It is 1963. The Beatles have just come to America, and Cooper Dale is in the 5th grade with a teacher she had heard horrible things about. She is the only Black child in class, and although she is told to be color blind about race, it doesn’t work quite the way the white people think it will.
Wade, the class bully, has taken it on himself to make her miserable, but is always she who gets in trouble if she does anything, such as stick her tongue out at him.

Told in blank verse, sparsely, but with enough details that was know what is going on, and how Cooper feels, about all things.

A beautiful look at what life was like, in 1963-64. So much happened. The book feels well researched, and reflects the feelings of that time, including the assassination of JFK.

The book is named Radiant, because Cooper doesn't want to just Shine, because that can mean other things, but wants to radiate like a star.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 7th of January 2025.