This book shines! This was a very easy read and I enjoyed the theme of kindness and forgiveness throughout it. It was easy to connect with all the characters, even Wade. I didn’t like him at first because of how mean he was to Cooper, but then by the end of the book, I wanted to give him a hug. It’s a great story and I think it should be a must read for every kid!

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC. Wow, this will be an easy sell in my school Library. Novel in verse has become one of my favorite writing genre.
Radiant was filled with emotion and history. The year in 1963 and Cooper is struggling with a bully at school, being the only black student in her school and coming to terms with her mom being a hospice helper for her bully mom. This is a must read.

The book takes place in the early 1960's. Cooper struggles with being black and everything that means in the era of segregation and blatant inequality. She begins the story by telling the reader she wishes she was white. She is the "wrong color," but also has to be in the classroom of the meanest teacher in the school. She wants to move on to sixth grade without having to be in her class. In addition, she is confronted by a bully, the son of her mother's bosses. She loves her mom, but doesn't want anyone to know her mom is a maid.

Cooper navigates fifth grade learning about herself, her culture, the bully, her siblings, and finds the Beatles and how to be proud of who she is.

I plan to share Cooper's story with my students. Although they are in sixth grade, I think they will enjoy the journey with Cooper. I also think the book with be accessible to students on many levels of reading ability and comprehension.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Radiant is an ordinary journey but one that just shines. Cooper Dale is a great girl to know; one who struggles with her identity and her values but that stays true to them in the end.
It is introspective and slice of life; readers should come expecting a drive and good chat through the countryside, not a thrilling roller coaster.

Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is a middle grade novel-in-verse about a young girl, Cooper, that enters 5th grade with the goal of shining. However, between her strict teacher and the class bully, Wade, Cooper finds that shining is more difficult than she expected it to be.

Cooper faces a variety of challenges, both at school and at home, Some are because of the decade she lived in (1960s) and others are challenges that young readers today will also be able to relate to. I generally love novels-in-verse and I think that this one is exceptionally well-done. I would absolutely use this book as a class read aloud for 4th or 5th grade. Beyond teaching readers about language and history, it would be a great book to teach them empathy. I love the way that the characters grew over the course of a school year and there are so many tidbits that would lead to great group discussions!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to review an eARC of Radiant!

I like when a book unexpectedly makes my eyes water. Cooper is having a hard time in 5th grade but her family and friends pull her through. Her "bully" is struggling with a sick mom and Cooper is having a hard time balancing her dislike of Wade with empaphy for what he is facing. As a verse novel, the story moves quickly but creates strong emotions. The poetry is lovely!

A book told in verse. Cooper Dale, a 5th grader, is put into a teacher's class and she's heard all kinds of terrible rumors about how mean the teacher is. Think Miss Gulch from the Wizard of Oz. It's 1963 and Cooper happens to be the only "colored" person in her class. She struggles with the negative names for African Americans and doesn't understand why people just can't get along. And then there's Wade, a boy in her class who teases and bullies her. A sweet story about friendship, growing up, and forgiveness.

Cooper Dale is meant to shine and so are you. Her thoughtful, reflective story will give you all the feels. May we all learn to accept and forgive our neighbors.

Thank you Dutton Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: In 1963, amidst historical turmoil and personal struggles, fifth-grader Cooper Dale navigates race, class, and identity in a predominantly white town while searching for her own way to shine.

My review: *Radiant* is a beautifully written and moving novel in verse that captures the heart and complexity of growing up in the 1960s. Through Cooper Dale’s journey, young readers are introduced to the history and pop culture of the era while exploring themes of race, class, faith, and identity. As Cooper learns that Black is beautiful, she also grapples with the power of forgiveness, discovering that kindness, love, and acceptance can shine even in difficult times. Heartwarming and powerful, this historical fiction novel is a must-read for middle-grade audiences.

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Stories in Verse / African American / Historical - United States - 20th Century

Radiant is scheduled for publication on January 7, 2025, by Dutton Books for Young Readers.

This tender novel in verse details one girl's journey to acceptance of her race as she learns how to shine.

This lovely novel in verse is about Cooper Dale, a fifth grader who is the youngest child of a loving and supportive family in Pennsylvania in 1963. Cooper is worried about her new teacher, who has a reputation for being strict and she also sits next to a boy who is often mean to her. Cooper finds a way through, in a kind and loving way. Her wonderful family supports and guides her along her path through some of the historical events of that year. Kids are going to enjoy Cooper's beautiful voice and the wonderful images that Nelson creates with her poetry.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars - (Outstanding)
Setting: A predominantly white community near Pittsburgh
Genre: Historical Fiction (Middle Grade Novel in Verse)

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s Radiant is a beautifully written, deeply moving novel in verse that captures the struggles and triumphs of a young Black girl coming of age in a turbulent time. Set in 1963, against the backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing and the Kennedy assassination, the novel follows Cooper Dale as she navigates the complexities of race, class, and self-acceptance in a predominantly white community.

Cooper is an instantly relatable and endearing protagonist. Her voice is authentic, brimming with honesty, vulnerability, and quiet strength. As she faces bullying, self-doubt, and the weight of the world’s injustices, she also finds joy in music, family, and the small victories that help her grow into herself. Nelson’s lyrical writing makes every emotion feel raw and immediate, immersing readers in Cooper’s journey of discovering what it truly means to “shine.”

This is a book that doesn’t just tell a story—it feels like an experience. It’s a poignant reminder of the power of resilience, love, and identity, making it a must-read for young readers and adults alike. Radiant is a shining gem of historical middle-grade fiction that will linger in your heart long after the final page. #netgalley #radiant #booked_this_weekend

*Radiant* by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is a powerful middle-grade novel in verse that captures the struggles and resilience of Cooper Dale, a Black girl growing up in 1960s America. Secretly, Cooper wishes she were white, hoping it would make life at her mostly white school easier. But as she navigates everyday microaggressions, historical events like the assassination of JFK, and unexpected connections with classmates, she begins to realize that there’s more than one way to shine. Nelson’s spare yet deeply emotional verse makes Cooper’s journey both accessible and profoundly moving. With its rich historical context and themes of identity, empathy, and self-acceptance, *Radiant* is a perfect classroom read. It can spark discussions on civil rights, social justice, and personal growth while offering students opportunities to explore poetry as a form of storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley and Dutton Books for Young Reader for this ARC.

I just finished the verse novel “Radiant” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. I related to the main character, “Cooper” on so many levels especially being the only person of color in predominantly white spaces. I too have felt like I had to “shine” to be accepted or even welcomed. I also appreciated her supportive family. They demonstrated that love and empathy rule the day. It’s a must read.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this MG text in verse, first and foremost, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s style of writing. She makes excellent use of the verse medium, and I would absolutely discuss several of these poems in my classroom.

I wish she had explored more of the historical aspects of the setting. There are a few mentions of events (Kennedy’s assassination, the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, etc.), but not much of a deep dive.

One aspect I personally struggled with was the significant presence of religion throughout the book. (Possible spoiler.) The main character spends most of the book working towards forgiving and empathizing with a racist classmate (particularly after learning his mother is sick), even though he demonstrates minimal remorse for his actions. I wasn’t expecting that to be the main plot of the story, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy.

Spot on tone for this historical fiction novel in verse exploring racism in the 1960s. Believable characters with strong family relationships, and growth. The protagonist realizes perceptions of others don’t always hold true. Fun sprinkling of Beatles fandom.

Cooper Dale lives with her parents and siblings in 1960s Pittsburgh. She has a huge, loving, extended family and lots of friends at school and in the community. At school, Cooper is the only "colored" child in her class and at times, Cooper wishes she was white. For a start, this would stop the cruel comments from a boy in her class, Wade Carter. Cooper speaks to different people for advice and asks how they might deal with it but their suggestions don't quite sit right with her. There are several events, however, that make Cooper reconsider how she wants to be: she and her sister, Maxine, discover a mutual love for The Beatles; learning that her "Queen of Darkness" fifth grade teacher may not be quite so bad and her mother going to work for bully Wade's family. These seemingly insignificant events really make Cooper think about herself and she begins to accept and love who she is.

I really enjoyed this book. I like a novel in verse and this one was nicely done. The characters were well-written and realistic and I  especially liked Cooper, her parents, Pap and Hakim.

A quick read, well worth it.

Radiant is beautifully written, emotionally captivating and an all around important work of historical fiction. I loved how so many of the verses were about Cooper’s emotions and how those emotions evolved throughout the story. It is incredible to me how much power can be contained in so few words. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson does an amazing job crafting such a significant novel in verse that kids and adults will love to read.

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. Radiant. Dutton Books For Young Readers, 2025, 9780593855782. $18.99. 320p. Grades 5-9
Description: At the beginning of the 1963 school year, Cooper Dale is really struggling with being a Black girl in a vastly White community in Pittsburgh, PA. With references to historical events like the Birmingham church bombing, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the rising fame of The Beatles, readers get to see some of the realities of being a Black family in a predominantly White community in the 1960’s. While Cooper tries to navigate fifth grade being bullied by a well-off student in her class and having a very strict teacher, she also starts to see the world differently than she had before.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this middle grade novel in verse. I think seeing the empathy that Cooper has for her classmate Wade was really refreshing. This would make a solid addition to any middle level library!
Historical Fiction
Tags: Civil Rights Era, Pennsylvania, Discrimination and Prejudice, Racial Discrimination, Adversity, Social Awareness, Novel-In-Verse, Bullying

Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc!

Radiant is a well-written novel in verse about a fifth grade black girl (Cooper), growing up in Pennsylvania in the 1960s. The author does a great job portraying Cooper’s feelings about being the only “colored” person in her class and how that changes with the arrival of Hakim, the second black student. The author does a good job describing how Cooper navigates through historical events of the decade (the assassination of JFK, the Beatles’ TV performances, Malcolm X, etc.). Another storyline weaved throughout the book is her complicated feelings toward Wade, a white classmate who is first introduced as her bully. However, when his mom becomes sick, Cooper turns to her religion to navigate her feelings around this situation.