well captured. The social upheaval of the time mirrors the unrest we have today, sadly, and Roberta's emotions are as complicated and messy as the world around her is. Young readers might be enticed to investigate how they can grow their own hair to emulate Roberta's Afro; after all, since it's too big for her classmates to see around, she often gets put in the back of the class.
Sister Elizabeth is a fascinating character, and her actions (as appalling as they will seem to the modern eye) were certainly indicative of the way nuns acted during this time period. My Latin teacher liked to tell the tale of a Sister Benignia who threw a future mob boss across the classroom in his desk because he sassed her! Roberta's parents aren't happy with the school, but they want the best education for her, and know the reality of how parent complaints were taken at the time. Sister Elizabeth has her own reasons for her racist actions, but I couldn't help thinking that many of Roberta's problems were caused by the fact that she attended a Catholic school! (I grew up in a largely Catholic community, and good stories about Catholic schools were pretty rare.)
While the Forest's marital problems are pretty extreme, divorce in the 1970s was very common but somehow more sensational than it is today. The emotions and family dynamic that result from the father leaving seem like they will speak to young readers today, who are perhaps more used to the idea of divorce but suffer just the same.
While there are a lot of books about the Civil Rights movement that are set in the 1950s and 1960s in the South, I am always looking for ones that are set a bit later, and in other parts of the country. What I would LOVE to see is a book set in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1970s, when busing was a huge issue! There are a few, like Traci Jones' Finding My Place (2010, but set in 1975 Denver), Budhos' The Long Ride (2019, set in 1971 New York), and Frank's Armostrong and Charlie (2017, 1970s California), and I'm glad to be able to add this title to that list. I also know just the student who needs this book, and it's perfect; like Tanita Davis' novels, this is decidedly upper middle grade, and would be perfect for high school readers as well.
November 17, 2020
Thank you to SparkPress for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Malcolm and Me is about 13-year-old Roberta Frost is a young girl learning about the differences in life and how things aren't always as they've seemed to be.
Roberta starts reading Malcolm X's book and realizes the little differences in her school life with how the nuns at her school treat the Black kids compared to the white kids. We see Roberta go head to head a lot with one nun who singles her out a lot, and we see Roberta find different ways to deal with this as time goes on. Sometimes it goes better than others, but at the end of the day, Roberta and her fellow students do learn from these arguments and some of them even start to see things differently. This struggle she has with the nun is one that covers multiple different subjects and is one that lasts all school year because of what it was over.
We also get to see Roberta's home life where things used to be so good in her mind and, then suddenly, things start coming to light that changes her world. We see her struggle with all of this throughout the book and feeling understandably angry about what is happening as well as being confused because she doesn't know the full story. I will say this when it came to her family and home life it feels really real, her parents were involved, and her and her had a realistic sibling relationship.
Overall I loved this book. Getting to see an older middle-grade book that was fun and had sad moments but was also very realistic was a nice change for me from what I've been reading these past few months. Roberta is a character I really liked, she was loveable and I always understood where she was coming from because of how she was written, while also understanding why she wasn't able to know things that her parents were dealing with. That is going to make Malcolm and Me a good book for all ages from middle-grade through adult because of how it shows and connects the importance of seeing things from multiple perspectives and realizing that everything isn't black and white. The pacing of this book was very fast as well and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what the author writes next, and I wish her all the success in the world.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Malcolm and Me is about 13-year-old Roberta Frost is a young girl learning about the differences in life and how things aren't always as they've seemed to be.
Roberta starts reading Malcolm X's book and realizes the little differences in her school life with how the nuns at her school treat the Black kids compared to the white kids. We see Roberta go head to head a lot with one nun who singles her out a lot, and we see Roberta find different ways to deal with this as time goes on. Sometimes it goes better than others, but at the end of the day, Roberta and her fellow students do learn from these arguments and some of them even start to see things differently. This struggle she has with the nun is one that covers multiple different subjects and is one that lasts all school year because of what it was over.
We also get to see Roberta's home life where things used to be so good in her mind and, then suddenly, things start coming to light that changes her world. We see her struggle with all of this throughout the book and feeling understandably angry about what is happening as well as being confused because she doesn't know the full story. I will say this when it came to her family and home life it feels really real, her parents were involved, and her and her had a realistic sibling relationship.
Overall I loved this book. Getting to see an older middle-grade book that was fun and had sad moments but was also very realistic was a nice change for me from what I've been reading these past few months. Roberta is a character I really liked, she was loveable and I always understood where she was coming from because of how she was written, while also understanding why she wasn't able to know things that her parents were dealing with. That is going to make Malcolm and Me a good book for all ages from middle-grade through adult because of how it shows and connects the importance of seeing things from multiple perspectives and realizing that everything isn't black and white. The pacing of this book was very fast as well and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what the author writes next, and I wish her all the success in the world.
January 12, 2021
3.5 stars
I liked a lot about this book. I loved the themes of Black Power and self-love and identity woven throughout the story. I love the 70s vibe, which rang through loud and clear from the pages. I love the indomitable spirit of the main character, and the parallels between America nearly 50 years ago and America today. I did have to sit with discomfort in some of the comments on religion, but at the same time I totally respect the perspective and experiences that shaped those comments, and I empathize with them.
I knocked off half a star (if Goodreads would let me) because I was uncomfortable with some things in the book. I know that there are both cultural differences and historical context here (meaning, 50 years ago was literally a different time) but I did not enjoy reading how aggressive Roberta's mom was in particular with her. There's a lot of hitting children in this book, and I don't just mean spanking (I am ambivalent about corporal punishment in media when it comes to kids because mine was a spanking household and I think I turned out ok.) This goes beyond spanking, though, and is abusive. Throwing things to hit kids on the head is abusive. Trying to punch a child in the face (or succeeding, as one adult in this story does with TWO kids) is abusive. Just because it was more socially acceptable at the time does not mean that it was right. I did not like that and I don't think that all of it was really necessary for the story, either. When Roberta's mom loses her cool and tries to punch her daughter in the face, and injures her hand instead, the author could have simply made the choice to have Roberta's mom lose her cool by punching the wall intentionally. Still not great for a child to witness, but better than what was given to us. I also got a little frustrated because the book is marketed toward older teens and young adults, but Roberta reads really, really young sometimes (and she is 13, so it's appropriate.) I'm not sure what a good solution would have been in this case, but it threw me off a bit because I chose the book based on the description and I usually don't choose books about protagonists this young. Maybe more of a heads up would have been good.
All in all, a good read, and an important one. I would definitely recommend this to many of my middle and high school aged patrons.
I liked a lot about this book. I loved the themes of Black Power and self-love and identity woven throughout the story. I love the 70s vibe, which rang through loud and clear from the pages. I love the indomitable spirit of the main character, and the parallels between America nearly 50 years ago and America today. I did have to sit with discomfort in some of the comments on religion, but at the same time I totally respect the perspective and experiences that shaped those comments, and I empathize with them.
I knocked off half a star (if Goodreads would let me) because I was uncomfortable with some things in the book. I know that there are both cultural differences and historical context here (meaning, 50 years ago was literally a different time) but I did not enjoy reading how aggressive Roberta's mom was in particular with her. There's a lot of hitting children in this book, and I don't just mean spanking (I am ambivalent about corporal punishment in media when it comes to kids because mine was a spanking household and I think I turned out ok.) This goes beyond spanking, though, and is abusive. Throwing things to hit kids on the head is abusive. Trying to punch a child in the face (or succeeding, as one adult in this story does with TWO kids) is abusive. Just because it was more socially acceptable at the time does not mean that it was right. I did not like that and I don't think that all of it was really necessary for the story, either. When Roberta's mom loses her cool and tries to punch her daughter in the face, and injures her hand instead, the author could have simply made the choice to have Roberta's mom lose her cool by punching the wall intentionally. Still not great for a child to witness, but better than what was given to us. I also got a little frustrated because the book is marketed toward older teens and young adults, but Roberta reads really, really young sometimes (and she is 13, so it's appropriate.) I'm not sure what a good solution would have been in this case, but it threw me off a bit because I chose the book based on the description and I usually don't choose books about protagonists this young. Maybe more of a heads up would have been good.
All in all, a good read, and an important one. I would definitely recommend this to many of my middle and high school aged patrons.
November 22, 2020
I keep writing sentences that start with, “My favorite thing about this book…” and then I remember something else equally as awesome as the thing I was originally going to call my favorite.
I loved a LOT about this book. The characters are complex. Roberta, at fourteen, is just beginning to discover that she can admire and despise things about the same person. I loved that that lesson was repeated in her relationships with multiple characters in the story.
MALCOLM AND ME definitely challenged me. I feel like, at the beginning of the story, I wanted to doubt Roberta’s perceptions of things sometimes. Or offer more benefit of the doubt than she was comfortable offering. A couple of times I paused in my reading to think that through and made a conscious decision to listen to her story and see where it all went before making any judgments.
I feel like I grew as a reader, but I also think Roberta’s story was so rich and compelling that she would have pulled me along with her no matter what. But I know I really deeply loved the way MALCOLM AND ME explored relationships, particularly her relationship with the nun who used racist insults to humiliate her and with her father, who she learns has some troubling secrets.
Through all this, she continues to evaluate her faith in God– sometimes rejecting belief out of anger, other times being swallowed by her guilt, and still other times leaning into prayer and faith as a means of bringing her through dark moments.
She also connects things that happen to her to the life of Malcolm X, whose autobiography she has been reading. I thought it was really cool the way the story showed a progression in her thinking there, too. Sometimes she was drawn to the hardness of some of this words. At other times, she was drawn to the things he said later in his life, more about peace and treating white people as brothers.
Roberta’s confidence can’t help but be inspiring. Her commitment to think deeply and explore issues and her leadership definitely moved me. I loved this book. I want to see it in classrooms and community libraries, and I hope it inspires many conversations about race and history and faith. I absolutely recommend MALCOLM AND ME.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved a LOT about this book. The characters are complex. Roberta, at fourteen, is just beginning to discover that she can admire and despise things about the same person. I loved that that lesson was repeated in her relationships with multiple characters in the story.
MALCOLM AND ME definitely challenged me. I feel like, at the beginning of the story, I wanted to doubt Roberta’s perceptions of things sometimes. Or offer more benefit of the doubt than she was comfortable offering. A couple of times I paused in my reading to think that through and made a conscious decision to listen to her story and see where it all went before making any judgments.
I feel like I grew as a reader, but I also think Roberta’s story was so rich and compelling that she would have pulled me along with her no matter what. But I know I really deeply loved the way MALCOLM AND ME explored relationships, particularly her relationship with the nun who used racist insults to humiliate her and with her father, who she learns has some troubling secrets.
Through all this, she continues to evaluate her faith in God– sometimes rejecting belief out of anger, other times being swallowed by her guilt, and still other times leaning into prayer and faith as a means of bringing her through dark moments.
She also connects things that happen to her to the life of Malcolm X, whose autobiography she has been reading. I thought it was really cool the way the story showed a progression in her thinking there, too. Sometimes she was drawn to the hardness of some of this words. At other times, she was drawn to the things he said later in his life, more about peace and treating white people as brothers.
Roberta’s confidence can’t help but be inspiring. Her commitment to think deeply and explore issues and her leadership definitely moved me. I loved this book. I want to see it in classrooms and community libraries, and I hope it inspires many conversations about race and history and faith. I absolutely recommend MALCOLM AND ME.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 17, 2020
In Malcolm and Me, by Robin Farmer, the author drew from her own experiences growing up to develop the character of Roberta Forest.
Roberta speaks her mind, which doesn’t go over well with her teacher at the Catholic school she attends. Throughout the year they butt heads more than once, especially as Sister Elizabeth is not short on the snide, and sometimes racist, remarks that she aims at Roberta.
At the same time, things are not going well at home. Her father moves out and Roberta is determined to blame her mother, because why else would her father leave them and not come back?
With all the negative things taking place, the one shining star that she has to focus on is the annual writing contest through school. This year Roberta is determined to write the winning entry. Winning the first place trophy is exactly what she needs to reunite her parents and bring her father home. It also will be the perfect snub to her teacher who fails to give Roberta the recognition and respect she feels she deserves.
Roberta is going to learn some lessons this year, including: Things are not always what they seem. Other people have struggles too. Respect and consideration is a two-way street. People don’t get everything they want. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens.
I am an adult reader who loves YA and this book is categorised as Teen & YA. However, I feel it best fits the lower end of that category and perhaps even preteen, with a thirteen-year-old protagonist (the story begins on her birthday). Malcolm and Me covers some important topics such as racism and split families, but it does not contain any young romance or language that would push it into being more appropriate for a higher age group. Older YA readers, particularly those with more advanced reading interests, may struggle to stay engaged as the book reads from the POV of a much younger person than them.
Malcolm and Me is well written and I feel it is a good choice for the 10-13 year old reader on your shopping list.
Thank you to Netgalley, SparkPress, and Robin Farmer for providing me with a copy of Malcolm and Me in exchange for an impartial review.
4/5 stars
Roberta speaks her mind, which doesn’t go over well with her teacher at the Catholic school she attends. Throughout the year they butt heads more than once, especially as Sister Elizabeth is not short on the snide, and sometimes racist, remarks that she aims at Roberta.
At the same time, things are not going well at home. Her father moves out and Roberta is determined to blame her mother, because why else would her father leave them and not come back?
With all the negative things taking place, the one shining star that she has to focus on is the annual writing contest through school. This year Roberta is determined to write the winning entry. Winning the first place trophy is exactly what she needs to reunite her parents and bring her father home. It also will be the perfect snub to her teacher who fails to give Roberta the recognition and respect she feels she deserves.
Roberta is going to learn some lessons this year, including: Things are not always what they seem. Other people have struggles too. Respect and consideration is a two-way street. People don’t get everything they want. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens.
I am an adult reader who loves YA and this book is categorised as Teen & YA. However, I feel it best fits the lower end of that category and perhaps even preteen, with a thirteen-year-old protagonist (the story begins on her birthday). Malcolm and Me covers some important topics such as racism and split families, but it does not contain any young romance or language that would push it into being more appropriate for a higher age group. Older YA readers, particularly those with more advanced reading interests, may struggle to stay engaged as the book reads from the POV of a much younger person than them.
Malcolm and Me is well written and I feel it is a good choice for the 10-13 year old reader on your shopping list.
Thank you to Netgalley, SparkPress, and Robin Farmer for providing me with a copy of Malcolm and Me in exchange for an impartial review.
4/5 stars
December 2, 2020
Yes please. I am grateful for the chance to read this and thankful that it was written. I learned more in this one book than I usually do in multiple nonfiction reads.
The Note from the author at the end had me in awe. She truly did make lemonade out of lemons having a lot of the events in this story inspired or in one case mirroring her own life. When this book started with a racist comment then a slap from a nun, I sat up straight and cussed out loud in shock and then realizing that one event was the one that most closely reflected the author's life. Damn. I remained upright and attentive the remainder of the book.
This book had one strong, passionate teen who was the perfect protagonist for this topic. She was introduced to the fight for justice by being thrown into the deep end as the reason why the fight was needed were ambushing her. She started naive, almost representing the reader, blindly passionate about a cause she didn't fully understand then throughout the book you started to understand the why with her. It was educational surrounded by a great, heartwarming story about so much more than race.
The theme of forgiveness in several dimensions is prevalent throughout. Learning that forgiveness is needed even when it isn't requested. That is hurts the most when someone close to you betrays you. She had to learn to forgive everything from racial discrimination to a father's betrayal not for them but for herself. You get to watch Roberta mature and it's just a smorgasbord of wisdom.
I always love a story that includes a passionate reader or writer and this had it all plus her sharing her love for poetry including some beautiful, powerful verses every few chapters. This book was enlightening and powerful.
Some of my favorite bookish quotes:
"The last line fills me up. Writing is my superpower. Just like that, I no longer feel misunderstood or misheard. I'm shiny and sure-the confident and smart me."
"There's no better Band-Aid for a wounded soul than disappearing into a world of words."
The Note from the author at the end had me in awe. She truly did make lemonade out of lemons having a lot of the events in this story inspired or in one case mirroring her own life. When this book started with a racist comment then a slap from a nun, I sat up straight and cussed out loud in shock and then realizing that one event was the one that most closely reflected the author's life. Damn. I remained upright and attentive the remainder of the book.
This book had one strong, passionate teen who was the perfect protagonist for this topic. She was introduced to the fight for justice by being thrown into the deep end as the reason why the fight was needed were ambushing her. She started naive, almost representing the reader, blindly passionate about a cause she didn't fully understand then throughout the book you started to understand the why with her. It was educational surrounded by a great, heartwarming story about so much more than race.
The theme of forgiveness in several dimensions is prevalent throughout. Learning that forgiveness is needed even when it isn't requested. That is hurts the most when someone close to you betrays you. She had to learn to forgive everything from racial discrimination to a father's betrayal not for them but for herself. You get to watch Roberta mature and it's just a smorgasbord of wisdom.
I always love a story that includes a passionate reader or writer and this had it all plus her sharing her love for poetry including some beautiful, powerful verses every few chapters. This book was enlightening and powerful.
Some of my favorite bookish quotes:
"The last line fills me up. Writing is my superpower. Just like that, I no longer feel misunderstood or misheard. I'm shiny and sure-the confident and smart me."
"There's no better Band-Aid for a wounded soul than disappearing into a world of words."
October 25, 2020
3.75 ✨
“My brokenness creates a hatred so deep I dive into it. Hope I don’t drown. Some days, I see nothing but gray. I feel scared a lot, too. To mask it, I get angry.”
This book is so heavy. Our main character Roberta is simply trying to understand life as a Black teen growing up in the 70’s. She’s looking for every opportunity to learn and grow but at every turn she’s left broken.
She’s constantly harassed at school by a passive aggressive and racist nun for simply questioning what’s being taught. Her peers often join in on the harassment and rarely get scolded for continuing the trauma. Roberta’s one way to deal with this trauma is through her beautiful poems.
When she looks to her parents for guidance and support the response she receives in split. Her hardworking, kind of militant, father uses diverse literature, movies & music to educate Roberta about the beauty of being Black. On the opposite hand we have her religious mother who wants to stifle Roberta’s curiosity all in the name of desegregation. But these observations are very surface level and Roberta quickly finds out just how difficult it is to be a parent let alone an adult.
The story is a little slow for me and I think that’s just a personal preference. At times, I struggled to continue reading because I had trouble understanding the purpose. This story is simply following Roberta as she engages with multiple situations of family grief and growing pains, racism, friendship, questioning her religion and her simply coming of age.
Thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for an early eARC of this book. I’m grateful for the opportunity to review it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 12, 2020
“I try to swallow questions bubbling up. About being Black and Catholic. About divorce. About Malcolm. About what to do when your heart thunders. I chew my lip, but the most pressing question slips out. ‘What happened?’”
Robin Farmer’s, Malcolm and Me is a middle age novel on the cusp of YA that I found to be well-written, thought-provoking and a necessary read for all audiences alike. It is here we meet Roberta Forest a 13 year old 8th grader who is in the midst of an identity crisis that one can assume most teenagers at some point will encounter. After an altercation with a teacher in which she is told to “go back to Africa” and a fight ensues, Roberta’s life is never the same.
While Roberta should be enjoying her last year before high school, it proves to be the most difficult after she finds herself questioning everything including her own identity. What it means to be Black and Catholic, to know love and loss, to come of age in the 70s and exploring politics and social justice issues are just a few of the challenges that will come to define her year.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Farmer’s exploration is that it is told from the point of view of a budding teenager who is inquisitive and creative and full of hope. Who isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. And, one who is determined to make life’s sour lemons out of lemonade. A beautiful, heart rendering coming of age novel that should be read by all and especially in classrooms to continue the conversation of themes explored in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 11/17/20
Robin Farmer’s, Malcolm and Me is a middle age novel on the cusp of YA that I found to be well-written, thought-provoking and a necessary read for all audiences alike. It is here we meet Roberta Forest a 13 year old 8th grader who is in the midst of an identity crisis that one can assume most teenagers at some point will encounter. After an altercation with a teacher in which she is told to “go back to Africa” and a fight ensues, Roberta’s life is never the same.
While Roberta should be enjoying her last year before high school, it proves to be the most difficult after she finds herself questioning everything including her own identity. What it means to be Black and Catholic, to know love and loss, to come of age in the 70s and exploring politics and social justice issues are just a few of the challenges that will come to define her year.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Farmer’s exploration is that it is told from the point of view of a budding teenager who is inquisitive and creative and full of hope. Who isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. And, one who is determined to make life’s sour lemons out of lemonade. A beautiful, heart rendering coming of age novel that should be read by all and especially in classrooms to continue the conversation of themes explored in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 11/17/20
June 26, 2021
For me, this was an okay book. I didn't really like the book format. I feel like it skipped to a lot of different parts, instead of staying on one topic or scene, which kinda got me frustrated throughout the book. A plus is, I like the characters. I liked Charles the most even though he would pop into the book every once in a while. The first chapter started with something that made me want to keep going, which is another plus. So, even though it skipped to a lot of different parts quickly which I didn't like, I liked the storyline and what was happening in the book. The other thing I wish happened in this book was more of Malcolm. Even though the book is called Malcolm and Me, I don't feel like there was enough talk about him. When he was brought up, I realized, from my perspective while reading, it was only when Roberta was talking about how he is inspiring to her. Another thing I did like about the book was the poems. It was probably my favorite thing about the book because I'm not really into poetry that much. Although with this book when the poems would come up, I enjoyed reading them. I would like to add though that there was one part in the book that made me sad. I really trusted in the dad, so when we found out that he had another kid with another woman that was unexpected for me. The part that probably made me really sad in the entire book was when Roberta found out about Daddy and asked him "'Do you call your new daughter 'Pumpkin'?'". Overall though, it was an okay book, just not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2020
Where was Roberta Forest when I was 13? True, I had Margaret (from Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) Yes, Roberta's story and viewpoint is wildly different than Margaret's due to her questions about race, history, and fairness, and because of the religious and racist halls she walks. Yet, Roberta's perspective also shows the changes a young woman undergoes from 13 to 14 regardless of time, place, or race. Roberta struggles with identity within the family unit, grappling with truths revealed about parents. She searches for spiritual enlightenment, not just religion. She strives to define herself apart from friends and teachers, daring to overcome the role of victim to contribute in bigger ways.
Robin Farmer's creation of Roberta has been long needed to fill in the greater American picture, to show diversity in our youth, and she does so with a soulful prose befitting her poet protagonist. This exploration of a 13 year old, with Malcolm X's autobiography in hand, was an insightful pleasure to read. Much as I was thankfully handed Margaret, I'd recommend giving Robin Farmer's Malcolm and Me: A Novel to every 13 year-old girl and boy you know.
Robin Farmer's creation of Roberta has been long needed to fill in the greater American picture, to show diversity in our youth, and she does so with a soulful prose befitting her poet protagonist. This exploration of a 13 year old, with Malcolm X's autobiography in hand, was an insightful pleasure to read. Much as I was thankfully handed Margaret, I'd recommend giving Robin Farmer's Malcolm and Me: A Novel to every 13 year-old girl and boy you know.
October 20, 2020
Check out this gorgeous cover!!
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Thanks to #sparkpresspublishing for this free book to share with @kidlitexchange This upper MG historical fiction book by @robinfarmerwrites comes out next month on November 17.
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When Roberta Forest experiences overt racism, she fights back. It doesn’t matter that it’s her Catholic school teacher; Roberta isn’t afraid to speak up for herself. She’s fierce and unafraid and even inspires her classmates to act, as well by refusing to stand for the pledge in protest of the way Black people are treated in America. Talk about a #youngchangemaker !!
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This coming of age novel is well done, and will resonate with teens. I did think it was stuck a little between upper MG and YA. It feels like it wants to be YA, but the protagonist is 13. I also wish there were a few more historical details to ground it further in the time frame (Watergate era).
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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Thanks to #sparkpresspublishing for this free book to share with @kidlitexchange This upper MG historical fiction book by @robinfarmerwrites comes out next month on November 17.
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When Roberta Forest experiences overt racism, she fights back. It doesn’t matter that it’s her Catholic school teacher; Roberta isn’t afraid to speak up for herself. She’s fierce and unafraid and even inspires her classmates to act, as well by refusing to stand for the pledge in protest of the way Black people are treated in America. Talk about a #youngchangemaker !!
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This coming of age novel is well done, and will resonate with teens. I did think it was stuck a little between upper MG and YA. It feels like it wants to be YA, but the protagonist is 13. I also wish there were a few more historical details to ground it further in the time frame (Watergate era).
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
September 21, 2020
Great book, easy to read, and relatable for all.
"Malcolm and Me" is a book that follows the life of a 13 year old Roberta as she navigates going to a Catholic School, her parents separation, and growing up in general. She uses her passion for writing and reading a Malcolm X Autobiography to help process emotions and feel the sense of escape from a sometimes oppressive life.
Growing up is hard enough on its own, without adding in all the additional drama most of us have to go through. Robin Farmer did a wonderful job of showing the sense of internal struggle that teens/tweens feel as they try to grapple with what they've always known and been taught, and what they are seeing, feeling and experiencing for themselves. Even as an adult, I could relate to this character, as we are all changing and growing, grappling with similar issues, no matter our age.
The relationship and correlations between Malcolm X and his struggle, and Roberta trying to find herself, was an added benefit of this book. I believe the link was added in just the right snippets, not being too much about one or the other, but rather showing how our heroes in life sometimes come from unlikely places, and can help us see something we may not have otherwise seen.
"Malcolm and Me" is a book that follows the life of a 13 year old Roberta as she navigates going to a Catholic School, her parents separation, and growing up in general. She uses her passion for writing and reading a Malcolm X Autobiography to help process emotions and feel the sense of escape from a sometimes oppressive life.
Growing up is hard enough on its own, without adding in all the additional drama most of us have to go through. Robin Farmer did a wonderful job of showing the sense of internal struggle that teens/tweens feel as they try to grapple with what they've always known and been taught, and what they are seeing, feeling and experiencing for themselves. Even as an adult, I could relate to this character, as we are all changing and growing, grappling with similar issues, no matter our age.
The relationship and correlations between Malcolm X and his struggle, and Roberta trying to find herself, was an added benefit of this book. I believe the link was added in just the right snippets, not being too much about one or the other, but rather showing how our heroes in life sometimes come from unlikely places, and can help us see something we may not have otherwise seen.
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