Makena: See Me, Hear Me, Know Me

American Girl: World By Us

by Denise Lewis Patrick

Makena has a passion for fashion and clothes are a way for her to connect with others—especially when she shares her OOTD (outfit of the day). But some people don’t see Makena for who she is. They only see her as a Black girl and make unfair assumptions. When she experiences a racist incident in her own neighborhood, she decides to use fashion to speak up about injustice. She teams up with her new friends Evette and Maritza to raise awareness about racism and other issue they care about. Can she encourage her community to look beyond color? The book includes ideas for standing up to racism, a profile of the founder of a fashion organization that supports designers of color, and reader questions to spark conversation.

Genres: Childrens, Contemporary, Middle Grade, Juvenile

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

See Me, Hear Me, Know Me Review

“ I am a person. See me for who I am. Hear what I say. Get to know me before you make up something about me. Judge me by my words and actions, not my race. See me. Hear me. Know me.”

I was a big fan of the American Girl books when I was kid. Addie was my favorite. So I was happy to get a chance to read the next generations’ stories. I really liked the message behind this story and as a Black woman I definitely related to several of the situations in this story.

Even though I’m an adult I find that this story is perfect for the target audience. It breaks down discrimination, prejudice and racism in a way that easy to understand. I like at the end of the book that there are several prompts/ideas on you can stand up to racism.

[Linda Galella · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s so much good in this book but I’m concerned many white readers will put it down at page 6.

That’s where the first instance of racism occurs. It’s handled well but it came up too quickly in this story. Every racist interaction in this book involves only white people as the aggressors; that’s not realistic.

The remainder of the story is excellent. Makena, the main character, is a terrific kid - starting 7th grade, meeting new friends, interested in fashion and making her world a better place. She’s a good big sister, has a loving parents and extended family. Her friends are interesting and some of them will be featured in other volumes of this series.

Nothing that is done by Makena or her F&F is belligerent or insightful. She thinks, asks permission and uses words and her creativity as a way to seek solutions to problems. She is inspiring.

“See me, Hear me Know me” is a good book to be read together as a family. Lots of opportunities for discussion in this one.

All things considered, 3.5 stars rounded down for the reason stated above📚

[Coleccionista de finales tristes · Rating 3 out of 5]

See me, hear me, know me

El libro está dirigido a niños de tercer y cuarto año sin embargo por el tema que trata así como la edad de la protagonista creo que bien se puede leer hasta los 13 años o más

Makena es una niña de 13 años y afroamericana. El tema principal del libro es el racismo

Me ha parecido que el libro exagera la situación actual . Sin embargo no lo sé así que mejor corto aquí .

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makena (that would be pronounced mah-KAY-nah) Lilias Cook Williams is eager to start middle school in person after the pandemic. While school was online, Makena would still dress in her best and post OOTD (Outfit of the Day) pictures online. She can't believe people like her fashion and her posts. Makena can't wait to show off her first day outfit and make new friends and learn from inspiring teachers. However, a series of incidents in her neighborhood and school make Makena uneasy. Why do people see her and judge her by the color of her skin? (Or ignore her?) Why can't they judge the person she is inside? As Makena ponders her feelings, she decides to team up with her new friends at the Community Center to share her true self with the world.

I liked this story very much. Makena's family is warm, loving and supportive. They make a point to stay in touch no matter where they live and to help her uncle with his food truck. They're involved with the community as well. Makena is a relatable and likable character for the most part. What I did not love about this story is ALL the racist things that happen to Black people happen to Makena in a very short amount of time. Do these things happen? Yes absolutely. I've read the news stories that inspired the incidents like Michelle Obama not being seen in a line; like Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. having the cops called on him when he was trying to get into his own home; all the "Karens" in the parks. It was all a little much to happen to ONE kid in like one week or one month or whatever the timeline is. The neighbor should have made an effort ahead of time to learn who lived on the street and Makena's parents should also have introduced themselves ahead of time before this incident. The conclusion to that incident seemed far fetched.

On the plus side, the tween changemaker thing feels realistic and it's all Makena's idea and her production with the help of her friends. They asked adult permission only. (

Makena's mom sounds really cool. Back in the 70s when she was a young woman, she made her own dashiki, a type of shirt based on traditional African clothing. She wore it for her 7th grade school talent show where she read a poem by outspoken Black poet Nikki Giovanni. Makena's mom was proud of being a young Black woman and the words she was reciting were important so she found the courage to stand up in front of the whole school. She tells Makena "When you feel strongly enough about something, you find a way to take action." Makena listens to her mom and takes her mom's advice to heart and uses her voice to make a difference. Denise Lewis Patrick used the same theme in both Cécile and Melody's stories and this one updates it for modern girls and goes a little bit beyond what girls in the past could and would do. Melody's stories very much deal with the Civil Rights Movement and she would be proud of Makena for using her voice for change.

Makena's sister, Amari, age 11, is younger and very different from Makena but they get along well and support each other. Makena has two best friends besides Evette and Maritza. Najee, a friend from elementary school, is kind of a nerdy guy, he's a good friend and very chill. Something scary happens to him and sadly, he already knows how to respond. That should not have happened but Karens see what Karens want to see and don't bother to assess the situation first before going postal. Adeline is Makena's new middle school bestie. They're inspired by new teachers and uninspired by a sub who can't seem to SEE the girls as individuals. (A subject better covered by Jerry Craft's graphic novel "Class Act.") Auntie Bling, Makena's favorite aunt, is a stylist in LA. Her friend started Harlem's Fashion Row. Auntie Bling teaches Makena how fashion can make a statement about who you are.

I don't really get much of a sense of who Evette and Maritza are at this point. The story takes place at the same time as Evette's and the overlap feels like I'm only getting part of the story.

The illustrations are fine for digital but most of them are in black and white when fashion is a huge part of who Makena is. She makes color choices deliberately. Fortunately the last picture is in color and that's an important one.

Tips to help readers stand up to racism and discussion questions at the end will help readers understand Makena's story and start conversations about it. Kids are smart enough to draw their own conclusions about what is fair/not fair and now these new stories help them figure out what to do about unfairness in their own communities today.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars bc I liked the book, am glad I read it, and feel like it accomplished its goal, I just think it could’ve been even better.// I know I know, this is a middle-grade book with only 87 pages, but my reading goal really took a hit from senior year so allow me this :) I wanted to support AG’s short-lived attempt at helping kids understand racism and the current need for social justice, and this book actually moved me to tears a couple times. The adults in Makena’s life do a great job helping her process the racism she experiences, and her motivation to speak against it and take action is inspiring to anyone of any age. It’s kind of a shame that it feels like a historical character book with all the time references to the pandemic, though I appreciated the look at what it was like for kids to go through it. I don’t know that I really bought into Makena’s voice as a 13-year-old but I guess all the references to social media make it accurate. I know that Makena’s special interest is fashion, but sometimes the detailed descriptions (in order to sell the dolls’ clothing) got old. This book could really do with being a little bit longer (13-year-olds read longer books!), Makena’s friend goes from Evette to Evie from one sentence to the next with no explanation.

[Eva B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that deals head-on with issues of racism. Makena is a great lead and I can't wait to see how her story ties in with Maritza and Evette's. Also her outfit is such a vibe I love it.
My one tiny nitpick is that there's a part where Maritza and Evette are suddenly referred to as Itza and Evie without any prior mention (that I noticed) of "yeah my friends call me [nickname]", which I can only assume will be jarring for some young readers.

[Beth E · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really sad that even young children can face discrimination based on race, and this book paints this in vivid color.

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a long quarantine from school due to Covid, Makena is excited to start 7th grade in person. She's excited to shop for back-to-school outfits with her family and works hard to create a fashion tailored to her own identity. At school and in the world, she experiences racism. She reflects on these racist experiences, discusses them with her friends and family and works to make a statement about her experience in the clothing she wears and the social media she posts. Just like the title, readers can use the mantra "see me, hear me, know me". Powerful stuff!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second in the American Girl: World By Us series features Makena, a fashion-loving 7th grade Black girl who is discovering the harsh truth that sometimes people judge simply by looking at a person’s exterior and do not take the time to really see the real person. In one instance, when helping a lost toddler find her mom, a bystander decides that Makena and her Black friend Najee must be up to no good. In another, a new neighbor calls the police when Makena and her sister are seen trying to get into their home after forgetting a house key! In response, Makena uses her existing online fashion presence to encourage all to stop judging by appearances. Makena and her friends also produce a fashion show featuring cultural and iconic clothing that makes a statement. Like it’s series opener, back matter includes a biography of a trendsetting Black woman and practical ideas for tweens and young teens who would like to promote unity and harmony among all people. Sadly, Makena’s experiences with White people are overwhelmingly negative which could leave readers with the feeling that all Caucasians behave in such an ugly manner. Librarians serving grades 3-5, looking to represent a variety of skin tones, will appreciate this series. No profanity, no sexual content, and no physical violence.

[Mgrones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done. My only criticism is that too many racist things happen to the characters in a very short time. But that is the point of the book. The girl could easily be real, and the story is engaging. I love the historical references that encourage readers to dig into the past, much like the early American Girl books.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the three World By Us books back in December and have been trying to gather my thoughts on them ever since. They feel Important. So here goes.

All three World By Us books are about taking action to help right some of the wrongs you see in your own community. They're about tackling prejudice and uplifting your community. And they're about friendship. There's a lot there, and there's certainly room to feel that AG is burdening its non-white characters with heavier themes. But I also know that as a kid with white privilege, stories like these were eye-opening to me, and I hope that the kids who do look like these characters will feel seen and maybe even empowered.

The three girls have different interests, but a very similar energy: Each one is a ray of sunshine, eager to make positive change, full of ideas and energy, and quick to act on a new plan. No shyness or overthinking here!

Makena's book focuses on dealing with racism in her community and using the tools she has at hand - a love of fashion and a strong social media presence - to spread her message. When we meet her, Makena already understands how to send a message through clothes and styling, and over the course of the book, she starts finding ways to use her love of fashion to further anti-racist goals. She wants for people like her family and friends to be seen and heard for who they truly are, moving beyond racist stereotypes and assumptions.

Makena's family is warm and supportive, top to bottom, in a way that reminds me a little of Addy's: At least within the confines of this story, there is no conflict within the family. That's good, because there's plenty of conflict outside the family: four incidents ranging from microaggressions all the way up to an incident with the police that's truly terrifying for Makena and her sister. All three WBU books tackle racism in some form, but where Evette's story looks at disarming prejudice within family groups (and among friends), Makena's conflicts are all with strangers.

Also in contrast to Evette's story, in which many plot strands are braided together, Makena's story feels more episodic, each event building on the last until we reach the police event and see how Makena chooses to respond. The two books take place at roughly the same time, and it's fun to see a couple of scenes from both points of view. It's key to the girls' new friendship and their work together, and the two authors manage to do it in a way that doesn't feel too repetitive (I imagine Patrick's experience writing Cécile was helpful here.)

There has been a fair amount of chatter about whether Makena's name is too similar to an existing AG girl of the year character. All I can say is, if anyone comes out of this book not understanding how to pronounce Makena's name, nothing can help you. Patrick uses every tool at her disposal to clarify: it's ma-KAY-na.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book and I LOVED every minute of reading it . Some reasons why this book really impacted me are because I have autism and from personal experience I know what it’s like for people to judge you based off of something that you have or like a trait that you have or you feel like you are lumped together with everyone else but nobody should be lumped with anyone else because each one of us is different and we have our own feelings and things that make us us and I like how in the story It talks about how Makena uses fashion to express her feelings and speaks up for herself and It’s not right how some people can be racist and exclude people just because of their race and I feel like Makena really handled that well and she remained calm in all of the situations she experienced and a message I really believe from reading this book is that ALL people should be treated equal and nobody should be lumped together just because of race or a trait that they have or a disability and I like how Makena uses fashion to really describe where she comes from and her background and who she is .
That is why I absolutely loved reading this book .
Thank you to everyone who is reading this review. I am not copying of of American Girl because I am the same person as Slytherin AG 23

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needed to be longer to fully develop the story and characters, but it wasn't as preachy as I expected. Even though I wish that American Girl had focused on developing more POC characters as part of their regular line instead of creating an issue-driven separate series to focus on racial issues, this was pretty good.

I also appreciated the world-building and dialogue references to the pandemic as part of contemporary life, but I'm not sure when this is supposed to be set, since no one is wearing masks. I'm guessing this is probably set in the near future.

[Jane Fujiwara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it’s only an AG book but it could have been longer. I would have liked to see more of what went into the fashion show planning and execution. I think it would help kids who might be inspired to create their own events. But maybe that is covered in Evette or Maritza’s books?

I do appreciate the social justice issues brought up in this book. My children are being raised in Japan and don’t always get exposure to this kind of thing. It’s a good teaching tool for them.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book meant to be talked about with your kids as they read it. I wish the book were longer as it feels like her story is unfinished, but that could simply be that Makena as a character is someone I'd like to spend more time with. I like how Evette and Maritza are woven into the story without it feeling forced or weirdly done.

[Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good read but I would love to go after the neighbor myself with a baseball bat 🤩

[Lauren Schwamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book about Racism!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half is very dry. Second half picks up really quickly. I find that the book does its job of getting the point across.

[ElsaMakotoRenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just wish Makena had more books lol

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 4 out of 5]

makena is a dream doll of mine. this particular series was really rad and still super pertinent.