I picked up this short memoir from my library. I was attracted to the cover and I was curious about a memoir by Sharon Robinson, child of Jackie Robinson.
A joke was definitely had at my expense because I read about half of the book, when I started to think... this is "sort of YA". I felt like things were VERY concrete, and that the entire nuance involving the Civil Rights Movement wasn't being addressed. I looked around a bit and discovered, LO AND BEHOLD. It is a book intended for young adult audiences.
I think this is a book that a lot of school libraries would like to have on their shelves. Sharon tells the story of her year, going to her first dances, figuring out how she can raise awareness of the Civil Rights movement in her school and beyond, attending her first sleep away camp, and getting her first kiss. She tells the story in a matter of fact way, that was very approachable and relatable.
As an adult, I did feel that it lacked a certain nuance. For a young reader, however, it presented facts and events in a natural way, as they interspersed with Sharon's day to day life during that year. As Sharon was the child of a celebrity, her life was not the norm, and I enjoyed learning about her father's efforts and interactions with Civil Rights Giants.
Do I recommend this book? I DO, for the 11-14 yr old crowd. Not for an adult. It would be a good one for a tween book club.
STATS
First Published : 2020
Pages: 320
Available as an Audio Book : YES (~5 hrs)
Trigger Warnings: violence, references to historical past, racism (this is not a full list, read responsibly)
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