Malcolm and Me

Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic--although she's uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it's black or white.

An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she's experiencing in her life, including her parent's troubled marriage. But when she's told she's ineligible to compete in the school's essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn't ready for.

Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Malcolm and Me is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security--a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.

Author: Robin Farmer
Publisher: Sparkpress
Published: 11/17/2020
Pages: 259
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9781684630837
ISBN10: 1684630835
BISAC Categories:
- Young Adult Fiction | Historical | United States | 20th Century
- Young Adult Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
- Young Adult Fiction | Social Themes | Religion & Faith