Angela Shante's memoir in verse highlights the boxes the world has put her in as a Black woman in the United States. She shares things she learned from her mother, society, and through experience, but not all of them are good. Shante discusses how the inside and outside worlds interact and often share the same message that keeps Black women in boxes. Shante provides footnotes for things readers should research generally as well as books, plays, movies, and music readers should listen to that influenced her writing. The book makes you think about the hard things people learn in life and how those influence generations after you.

This was a really excellent and relatable poetry collection that I believe teens enjoy and might even inspire them to write their own poetry with footnotes that add to the story. Angela Shante covers a wide berth of topics but it all feels cohesive.

This was touching and heartfelt. Each little snippet gave me a look into her world, and the emotion behind this is a little overwhelming. I did thoroughly enjoy it and was a bit sad when I was finished.

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté is a heartfelt and introspective journey through the experiences of a young Black girl navigating her identity in a complex world. With candid storytelling and rich imagery, Shanté explores themes of self-acceptance, cultural heritage, and the pressures of societal expectations. The narrative is both empowering and relatable, making it an essential read for young readers seeking representation and authenticity. This book beautifully captures the nuances of growing up while celebrating the strength found in embracing one’s true self.

I adored every word of this collection. I was actually sad when I finished it. Such a great compilation.

I absolutely loved my experience reading The Unboxing of a Black Girl.

Thank you Page Street Publishing for the ARC.

Angela's collection of poems weave a cohesive story that move forward to the next destination effortlessly. I really enjoyed this collection and I will continue to look for Angela's future work and will be checking this title out on audiobook.

Thank you to Net Galley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a lovely collection of prose and poetry that shared the life of a black girl in the Bronx, NYC. The tone of these are loving, caring and appreciation of a life that can be overlooked, one of assumptions made, and a struggle everyday. Yet, the collection is filled with love for family and friends, sharing what it is to be in her skin and the uglier side of society and humans in general. One thing that really stood out is that she says blacks are not a monolith. Many POC groups are seen as monoliths and I've just never heard this said so plainly for blacks. This is a quick read, page turning read and I still love the eye-catching cover for this book.

Black girlhood. The Boogie Down Bronx. Black Music. All wrapped in a Black woman’s poetry. The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté is a poetry collection that celebrates all of the above while asking the question “When’d do Black girls stop being girls?

The poems touch memories of times when she felt nurtured and cared for by her mother and other times when she felt closed up in boxes created by society that she was expected to fold herself into. It functions as a memoir but the beauty interwoven between the words will have you thinking about your own experiences as a girl growing up.

I highly recommend this as a read for everyone, but especially for Black women. This is a great conversational piece for book clubs for Black women and Black girls. There is also a reading guide to support. The culture, music and experiences that Shanté mentions will resonate on some level with every woman.

Shanté is also a reader’s author, ie she gives you a references and research section at the end of the book. There are also footnotes on almost every page! I love the footnotes! You will walk away with a whole new TBR of books to go explore afterwards. The footnotes really made it unique.

For educators, if you teach creative writing there is lots to explore in Shante’s poetry collection. I would love to experiment with the “definition” poems with students as well as the poems that begin with a music lyric or song title. You could also challenge students to read one of the books recommended in the footnotes.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Unboxing of a Black Girl, the physical layout of the poem and words were also interesting. I’m actually listening to the audiobook now that it’s been released. It’s read by the author so if you can get both, I definitely recommend it. This book is a
journey of girlhood, culture and place. It’s about healing and breaking out of the box.

Oh and if you love hip hop…beware the earworms. NGL I was rapping and singing real low reading this in public.

"The Unboxing of a Black Girl" by Angela Shanté is a poignant collection of poems and vignettes that beautifully captures the journey of a black girl navigating societal expectations and finding her own voice. Shanté's heartfelt exploration of breaking free from stereotypes and celebrating resilience is both empowering and eye-opening. Her inclusion of footnotes enriches the experience, making it accessible and deeply insightful. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to explore identity, resilience, and the beauty of self-discovery through the lens of a black girl's perspective.

This book serves as a reflection of the life of a black girl. The writer has presented a flawless representation of black girlhood and womanhood thru a sampling of life’s experiences. Whether nurtured or exploited the voice of black girl/womanhood comes thru with pure, simple authenticity of verse illuminating the coming of age of a young black person in New York! This book felt like a warm blanket as it covered the issues of my life whether years apart or miles afar….her story could be mines at times.

This book makes me want to write more.

I found myself
fully engulfed in her story,
relating to
her truth,
feeling seen holistically.

I found myself
reimagining the things I love.
school,
music,
The Wiz...
the way I love shows the world tells me I shouldn't love no more.

I thought more about
how poetry has always been in me.
has always been how I write
How it's always been how I live.

I thought Angela came into my room,
came into my heart.
She said
to me
welcome home.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book. It has been such a long time since I have read a poetry book. Poetry is not a genre I read often but this book reminded me that I should pick it up more often. This book was emotional, beautiful, insightful, and overall eye opening.

What a beautiful and emotional book. The poems in this book are beautifully written and I can definitely feel the emotions from them. I would highly recommend this book to my young adult patrons!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street YA for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* My Year 8 English students are currently studying poetry, so Angela Shanté's beautiful collection of poems and vignettes, titled 'The Unboxing of a Black Girl' fell into my hands at just the right time. The book explores what it is to be a black girl in the United States and touches on some pretty heavy themes. Nevertheless, I think the title would be appropriate for teenagers interested in poetry. I loved the delicate language of the book and how Shantè painted a world with her words. As an added bonus, as a teacher, I found it useful that many of the pages had little footnotes for people wanting to learn about what the poem was exploring.

Got my hands on Shante's poetry book from Page Street YA, and what timing! April, National Poetry Month, seemed perfect to dive in. I couldn't put it down—even sneaking reads at work! 📚🌟

"The Unboxing of a Black Girl" is direct, lyrical, and downright beautiful. It's a heartfelt ode to Black girls, navigating the tough waters of adulthood while holding onto innocence and resilience. Shante's words hit deep, exploring love, pain, and identity in a way that feels both personal and universal. 🖤✨

Reading it felt like Shante was speaking straight to my soul. Her bravery in tackling identity and culture is inspiring, creating a connection that's hard to shake. In a world where Black girls' stories often get sidelined, this book is a much-needed reminder of their strength and brilliance. 🌟💪

A must-read that's both heartfelt and relatable, taking you on a journey through life's complexities. I'll be recommending this gem to everyone! 🌺📖

The Unboxing of a Black Girl is a collection of vignettes and poetry is a beautiful reminder of the complexity of life and the abundant will of the human spirit to dance in the rain. It is a love letter to Black girls and a statement on the ways adultification of Black children limits their ability to soak in the carefree joy that is supposed to be childhood. Through it all, however, Shanté finds ways to appreciate the fullness of being Black in New York City and to defy the boxes that are built for us by the powers that be.

“…but the thing about comfort is
growth happens right outside of it.
Where can she be free?”

Shanté brings all of the pieces of herself into her poems in a way that creates space and vulnerability for others to explore their own experiences and revel in their own joys. Peppered throughout are suggestions for a playlist of movies and music as well as must reads that shaped her unboxing and, she hopes, will provide guidance for young people who follow.
Angela Shanté’s poems dance and soar and bear witness to the myriad lenses through which we experience life. Everyone should read it and, perhaps, find themselves a little more free.

This really hit home for me. So many poems that I highlighted that resonated with me. I loved the little footnotes at the end of some of the lines.

This book is a poignant love letter to Black girls, delicately balancing themes of innocence and resilience amid the challenges of adultification. "The Unboxing of a Black Girl" is a touching exploration of love, pain, and identity. What makes this book truly compelling is Shanté's ability to intertwine the personal with the universal. Through her delicate approach to profound themes, and even painful experiences, Shanté creates an intimate connection with readers, drawing them into her world of poetry and vignettes. I found myself captivated, reading words aloud into a whisper and feeling as though Shanté understood me personally. Her words bravely tackle issues of identity and culture, resonating with authenticity and vulnerability. In a world where Black girls often face erasure or distortion in narratives, Shanté's work is a vital contribution—a reminder of the resilience and brilliance inherent in every Black girl's journey. This collection is a must-read! Not only heartfelt and relatable,but a journey through the complexities of life that I will definitely be recommending.

I want to thank Angela Shanté, Page Street Publishing, and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

"The Unboxing of a Black Girl" by Angela Shanté is a beautiful, and sometimes heavy, account of a black girl's coming-of-age. The author delicately shares her life unfolding through her experiences, teachings from others, and her unique view of the world around her.

Reading about how black girls get forced into boxes just by existing was an affirming experience. In many instances, I found myself relating to so much of what she shared. Some of the poems even felt as though she wrote them just for me. Those Alanis Morrisette and Fefe Dobson references were just too specific! Any young girl enjoying something perceived to be outside of her "culture" or "box" will know what I mean when they read this.

I was also captivated by the ways in which the author shed those proverbial boxes. Black girls are not a monolith, but society tends to sees us as such. And though we are often forced to assimilate, with the threat of being overlooked or ostracized, we find our way out of those boxes. Angela Shanté illustrates this so gracefully with her words.

Another thing that stood out to me in the reading was the footnotes accompanying the poems. If there is something the author speaks of that one is unfamiliar with, she went the extra mile to make readers familiar outside of the margins. That's not something I see a lot, but I did appreciate that.

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté is truly a gem. It's an ode to the black girls finding their way out of the boxes they've been placed in their whole lives. Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"The Unboxing of a Black Girl" by Angela Shanté is a beautifully written and powerful exploration of Black girlhood in New York City. Through a combination of poetry and vignettes, Shanté crafts a love letter to Black girls while also offering a critical examination of the societal forces that shape our experiences. The book explores innocence, joy, adultification, love, loss, and exploitation, shedding light on both nurturing and harmful environments for Black girls and femmes.

I love the way Shante incorporates footnotes to make her cultural references more impactful. As a reader I found this collection to be not only a literary work but also a deeply educational experience on the inner life and outer struggles of Black girls and femmes. This book validates readers who seek stories that reflect the multifaceted experiences of Black girls and those who are interested in exploring the intersection of personal and political narratives.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read!