Malcolm Lives! is Ibram X. Kendi's biography of Malcolm X, written for young readers. The book goes all the way back to the beginning, introducing Malcolm's parents (followers of Marcus Garvey) and taking us deep within his family to understand not only his contributions as an adult, but how he got there. Written in Ibram X. Kendi's unflinching and honest voice, the style meets kids where they are with short, clear sentences. This will be an essential book for readers in building a better understanding of Malcolm X's life and legacy. Malcolm X's story is often missing from discussions of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s in middle grades, and this book will hopefully open the door to broader conversations and deeper understanding of the history of the period. Readers should proceed with care for discussions of substance use, systemic racial trauma, and family trauma.

Ibram X. Kendi is the only author who could have written this fantastic official biography for young readers. As he says in his acknowledgements, he learned to write in a way that young people like to read. And does he ever! Throughout the prose, there are lyrical almost hip-hop verses where he uses a hard stop after each word, or repeats a phrase in a few different ways. He writes like young people speak, and I can't wait until this is available as an audiobook, because I would love to hear Jason Reynolds narrate it.

I highly recommend this for schools and libraries, and as required reading for young adults. So much of history is being relived, and Kendi points this out time and again. He also drew parallels between the wars in the middle east today just as Malcolm X did upon his visit. Students will learn current events and history simultaneously and make connections to injustice.

Don't hesitate to add this one to the collection--it is sure to win many awards!