Black Girl Power

Starred review from October 15, 2024
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* Fifteen powerhouse Black authors--Sharon Flake, Ren�e Watson, Kekla Magoon, and Ibi Zoboi, to name a few--come together to create an anthology of stories celebrating the power of Black girls. From a neighbor teaching a girl who has lost her mother how to take care of her crown (hair) to a girl exacting revenge on mean girls at a magical pastry school, each story gives its main character the opportunity to find her inner power and celebrate her Black coming-of-age experience. Various ethnicities are celebrated, including Afro-Asian and African immigrants. Some characters identify within the LBGTQIA+ community or have family members that are a part of it. While some tales deal with microaggressions, classism, and racism, these don't form the overall theme or purpose of the anthology. At its core, each story carries the theme of the power inside each Black girl to be strong and believe in herself. Black girl readers will find something they can relate to and believe in, while those outside the culture will gain additional understanding of what is meant by the phrase "Black girl magic." A celebration of Black girl power that is essential for all middle-grade collections.

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Starred review from September 1, 2024
Acclaimed authors share 15 diverse stories that showcase the strength and humanity of Black girls who are facing a variety of challenges. This anthology, composed of stand-alone entries, spans multiple genres, including realistic fiction, fabulism, and fantasy. Readers meet middle school girls who are dealing with universal issues, such as family expectations, grief and loss, friendship troubles, bullying, and fear of rejection, plus some that are specific to being a Black girl. The stories overwhelmingly refute monolithic stereotypes, instead celebrating the girls' creative problem-solving, sense of humor, openness to learning and growth, strong family and community relationships, and powers of imagination. Some authors tell stories of ordinary moments that are transformed by courage, as in "The New Rules" by Elise Bryant, "An Aria for Abi" by Tọl� Okogwu, "The Sleepover" by Kekla Magoon, and "Rice & Beans, Rhythm & Beats" by Ibi Zoboi. Others tell stories that take place in intriguing settings, like "First Bite" by Dhonielle Clayton and "Cr�me de la Cr�me" by Roseanne A. Brown. Whether the subject matter is serious, as in Sharon M. Draper's "The Last Chocolate Cookie," mysterious, as in Natasha D�az's "One of Those Days," or heartwarming, as in Kalynn Bayron's "Auntie Ro," each chapter is a gift for readers to discover. The empowering messages of self-acceptance are perfectly encapsulated in Ren�e Watson's powerful poem "Black Girl, Be." Electric: bequeaths confidence-building stories that sizzle with wisdom and a little bit of magic. (author bios)(Anthology. 9-14)

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Starred review from October 1, 2024

Gr 3-7-A mighty collection of 15 tales of Black girlhood from titans of kid lit. The entries run the genre gamut, deftly tackling common tween concerns such as bullying, identity, and first-day-of-school jitters through prisms of tongue-in-cheek fantasy, heartfelt realism, and even a touch of horror. An incumbent seventh-grade class president works hard to correct her big mistake in Sharon G. Flake's "Fake President," while an aspiring opera singer takes one step closer to her dream (despite her parents' skepticism), with the help of her sister in Tol� Okogwu's "An Aria for Abi." Prevalent throughout is the theme of Black girls tackling big life changes, and realizing they possess the inner strength to weather their respective storms. Also emphasized is the power of friendship, family, and community; most of the protagonists succeed thanks to unexpected allies or supportive loved ones. Highlights include Amerie's "The House Downstairs"-a delightfully unnerving horror story of two sisters battling a sinister dollhouse that wants them to stay, forever-and Rene� Watson's "Black Girl, Be," a lyrical beckoning for Black girls to delight in everything they are and all they can be, even (and especially) when the world does not. Readers will enjoy dipping into these bite-sized stories of complex characters finding their footing. VERDICT An anthology that beams with heart and hope, especially for young Black girls. Recommended for all middle grade collections.-Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2025
Common early adolescent issues and those particular to Black girls are covered with depth and heart in this short story collection by fifteen authors. The protagonists are all in middle school, and many of them are struggling to fit in with their peers. Several entries deal with the fissure that often develops among friends as children transition from elementary to middle school. In "The Sleepover" by Kekla Magoon, for example, Cordie is mortified when a group of girls discovers that she's brought a stuffie to her first slumber party. "This humiliation would follow her for the rest of her life, she was sure." Fans of fantasy and magical realism will also find tales to enjoy, such as "First Bite" by Dhonielle Clayton and "The House Downstairs" by Amerie. Renee Watson's prose poem, "Black Girl, Be," sums up the theme of this anthology: "Your birthright is brilliance and creativity... / Be Black girl. Be." Marva Anne Hinton

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)