At the age of twenty, Malcolm Little was imprisoned for stealing. In first-person narration, Malcolm tells of his time in prison, with flashbacks to memories of his childhood in Michigan and his time in Boston and Harlem before his arrest. For seven years, Malcolm was incarcerated, moving between the brutally run Charleston State Prison and the less restrictive Norfolk Prison Colony. When he first arrives in prison, Malcolm puts together his “hussle,” selling reefer, acting as a bookie, and trying to be cool. A few older prisoners caution him about this behavior, and their guidance reminds him of his father. He feels great shame for who he has become, but he doesn’t know what to do. Slowly, with the help of family and friends, he remembers who he was and who he still might be. His conversion to Islam lifts him up. Through religion and extensive reading, he becomes Malcolm X, the leader.

The Awakening of Malcolm X is a well-crafted novel, written by Malcolm’s daughter Ilyasah Shabazz with the aid of young adult author Tiffany D. Jackson to bring Malcolm X’s story to a new generation. Malcolm is a relatable character for young adults: After the murder of his father and the institutionalization of his mother, he hides his anger and confusion by trying to be cool. This leads him down a dangerous path. His awakening is slow and hard found. An instructive and engaging story, this book models a path of strength and redemption for struggling youth. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this free ARC.
A wonderful introduction to the adult life of Malcolm X.

This book is so impactful now and needs to be shared. This is a valuable classroom resource that brings more diversity into the curriculum. This really is the perfect addition for all YA readers.

Just bought this for my school library since it is just a poignant read for my students. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with them.

I'll admit, my knowledge about Malcolm X is limited to his Wikipedia page, so I was looking forward to reading about the life of this familiar figure. The Awakening of Malcolm X provides an eye-opening snapshot into Malcolm X's adolescent years and what shaped him into the activist he became. The book is written through Malcolm X's own eyes during his early incarceration as he navigates the horrible conditions of Charlestown State Prison and his later "awakening" in Norfolk Prison Colony, with the help of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

The book focuses on Malcolm's grappling of race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. It shows his highs and lows during his time in prison, and his struggles in his relationships. It also explores the treatment of black people in the two prisons. While one of them had significantly better conditions to the other, they are still treated with prejudice, directly or indirectly.

During this time, Malcolm X reaches out to Elijah Muhammad, the self-proclaimed 'Messenger of God', and Malcolm converts to Islam. Malcolm X cites Elijah Muhammad for giving him newfound wisdom and a purpose in life. The end of the book sets up for Malcolm X's doubts in the Nation of Islam and his eventual departure from it, but those events don't happen in the book.
Picture
Each chapter starts with a quote from Malcolm X that reflect the ideas he learns and shares later in life. The book is enriched with the family's letters to each other. The end of the book contains historical notes about the two prisons and a list of books that Malcolm read in prison that educated and enlightened him on Black history, politics and more. The author's note also mentions that she took creative liberties with the story and where there were changes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it showcases Malcolm X's life in an easy-to-read, digestible story. It's perfect for those who want a Young Adult book that informs and educates, even for those who don't read a lot of non-fiction, like me. The memoir is written like a story- it's fast-paced and hard to put down. It also prompts further reading and thought about the inherent racism of the justice system during that time.

I would recommend this book for ages over 12 - I think that everyone can take something out of this enlightening and interesting memoir!

The Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson is a compelling and masterfully told story about the formative time he spent in prison during his early adulthood that shaped his path. We first meet Malcolm Little as a young man, hustling and trying to make a good life for himself in Harlem and Roxbury (Boston). He gets caught up in a scheme in Boston and is sentenced to spend 8 years at Charlestown Prison. The book is largely about the time he spent in prison, but flashbacks of his childhood give you glimpses into his childhood and family life. Despite that he was separated from his family, his siblings continued to play a huge role in his life. He ultimately learns to make the most of his time, reading everything, thinking deeply, and engaging with others. His membership in the Nation of Islam helps guide him and cement his thinking. So many topics are covered that echo in our society today: systemic racism and inequity, white supremacy, abuse of power, prison reform, civil rights, etc. I listened to the audiobook, which is deftly narrated by Landon Woodson. As this is the second book in a YA series about Malcolm X, I sincerely hope the next book picks up where this story ends. I can’t wait to read about his life as a young minister and activist. This is a phenomenal book about Malcolm X’s emotional and intellectual journey as a young man. Highly recommended!

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

This book is special for two reasons. First, Malcolm X's own daughter shared his story with a writer who knows the teen/mg audience. Second, the two authors did a fantastic job including facts in an interesting and accessible away for a younger audience. I would recommend this for upper middle grade/young YA.

This book was an amazing collaboration and should be a must read for all young African Americans. I think a lot of adults would also benefit from reading this novel.

The Awakening of Malcolm X speaks volumes on the horrific effects that racism had on Malcolm's early childhood and surprisingly portrays the enduring power a pride-filled, conscious upbringing had on keeping Malcolm's family together, even after the tragic and untimely deaths of both of his parents.
I did have some challenges believing some of the dialogue throughout the book, as if the authors were trying to cover too much ground too fast, so it didn't always seem to ring true or flow naturally for me.
I enjoyed reading this book because it shares a period of Malcolm X's life in prison from a perspective you rarely get a chance to process-family! Whether that family is his prison brothers or his blood brothers and sisters, you get the sense of how no man is an island and without the support and sacrifice of family, no real progress is made. This is a must read for any Malcolm X fan, young or old.

Review on book and audo at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/192656/the-awakening-of-malcolm-x-by-ilyasah-shabazz-tiffany-d-jackson-read-by-landon-woodson/

While much is shared about Malcolm X after his conversion to Islam and joined the Nation of Islam, less has been shared about his time in prison and his transformation while serving time. One of his daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz collaborated with celebrated YA Author Tiffany D. Jackson to tell the story of Malcolm's mis-spent youth in a manner to which young adult readers can relate. This volume can be read alone or paired with her Shabazz's earlier novel 'X' to create a fuller picture of this influential American. Highly recommend for purchase.

This book was phenomenal. I don't really pick up historical books for leisure or get too excited about them, but I've known for a while I wanted to pick this one up. Malcolm X wasn't a figure that was taught in my school. Sure, he was mentioned, but only in passing and never did I get an actual history lesson about him until I got older and did the base googling on my own time. This book was incredibly powerful and taught me so much about a time in his life that changed him and shaped who he became. It was especially powerful to read it knowing it was co-authored by his daughter. I highly recommend it.

I was initially drawn to read this book because I thought the concept of taking a well known, but often misrepresented historical figure and viewing their perspective at the moment they were growing into themselves was fascinating. I haven't read the author's previous book, but this one picks up after X and examines Malcolm X's time in jail when he was evaluating himself, his choices, and when he found Islam. The pacing was slow at times and this is very much a character driven book instead of plot. The voice of malcolm X I think was really well done because it sounded like teens of today was also having enough of his own voice represented, even some quotes from him at the beginning of the chapters. The book examined questions about the criminal justice system, especially relating to minors it captures and how it affects their whole lives. Religion is also a main discussion later in the book. This was a very interesting story that both makes Malcolm X more relatable and understandable to youth, but also discusses issues teens of today very much care about in their own lives.

Reading Between the Wines book review #20/115 for 2021:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: The Awakening of Malcolm X
Author: Ilyasah Shabazz; Tiffany D. Jackson
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs | Teens & YA
Release Date: Available Now!!! Released on January 5, 2021

Sipping Synopsis: This book tells the young adult story of Malcolm Little which we globally recognize as Malcolm X. It follows him on a journey of seeking understanding of race, politics, and the injustice of blacks.

Final sipping thoughts: I really liked this book and the timeline. It was very eye-opening and “awakening” as a reader to learn how Malcolm X became to be. So many people are or have been so ignorant to what X stood for, myself included. I discussed with my third-grade class the other day how people always seem to put Malcolm X versus Martin Luther King, Jr. This again is exactly what both men were against. It is not an either or. Malcolm X also was fighting for justice for black people. I learned a lot that I didn’t know, and I hate that I didn’t read X: A Novel which goes even younger into Malcolm X’s life. If you know a lot, a little, or some things about Malcolm X I think this book is still good to read and I’m sure you may learn a new thing about him!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @ilyasahshabazz, @writeinbk and @MacmillanChildrensPublishingGroup for an advanced copy of @TheAwakeningOfMalcolmX

#TheAwakeningOfMalcolmX #IlyasahShabazz #TiffanyDJackson #MacmillanChildrensPublishingGroup #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #TeensAndYoungAdult #BiographiesAndMemoirs

THE AWAKENING OF MALCOLM X is the story of young Malcom Little in his young adulthood before he becomes Malcom X. As a young adult, he is sentenced to 8-10 years in prison. During his time there, he struggles with putting together the pieces of who he is supposed to be, ultimately reading countless books in the prison library, connecting with the Nation of Islam, and becoming the man we know as Malcolm X.

This book was a bit of a departure from what I typically read (first person perspective, historical fiction), and I'm so glad I picked this one up. It's a powerful narrative that not only taught me more about Malcolm X, a figure I didn't learn nearly enough about in school, while also reflecting struggles we still see in the USA today. I really appreciated the weaving of the past and Malcom's father and the present in the prison narrative.

I want to especially highlight the audiobook performance of Landon Woodson, who gives an incredibly dynamic and thrilling performance. I'm not sure if I've heard a better audio performance, and I highly recommend listening to it.

All in all, this is a highly worthwhile read, and one that I'd wholeheartedly recommend to YA and adult readers alike.

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was perfect. It's a historical fiction that felt like it was being told by it's subject. The story flows and the language flows with it. The struggles of a child growing into a young black man is a side of Malcolm X I have not learned about before. This book turned cold facts into a story filled with blood, tears, and history that made me cry. Please read this book!

Without a doubt this was an amazing book and a must read for anyone who was a fan of Malcolm X in any way, shape, or form. I will be buying a copy of this book immediately.

This historical fiction piece about Malcolm X follows him through incarceration with flashbacks to his childhood and teenage years.  Written by his daughter it is hard to know where this 336 page book is factual and where it takes artistic freedom with filling in the blanks. A few creative liberties are mentioned in the author's note at the end, but some sources in the back would help clarify, as she was a toddler when her father was killed. The time frame of Malcolm X's life and a large portion of the book covers his introduction and conversion to The Nation of Islam, but it never mentions even in the timeline at the end that he left it, or that they were responsible for his assassination.  The book is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, it is also so very humbling and empowering. I just don't know that younger middle school readers (the stated intended audience is 12-18), will really grasp the content, his condition, and his searching, while trying to keep all the characters, time frame references, and slang straight.  With the mention of his girlfriend who he is/was sleeping with, as well as the drugs, the alcohol, and the abuses occurring in prison, older teens might be able to handle the book better, and be tempted after to dig deeper to learn about him going for Hajj, becoming Sunni, changing some of his views, and ultimately being gunned down in front of his family.

SYNOPSIS:

Malcolm Little is living between Roxbury and Harlem and going by the nickname Detroit Red.  When the story opens, Malcolm and his friend Shorty are about to tried for stealing a watch, a crime that he acknowledges he committed, but undoubtedly doesn't deserve 8-10  years in prison for at age 20.  Nearly every chapter starts with a flashback to an earlier time and then concludes with the atrocities of prison life at hand.  As the narrative flips back and forth Malcolm's story and awakening emerges.  

Born in Omaha the Little family's home is burned down by the Ku Klux Klan, they move a few times as the growing family grows closer together and establish themselves as followers of Marcus Garvey in advocating for Blacks.  Malcolm's preacher father is killed when Malcolm is six years old and his mother institutionalized when he is 13, for refusing to feed her children pork amongst other things, and thus leaving the family grasping as they know she isn't crazy, yet cannot get her released.  Malcolm is incredibly bright and attends a nearly all white prep school, but even after being class president, a teacher discourages him from pursuing his dreams of being a lawyer, and Malcolm drops out of school and ends up being a hustler.  His white girlfriend, a married woman in Boston and her friends convince him to rob some wealthy white neighborhoods and when he later takes a stolen watch to be fixed he is arrested and found guilty of grand larceny, breaking and entering, possession and more.  He is sentenced to Charlestown State Prison and day-to-day life is rough.

The guards at the overcrowded prison are aggressive, the food un consumable, and being put in the hole as punishment is beyond inhuman.  Malcolm is filled with anger and rage and is still trying to hustle people.  He learns his family has become followers of The Nation of Islam and he doesn't want to hear it, he doesn't want to hear about his prison mates preaching the Bible and he doesn't want to hear about God.  He feels betrayed by God and feels guilty for not being a man his father would be proud of, the refrain: up, up, you mighty race! echoes throughout.  

Throughout it all his family's love is felt in visits, letters, and warm memories of life before his incarceration.  His flashbacks to events in his childhood that defined him, inspired him, molded him, show what a beautiful family he had and how racism in large part destroyed it.  His parents valued education and discipline and his elder siblings carry that torch and pass it on to the younger children, they are a large family and their love is palpable for each other and for the liberation of Blacks in America.  

Little's sisters write letters and eventually get Malcolm transferred to a much nicer prison, Norfolk, where he really channels his rage into reform, determined not to leave the same man he entered as.  He has access to a full library, he joins the debate team, he takes classes, converts to The Nation of Islam and then refuses to get a polio shot and is sent back to Charleston for the remainder of his sentence.

The book concludes with his release, and teases that members of his family are becoming uneasy with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.  At the very very end, he meets Betty, the lady who will be his wife.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that this chunk of Malcolm X's life shows the transformation of his thinking, how outside influences forced him to dig in to himself and reflect in such a profound way.  The book is as timely as ever as the systemic racism that is determined to see people of color fail is still running and growing.  There is a little mention of how veterans are treated better in other countries on the front lines than they are at home when they return that I wish was explored more, but there are so many characters that flit in and out of Malcolm's prison world, it is hard to tell them apart as it is Malcolm's story and his development that is being told.

Not surprisingly, I wish there was more about him converting to Sunni and going for Hajj.  The book stops before then and I am sure that most readers, will not understand the difference between The Nation, the Ahmadis mentioned, and Sunni Muslims.  This concerns me as the acceptance of Elijah Muhammad as a Prophet is hard to read.  I think some conversation with readers would be necessary as the book offers little if any to differentiate.

I like that each chapter starts with a direct quote of Malcolm X and the the fact that the relevance of his words in today's world don't need any explanations or context is devastatingly powerful.  I also appreciate how engaging and smooth the writing is.  You really feel the layers of Malcolm X the character, being pealed back and him coming into the proud confident leader that he is known to be.

FLAGS:

There is profanity, mention of him sleeping around, memories of kissing his girlfriend, alcohol consumption, cigarettes, drug use, violence, beatings, abuse.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I don't think I would do this as a book club for middle school.  Possibly if I was a high school teacher I would offer it as outside reading or extra credit when reading about the Civil Rights Era, or if I was teaching the Alex Haley, Auto Biography of Malcolm X.

I loved the retrospective aspect of this book of Malcolm X looking back on the events that led him to being imprisoned. Although there is some historical inaccuracy in the retelling, the relationships were super well done and infused this book with a lot of heart. This does a great job of humanizing an immortal figure in history. He's an iconic personality who has inspired generations to fight for equality and this book provides readers with an additional avenue with which to connect with Malcolm X.

Great addition to any shelf or classroom library. As we all learn and/or re-learn our history, this will provide insight to the journey of Malcolm X. It will also shed light on many other relevant topics and/or connected issues that are part of our overall thinking right now. Excellent read and strongly recommended.

Thanks you NetGalley for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.