The Awakening of Malcolm X recounts his, well, awakening to Islam while in Charlestown Prison. Told in first-person narration, the chapters alternate with Malcolm's present experience in prison to flashbacks of his childhood, his time in Harlem and in Boston, and to the road that led him to prison. It is a narration of his journey through reading, self-education and self-realization, and the impact why The Nation of Islam became such a pivotal aspect in his development as a (controversial) Civil Rights leader.
Written by his daughter Ilyasah Shabbaz, I truly enjoyed reading what she was able to gather from his letters, speaking with family, and research about her father's life. Though there may have been some speculation on Shabbaz's part on her father's innermost thoughts, it allowed readers to gain an insight on one of history's complicated leaders and what better way than through his daughter's lens? The only slight grievance I had was in the differentiation of Malcolm's nightmares and the timeline of his life, which I think Shabbaz tried to remedy in the description's of the state of Malcolm's conk hairstyle. However, it was easy to get into re-orient myself after a few chapters. A thoroughly inspirational and insightful narrative for young adult readers who wish to learn more about Malcolm X's burgeoning philosophies

I enjoyed this book significantly more than Malcolm X's autobiography. The details about his time in prison and how the mistreatment of Black prisoners led him to explore the beliefs he would hold for the rest of his life were written like a story rather than just a presentation of facts, making this much easier to read. Shabazz and Jackson don't shy away from including some of the more negative aspects about Malcolm X, though, which was the best part, as they don't just present him as a perfect hero. My only complaint is that I wish they had talked more about his family and what they did while he was in prison, instead of just using them as pawns in his conversion.

A devastating but powerful read about one of the most influential men in history. I can’t find much else to say beyond the fact that this is a five star read that everyone needs to get their hands on. Absolutely phenomenal.

The Awakening of Malcolm X is a powerful narrative account of the activist's adolescent years in jail, written by his daughter @ilyasahshabazz along with @writeinbk

Y’all, I highly recommend this book. I finished it in one day. Book 2 of 2021. It’s a powerful narrative that centers on a Malcolm as an adolescent as he explores personal tribulations of race, family, and faith. We get to see him struggle with the weight of his past, and it felt so incredibly intimate. I loved being exposed to this side of him, who once was just a young Black kid living through the horrors of life around him. Unfortunately, he had to grow up quickly. Black boys don’t get to stay a kid for long.

It’s incredible to experience his time in jail. It was devastating to read, but I couldn’t put it down. As his time in prison comes to an end, he begins to “awaken”—emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.

This is a well-written book that explores important issues about prison reform, our criminal justice system, and of course, race. I loved how the book showed how religion helped mold him into a man. This is a beautiful novel that will leave a big impression on you and all the teens who will one day read it.

It was released yesterday so get a copy now! My local @barnesandnoble only had one copy and it wasn't even put on the shelves yet. But the associate was so sweet and went to dig it out for me!⁣

Also, I listened to the audiobook as well via @librofm !

This book was such a great read. I felt like I was beside Malcolm X the entire time...the highs and lows, the beautiful and ugly. I loved the flashback parts and felt my blood boil at certain memories. I would've loved more of when he met Betty X but hopefully there will be a follow up!

When I first heard about this novel I was intrigued. I had heard of prominent leaders of the Civil Rights movement. With that said, going into The Awakening of Malcom X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson I was expecting to be told about Malcolm X life, his political leanings, and his ideologies as an African American living in the 40s. I was met with so much more! This novel provided a much important look into the injustices that the African American community suffers through and sheds light on all the work that is yet to be done. This novel was beautifully written taking us through a personal look into Malcom X’s early adult years. His own struggles with religion and his own love of a reading that served as his tool for his years as a Civil Rights leader. I will not get into spoilers or too specific details because I would recommend everyone to read it for themselves. I think its perfect book for young adults who are just learning about prominent Civil Rights leaders, or, really, for anyone else willing to learn.

Review also available on my Instagram (@bookishplants)

This book is phenomenal and a great fictionalized telling of Malcolm X's life - brought to light by his daughter, Ilyasah, and renowned YA author Tiffany D. Jackson. A great jumping off point for more mature teens to learn more about Malcolm X outside of history books and propel their anti-racist journey.

I love this story for highlighting the prison industrial system, as bad today as it was in our grandparent’s time, especially for black men like Malcolm. I also particularly like the inclusion of Malcolm X quotes at the start of every chapter.

The story launches into young adult Malcolm’s life in prison. People with no background on Malcolm’s childhood years will slowly learn that his mom is institutionalized, that he has several siblings, and that his father was killed but his death was framed as a suicide.

The book is published by a children’s book publisher, but I wouldn’t say this is for elementary school readers. Obviously, it would depend on how mature the reader is- prison is a scary place. There’s rampant racism, violence and cruelty. The N word is used through the book.

However, there are bits of history sprinkled in that older kids would enjoy- such as sports history (Joe Louise, Jackie Robinson).

Creative liberties are taken in regards to Malcolm inner thoughts and the conversations he had with other prisoners, but none of it appears to be far from the truth. That being said, I often became lost in the story and it actually felt like I was reading Malcolm’s thoughts as he was thinking them.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really powerful historical fiction on the earlier life of Malcolm X and how his beliefs came to be. Exploring the early prison pipeline and the exploitation of prison work, I especially loved the exploration of Malcolm's close friendships. This needs to be necessary reading in every classroom.

"Hard to imagine a would that considers us equals when the core of our very existence is human and they don't consider as that."

TW: nigger, suicide ideation, violence, racism, drug abuse, police brutality, gambling.
'The Awakening of Malcolm X' by Tiffany D Jackson and Ilayasah Shabazz is a narrative account of the adolescent years of Malcolm X which is inclusive of his life in prison. His emotions, thought process are all given a vivid depth which makes it all the more accessible. Instances of degradation of the Black community resonate throughout the narrative which makes it difficult to read. The bleak life and the hopelessness inherent in it makes his journey a tough one. He finds solace and power in books and Islam in prison and we get to see the transformation from young Malcolm into the Malcolm X we are most familiar with.

"There is nothing better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time."

The first half of the book concentrates on the naïve Malcolm who, brought up in a happy home brimming with love and education with his siblings under his mother's soothing presence, goes somewhat wayward after his father is killed and mother is forcefully sent to an institution. He is sucked deep into a dark time-loop where he indulges into illicit activities. However, in prison he witnesses the cruelty shown towards his fellow inmates and the parallel between the white and the black men in that the latter are mistreated. He is motivated to read and find out the true reason for this injustice and begins his education. Eventually he is introduced to Islam by his siblings and comes his association with Elijah Muhammad, the founder of Nation of Islam that gives a firm path to his beliefs.

A narrative replete with static energy gives an insight into the troublesome life of Malcolm X and his eventual transformation into the famous public activist hell bent on gaining back the basic human rights denied to his community. It is a very engaging, incredible and an eye-opening narrative. A must read!
Rating - 5/5

This novel focuses on Malcolm X's years spent in prison. Instead of being defeated by the inhuman treatment and horrors of prison life, the former Malcolm Little transcends this experience to educate himself and become the leader that his parents always believed he could be. It is a remarkable journey. And the pacing of this book makes it read like a thriller. Even if you know his story, you will want to read this intimate and sensitive version of his story. Each chapter begins with a quote from Malcolm X - they are chilling in their prescience, as they describe an America that has not changed. Having read many other fiction and nonfiction biographies, this was my favorite version of his life story.

My Rating: 4.5 stars
Content Warnings for the book: racial slurs, racism, police brutality, suicide, incarceration, mentions of death row executions

The Awakening of Malcolm X details the life of Malcolm when he is in prison and captures his metamorphosis from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. It is written with the subtlety and character that reminds you of the many, many speeches that Malcolm X gave. It is full of quiet intelligence and emotions.

While the authors took some creative liberty to embellish this story and events in the incarcerated life of Malcolm are portrayed, it maintains its status as a book that is supposed to make you learn and question the machinations of society. It contains instances of Malcolm interacting with his fellow prisoners and his family, they are intimate and heartbreaking, and work to build his character and thought process. The story shows us his desire and determination to obtain knowledge and education, how he prized it and saw it as a necessary path to change in society and himself. Those who know of Malcolm know that he was a great orator, well-read and quick-witted; this book provides us a peak behind the curtain how exactly he became that person.

Since the book takes place during the years when Malcolm is incarcerated, it also provides commentary on the criminal justice system as well as the prison industrial complex. It gives us instances of how racism makes the life of Black incarcerated men much harder than those of their white counterparts. It documents the day-to-day life of prisoners, how each minute of their life is controlled, the constant dehumanisation they suffer, the abysmal and inhuman living conditions, the unpaid labour, and the brutality of those who stand guard over them. The fact that all of this is still true in 2021 is a testament to how white supremacy and capitalism's hold on society is too strong.

Malcolm's relationship with the Nation of Islam and the religion itself is something that I am personally invested in. Although there are bits of it present in the book and hints towards his eventual fallout with Elijah Muhammad, I had hoped to see more.

I immensely enjoyed reading this book and found it to be quite educational, not just about Malcolm X's life but also with the social commentary it presented. I would love to see books that further detail Malcolm's life in this manner. Highly recommended.

Malcolm X has always been a hero of mine: I read his autobiography when I was eleven, and again at sixteen, and I’ve always looked up to his incredible strength and determination. So I was absolutely thrilled that Colored Pages Book Tours have given me the opportunity to review this, a YA novelisation covering just his years in prison, the period of his life where he learned to be both Muslim and activist.

The first half of the book is incredibly tough to read. The bleak hopelessness of young Malcolm’s first few years in prison, interwoven with the utter dissoluteness of his earlier Harlem life (shown in a series of flashbacks as he dreams of the events that have led him here) are absolutely devastating, particularly knowing what he was capable of and what he would eventually become. All credit to Shabazz and Jackson’s writing: his emotions – guilt and anger and helplessness – are just suffocating. A particularly visceral scene is one in which Malcolm chemically straightens his hair, fully in the knowledge that it will burn his scalp. The water pipes in his family’s Michigan home are frozen, leaving him unable to wash out the lye; his only option is to wash his hair in the toilet, and the moment is such a symbol of the degradation and pain that Black people have endured in an attempt to be accepted by white people.

But the second half of the book, once he finds Islam and starts learning about the oppression of Black people (his ‘awakening’, if you will), was… nothing short of glorious. The Nation of Islam was wrong about a lot of things (as X would come to realise in later life), but this book mainly focuses on the aspects of it that did align with true Islam, particularly prayer. Seeing his twin journeys towards connecting with God, and learning about the systematic oppression of Black people, was so powerful and inspiring. Malcolm is resistant to Islam at first, and it’s desperation and hopelessness that ultimately drives him to start learning about it. His impatience to find out everything, learn the ritual prayers, practice as perfectly as he can, is almost childlike in its innocence and eagerness, and truly just made my heart so happy.

For him, spreading Islam within the Black community was one and the same with his anti-racist activism, and though he’d started re-learning to read before accepting Islam, it’s his acceptance of religion that turbocharges his drive to learn about Black history and racism. Really the main focus of the book is the fact that Black people descend from a lineage of incredibly rich and developed society in Africa, and the ways in which American society is set up so as to deliberately and systematically oppress Black people. Both points are reiterated over and over, but it never feels repetitive and it hits every time (and besides, given that the target audience is young YA, for whom this could well be their first introduction to structural racism in so many words, I think the approach of really driving it home absolutely works!).

I absolutely loved the messages of this book, and the way it depicted Malcolm’s thoughts and emotions in such an accessible and vivid way, and I can’t wait for more people to read it!

***This book contains content warnings for: racism; n-word; Ku Klux Klan; violence; incarceration & police brutality; mention of death penalty; references to lynching; mentions of suicide & brief suicidal ideation***

Honestly, the American education system didn’t teach me anything and so honestly I went in without really any prior knowledge about Malcolm X. This was told in a back and forth timeline from before prison and during prison.

This was incredibly easy to read and follow and very fast paced. I highlighted so many quotes that were really powerful and inspired a lot of discussion. I would highly recommend reading this with someone because it was really great discussing the different events that happen in the prison as well as Malcolm discovering the Nation of Islam.

The narrative was pretty easy to follow and it was really powerful reading through this perspective. It was hard to read about what happens to the prisoners and how badly they’re treated.

It was also interesting to see Malcolm slowly realize how biased he had been before versus when he really started to open his mind and allow different perspectives in. I really liked reading the parts where he learned about politics and joined the debate team.

It’s really hard to write a review of this book without just diving straight into the discussion part because as a Muslim I think it’s really interesting to see Malcolm’s discovery of Islam, even if the “Nation of Islam” is more of a political movement rather than religion (based on what I’ve read).

I think it was really interesting how Elijah Muhammad made Malcolm cut off one of his brothers because of alleged fornication and then later it was discovered that Elijah Muhammad had also done the same thing. It really raised a lot of questions and discussions.

After reading the book I had to read up on everything because it was just so interesting and I really wanted to learn more. I would definitely recommend this book if you want to inspire a discussion. It was just really informative and thought provoking.

YESSSS the first 5 star read of 2021! I'm so happy that it was this book. This book comes after X chronologically; however, it can be read as a stand alone. Thank you so much to FSG for providing me a copy of this book for review. All thoughts are my own. CW: use of the n-word, mistreatment of Black prisoners, physical violence, suicide, suicidal ideation, drugs, gambling, racism.

"Hard to imagine a world that considers us equals when the core of our very existence is human and they don't consider us that."

The Awakening of Malcolm X focuses on the portion of Malcolm X's life when he was imprisoned. The story is told in an interesting narrative where readers have the opportunity to see Malcolm reflect on events that happened prior to him ending up in prison and applying the feelings of those experiences to his current experience. While Shabazz and Jackson took a little creative liberty in how they portrayed certain events, there is so much to enjoy and learn from this story. There is an intimate portrayal of the relationship that Malcolm had with his siblings and how they worked together to make sure that Malcolm "awakened" himself to discover who he was meant to be. Shabazz and Jackson also emphasize and highlight how much Malcolm valued education. It reminded me of how my own father taught me to always value my education. I knew that Malcolm was well rounded and well read, but as a reader you really learn how invested he is in reading all sorts of books to become self-educated. I didn't even realize he was on a debate team!

With Shabazz and Jackson I expected nothing but well designed social commentary. There is a clear paralleling of Black men and White men who served time. Through Malcolm's awakening he quickly learns how the world will view and treat him as a Black man. In fact, most of the conversations that take place around the incarceration of Black men are still applicable today in 2021. It was definitely difficult to read at some points; however, it's conversation that needs to continue. I'm hoping that Shabazz intends to write at least two more books that details his ongoing relationship with the Nation of Islam. While it plays a big role in the context of this book and in Malcolm's awakening process, there is a small hint at the indication of the the later fall out that Malcolm will have with Elijah Muhammad.

Overall, I loveeeddddd this novel. It was easy to follow, it captures Malcolms inner monologue in a way that connects the reader to his experiences. There will be younger readers that will get a lot out of reading this book. From learning about Malcolm X, to learning about Black history (there is a mention of the 1921 Tulsa Riots), to learning about the importance of family there appears to be something for everyone. If you haven't considered reading this book, I would definitely recommend picking it up.

You can't go wrong with any book written by these authors! This is a narrative about Malcolm X's journey to find his identity. Like many young people, he is trying to figure out who he is and what he stands for. The only catch? He's doing it from jail.

I loved this novel! It taught me a lot about Malcolm X and the 1940s that I didn't already know about. I also think it is so relevant to today's society in how it outlines the social justice system in the country. If you're a history buff or just like a good story, this book is for you!

This book took me on a journey through Malcolm's early years. It goes back and forth from the past and present, the past showing us just how he came to be imprisoned and the present letting us into his mind and experienced at Charleston. Before reading this book, I knew little to nothing about Malcolm X's life - I had always been intrigued and wanted to educate myself and thanks to this book, a historical novel about Malcolm's early adulthood years, I have a starting point.

This book has opened my eyes. It's taught me so many lessons but most importantly the lesson of education. Throughout the book, Malcolm feels lost and finds solace in the power of words. He reclaims his spirit thanks to Allah and his family. The power of these relationships stood out the most to me - family is such a blessing and they serve as a means of guidance for him. His relationship with Allah was also endearing to witness, seeing as I am a Muslim reader, I was fascinated with the transformation Malcolm went, from a disgruntled, hopeless prisoner to one whose spirit and soul were free from the confines of incarceration.

Not only did I see representation and the mind of Malcolm come into his own, but I also learnt a lot in terms of the Middle Passage, slavery and the impact of slavery on Black Americans following its abolishment. I have quite a few favourite quotes but one that stood out the most was:

"You see, Black people all around the world endured hundreds of years of chattel slavery—they were hunted, stolen, tortured, separated from families, forbidden to read and write. There were no laws to protect us from these criminal acts, you see. And your father, he served a mighty God. He challenged us to stand up and to restore our own humanity. You must never forget that."

Another quote that spoke out to me was:

"If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out, that’s not progress. The progress is healing the wound that the blow made."

The one thing I want everyone to take from my review is that education is a paramount tool in changing for the better. I buddy read this book with a friend and we had so many discussions about Malcolm, his experiences and his faith, as well as his second conversion to Sunni Islam. We also did rudimentary research on the NOI and I'd urge anyone who does pick up this novel to research for themselves and see Malcolm's transformation following his break from the NOI. You'll hopefully realise that some concerns in the book about NOI do come to fruition.

Knowledge distinguishes us from the ignorant.

This book is a fictional account of the transition of Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. It covers his time of while he is in prison for 7 years after being charged with grand larceny. The book consistently goes between family memories and his time in prison. It covers his conversion to Islam and his awakening.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing was perfect for the age demographic and it's a good introduction to Malcolm X, for younger kids who don't know much about him. I enjoyed the way the story was told and liked that we really got to see Malcom X come into his own.

Definitely would recommend.

You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. —MALCOLM X

I loved seeing Malcolm evolve. He started as a bitter man and turned into a strong, confident and powerful one. It was amazing to read the details that went into that change. I loved that his experiences made him a great person, not full of revenge.

We follow him through parts of his childhood and prison, to after prison and what he became. The change of timelines throughout the book was difficult to decipher at times. The transition was choppy and left me confused multiple times.

I don’t understand why this book is labeled YA. He was 17 for part of the book but the majority of it, he was 20 and older. It entails his life in prison and his life living on his own, away from his family. It did not feel YA at all. I can see the benefits to young people reading the book, I just don’t agree with the YA label. It is written in first person and did not come off smoothly. The writing left me wanting more, needing more descriptions, more details, more emotions. It felt in contrast to the powerful story that was happening. I didn’t feel it reel me in like I expected. This was my most anticipated book for January and I opted to read and finish many other books instead. I can only attribute it to the writing because the story itself was enthralling. The conversion from a story of his past, to a story on paper was inferior to my expectations.

“We win more when we are together. That message is worth more than all the words you can ever muster.” I learned powerful lessons of unity and love. He is definitely someone to admire.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an advanced copy of this book to review! I saw a few advertisements for it, and I was super excited to read it. It's an in-depth look at Malcolm X's young adult years, told in a way that makes his life more relatable to teenagers.

While this book is a sequel, it can definitely be read on its own. We piece together Malcolm X's past with flashbacks and dreams that Malcolm has when he was in prison. His story is a familiar one; he finds books and Islam in prison. We get to see how he transforms into the Malcolm X we're most familiar with. Overall, we get to see how rigged the system is against Black people and the way that Malcolm wants to fight against the system.

In addition, it's easy to see research was done on the topic. However, this doesn't take away from the story. There is a good mix of history, personal details from Malcolm X, and just enough fiction woven in. The topic is also timely, relating to the Black Lives Matter movement that's still happening in the United States.

This book would be a great addition to any classroom or library.