e-Audio, 03:03:45
Narrated by: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: February 7, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio (I received a copy of this from the PRH Audio App in exchange for a just and honest review.)
Content Warning: Child Abuse, Gun Violence, Racial Slurs, Racism, Death of a Parent, Cancer, Death
For Readers Interested In: Audio, Historical Fiction, Sparkly Covers, Middle Grade, Novels in VerseA historical middle-grade novel in verse from multiple Coretta Scott King winner Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.
As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine” for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world.
Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else.
It’s not all bad, though. Cooper and her beloved older sister have fallen for the Beatles, and Cooper is thrilled to have something special they can share. And what she learns about her British idols adds new complexity to Cooper’s feelings about race.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was an interesting book. Not only was it about some of the horrific events in history, but it also covered some of the happier times too. Like Beatlemania lol I don’t think I ever even thought about what someone felt like when they first heard that album. So yeah, this was pretty cool.
Ok so the horrific events were things like the Birmingham church bombing and the Kennedy assassination. This is a historical fiction book, but it isn’t necessarily focused on one event, so it doesn’t go into much detail. Just enough for someone interested in either event to go back and look it up. With all of this happening I’m not surprised that Cooper found it hard to figure out how to stand out as a Black girl in a predominantly white community. They were purposefully making her feel like less than. All the way down to the kids. Especially the meanest one.
As it turns out, the meanest kid in her grade, Wade, is the son of the person whose Cooper’s mom works for. Of course this brings up so many problems. But as it turns out, Wade is hurting just like Cooper. Cooper finds out that he is suffering and the person she is shines through in the way she reacts. She is a special character and her growth throughout the story is incredible.
The only thing I didn’t love about this was the fact that it was about the Beatles lol I know this was a big thing back then, but I don’t think kids now a days will know or care about them. I think if there was something or someone else that might have been more recognizable Black artist it would have been better. I know there’s some grandma out there that would remember buying an album. But I know that this is in a predominately white neighborhood so I know this is more realistic, but I just feel like the intended reader will lose interest at that particular part. Hopefully they’ll ask more questions and the educators can trace it back to Blackbird. (Yes I know this is a generalization of all kids, but as a librarian, this is based on what I’ve seen.)
The writing style is true to itself, a novel in verse. I looked in at the e-book and the amount of white space on the page is very welcoming to reluctant readers. Because of this I don’t think the historical fiction genre will be an issue. This is definitely something that I will be recommending to those that like novels in verse.
This was a great read. Definitely something that I picked up on a whim, but I think that’s what I loved the most about it. I picked it up on a whim and now it’s definitely something I’ll be recommending during Black History Month and beyond.
Overall, I give this
