Thanks to Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Recognize! is a collection of very short stories, nonfiction pieces, and beautiful artwork all showcasing Black history and amplifying Black lives. This book deserves a place in every middle-grade classroom and school library.

Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson have created a phenomenal follow up anthology to The Talk. This beautiful celebration of Blackness belongs on every bookshelf.

A powerful collection and celebration that belongs on your shelves! The illustrations are just as impactful as the written pieces.

Recognize the magic of Black (and biracial) authors who outline the beauty, hardships, and blessings of being Black. Recognize the power of words to uplift you in a society that seeks to actively diminish and destroy your life, legacy, and impact, Recognize the Black joy that is celebrated despite the numerous hardships endured in life. Recognize the work of phenomenal authors, activists, and advocates in this book, "Recognize!" I, especially, love the story of Mother Hamilton's stories that helps Brianna overcome. I love reading Browne's poetry because they always speak to my spirit. I love to be reminded of Douglass' speech about the 4th of July to the slave. I don't have enough great things to say about this book. I will be purchasing several copies for my personal library, my classroom library, and the school's library.

I tried to download this book several times and it didn’t work. I’m so disappointed. The book sounds great though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random Children’s House for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The Talk” was the first book I ever read by the Hudson’s, and I read it on a whim. But it was a phenomenal read. So much so I will never forget the night I read it. It blew me away. I couldn’t wait to spread the word about its importance to the society we find ourselves in today. Well, here I am again praising another book by the Hudson’s for their follow-up “Recognize.” Let me validate that by saying I am generally not a huge fan of anthologies. However, this book brings together short stories, essays, speeches, and poetry written by talented individuals from the black community who share their experiences, insights, and history about black culture and black life.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a place in our society where we must truly begin to understand one another and our diversity. And books such as this can start to help build knowledge about the experience of others. As a society, we have a tendency to try and fit an entire race into a particular box. The race of a people is only a single part. What those people EXPERIENCE as a race goes well beyond the color of their skin. But to know that, you must first be willing to understand and learn. This book can help those who want to learn, learn a little about black life in America.
Typically I give an age recommendation for the books that I read. But this is one of those books that I recommend to everyone of all ages. If you are looking to grow your knowledge or diversity collection, this is an excellent book to add to your shelves. I promise you won’t regret it.

Publication date: October 12, 2021
Editors: Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson
My Thoughts:
This anthology is a multi genre gem that mixes generations of writers and artists to "honor and amplify" black life. From black scholars like Frederick Douglass to contemporary YA authors like Nic Stone, the pieces all add up to the message that Black Lives Matter.

With the combination of historical text like James Baldwin's Great Debate and the haunting poem "The Slave Mother" by Frances Ellen Harper Watkins to contemporary art, cartoons and a powerful graphic arts "essay" titled "Darnella Frazier: Eyewitness" by Carole Boston Weatherford, this anthology gives enough entry points to students whether they are in middle school or high school. I definitely could use this in the English classroom as well as the social studies classroom.

Most valuable, perhaps, is that by using text from different time periods, although the use of the term Black Lives Matter is contemporary, the importance of black lives in American culture is timeless. The powerful statements by Frederick Douglass and James Baldwin are just as timely as the portrait of Breonna Taylor by London Ladd, which means that this anthology will hold up against the test of time because Black Lives will always Matter.


From the Publishers:
BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.

Prominent Black creators lend their voice, their insight, and their talent to an inspiring anthology that celebrates Black culture and Black life. Essays, poems, short stories, and historical excerpts blend with a full-color eight-page insert of spellbinding art to capture the pride, prestige, and jubilation that is being Black in America. In these pages, find the stories of the past, the journeys of the present, and the light guiding the future.

BLACK LIVES WILL ALWAYS MATTER.

This is a powerful and impactful read. So many important stories are in this book and I think this would be a great addition to any middle grade library.

Excellent collection of short stories and commentary. I loved the inclusion of famous writings from historical Black citizens, such as Frederick Douglass. The artwork is also interesting. Anthologies like this are always a good way to introduce readers to a variety of authors.

This is reflective of many aspects of Black life, so does include some issues of racism and prejudice. I mention this only because the description makes it sound a bit more like Black Boy Joy. While there are positive moments, there are also negative ones, which is helpful in understanding more aspects of the Black experience. Definitely a needed addition to school and public libraries.

Recognize is an inspirational collection of short stories, essays, art and poems that tell the story of being a Black American. The cover immediately caught my attention, and I knew this would be a powerful read!

Three word summary: Black Lives Matter

This is a superb anthology! It has a mix of poetry, primary sources, memoir, and fiction written by brilliant Black authors. I cannot wait to see the finished version (I was lucky enough to get it from Netgalley; it was missing 2 excerpts), and this is definitely should be in all middle and high school classrooms and libraries. Contributors (in order of publication): Wade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Sharon M. Draper, Jerdine Nolen, Keith Knight, Lamar Giles, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Nic Stone, Frances Ellen Harper Watkins, Kelly Starling Lyons, Nikki Grimes, Denene Mackell, Frederick Douglass, Ronald L. Smith, Kwame Mbalia, Paula Chase, Daisy Bates, Carole B. Weatherford, Don Tate, Robert H. Miller, Ibi Zoboi, DeRay Mckesson, Adedayo Perkovich, Curtis Hudson, Tiffany Jewell, Alicia D. Williams, Dhonielle Clayton, and Mahogany L. Browne.

Every now and then I get an ARC where I definitely know I'm going to grab a physical copy when it releases. This is a lovely book. Oftentimes with anthologies, some authors' pieces are glaringly better than others and it makes for a wishy-washy reading experience, but this one is filled with amazing pieces across a few different genres. This is one for every middle grade library and I can't wait for pub day because I will get a copy and spread the word about this one on my blog!

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. (It took a long time because I couldn't figure out how to get the encoded PDF to open, which I was eventually able to do on the computer but never on my phone/in the app in case anyone else was having a hard time opening the file.)