Difference between revisions of "The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander"

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== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
The Undefeated is a non-fiction history-in-verse by Kwame Alexander written for children aged six to twelve. The book, which is written as a long poem in Alexander's signature style, tells the true stories of prominent African Americans who played a pivotal role in American history and beyond. The book is illustrated by Kadir Nelson, who paints many of the figures noted in the poem, and includes an index of historical figures and events for young readers to explore as they read. The Undefeated includes many commonly cited figures in black history – Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, and others. Also interested in exploring black literary history, Alexander references modernist poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, and other prominent thinkers whose work influenced him and many other young black artists. Some other less commonly mentioned names are brought up in Alexander's poem. He makes it a point to honor the neighbors, radicals, activists, and other unnamed heroes who lived and died in anonymity, but who saved lives, helped children, and generally worked hard to fight for African American rights in the Civil Rights Era and beyond. Alexander also talks about police violence in the modern era, creating a memorial for Sandra Bland and Michael Brown, among others lost to police violence. <ref>[https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/ The Undefeated Summary]. Super Summary. Retrieved January 29 2021.</ref>
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The Undefeated is a non-fiction history-in-verse by Kwame Alexander written for children aged six to twelve. The book, which is written as a long poem in Alexander's signature style, tells the true stories of prominent African Americans who played a pivotal role in American history and beyond. The book is illustrated by Kadir Nelson, who paints many of the figures noted in the poem, and includes an index of historical figures and events for young readers to explore as they read. The Undefeated includes many commonly cited figures in black history – [[Martin Luther King Jr. | Martin Luther King, Jr.]], Malcolm X, [[Harriet Tubman]], and others. Also interested in exploring black literary history, Alexander references modernist poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, and other prominent thinkers whose work influenced him and many other young black artists. Some other less commonly mentioned names are brought up in Alexander's poem. He makes it a point to honor the neighbors, radicals, activists, and other unnamed heroes who lived and died in anonymity, but who saved lives, helped children, and generally worked hard to fight for African American rights in the Civil Rights Era and beyond. Alexander also talks about police violence in the modern era, creating a memorial for Sandra Bland and Michael Brown, among others lost to police violence. <ref>[https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/ The Undefeated Summary]. Super Summary. Retrieved January 29 2021.</ref>
  
 
[[File:The Undefeated.jpg|thumb|left|250px|one of the pages in The Undefeated Books]]
 
[[File:The Undefeated.jpg|thumb|left|250px|one of the pages in The Undefeated Books]]
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== Controversy ==
 
== Controversy ==
 
The book addresses the horror of slavery, the violence of the civil rights movement, and the police brutality of today. The most moving portion of the book involves three pages illustrating: “This is for the unspeakable.” The first of these three spreads, subtle and powerful, duplicate a drawing from the 1780s of the hold of a slave ship and shows men’s bodies laying side-by-side, margin to margin, looking like patterned African cloth until one looks closer. The second includes framed portraits of the four little girls murdered in the Birmingham Church bombing, with shattered glass covering their sweet faces. The last shows a spontaneous memorial to youth killed in recent police violence: teddy bears, burning candles, bouquets of flowers, and school pictures of the victims, superimposed over an American flag. The reality of these events cannot be denied and adds honesty and depth to the story, but ultimately does not detract from the overall positive message of the book. <ref>Duncan, Elizabeth. [https://inthewritersweb.com/2020/03/book-review-the-undefeated-by-kwame-alexander-illustrated-by-kadir-nelson/ https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/]. In the Writer's Web. 18 March 2020. Retrieved January 29 2021.</ref>
 
The book addresses the horror of slavery, the violence of the civil rights movement, and the police brutality of today. The most moving portion of the book involves three pages illustrating: “This is for the unspeakable.” The first of these three spreads, subtle and powerful, duplicate a drawing from the 1780s of the hold of a slave ship and shows men’s bodies laying side-by-side, margin to margin, looking like patterned African cloth until one looks closer. The second includes framed portraits of the four little girls murdered in the Birmingham Church bombing, with shattered glass covering their sweet faces. The last shows a spontaneous memorial to youth killed in recent police violence: teddy bears, burning candles, bouquets of flowers, and school pictures of the victims, superimposed over an American flag. The reality of these events cannot be denied and adds honesty and depth to the story, but ultimately does not detract from the overall positive message of the book. <ref>Duncan, Elizabeth. [https://inthewritersweb.com/2020/03/book-review-the-undefeated-by-kwame-alexander-illustrated-by-kadir-nelson/ https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/]. In the Writer's Web. 18 March 2020. Retrieved January 29 2021.</ref>

Revision as of 15:19, 3 February 2021

The Undefeated Book Cover

The Undefeated, a book based on a poem originally published on 2019, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This book has won three awards from the American Library Association Monday. [1] This book has an illustration photo-realistic oil paintings by Kadir Nelson which are the highlight of the book. [2]

Summary

The Undefeated is a non-fiction history-in-verse by Kwame Alexander written for children aged six to twelve. The book, which is written as a long poem in Alexander's signature style, tells the true stories of prominent African Americans who played a pivotal role in American history and beyond. The book is illustrated by Kadir Nelson, who paints many of the figures noted in the poem, and includes an index of historical figures and events for young readers to explore as they read. The Undefeated includes many commonly cited figures in black history – Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, and others. Also interested in exploring black literary history, Alexander references modernist poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, and other prominent thinkers whose work influenced him and many other young black artists. Some other less commonly mentioned names are brought up in Alexander's poem. He makes it a point to honor the neighbors, radicals, activists, and other unnamed heroes who lived and died in anonymity, but who saved lives, helped children, and generally worked hard to fight for African American rights in the Civil Rights Era and beyond. Alexander also talks about police violence in the modern era, creating a memorial for Sandra Bland and Michael Brown, among others lost to police violence. [3]

one of the pages in The Undefeated Books

Controversy

The book addresses the horror of slavery, the violence of the civil rights movement, and the police brutality of today. The most moving portion of the book involves three pages illustrating: “This is for the unspeakable.” The first of these three spreads, subtle and powerful, duplicate a drawing from the 1780s of the hold of a slave ship and shows men’s bodies laying side-by-side, margin to margin, looking like patterned African cloth until one looks closer. The second includes framed portraits of the four little girls murdered in the Birmingham Church bombing, with shattered glass covering their sweet faces. The last shows a spontaneous memorial to youth killed in recent police violence: teddy bears, burning candles, bouquets of flowers, and school pictures of the victims, superimposed over an American flag. The reality of these events cannot be denied and adds honesty and depth to the story, but ultimately does not detract from the overall positive message of the book. [4]

Pros

This book is full of poems that are a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. [5] The Takeaway gives a review and says, "An empowering look at the history of black Americans."[6] It can be shared with children as young as preschoolers, as an introduction to both American and Black-American history. For older students, it can serve as a springboard to understanding history through individuals or groups. The book’s back matter includes an annotated list of historical figures and events featured in the book. I can see the book being treasured by parents and children, as well as being a powerful teaching tool for the elementary classroom. [7]

References

  1. https://theundefeated.com/features/childrens-book-the-undefeated-wins-caldecott-and-two-other-awards/
  2. Duncan, Elizabeth. https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/. In the Writer's Web. 18 March 2020. Retrieved January 29 2021.
  3. The Undefeated Summary. Super Summary. Retrieved January 29 2021.
  4. Duncan, Elizabeth. https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/. In the Writer's Web. 18 March 2020. Retrieved January 29 2021.
  5. The Undefeated. Goodreads. Retrieved January 29 2021.
  6. The Undefeated. Amazon. Retrieved January 29 2021.
  7. Duncan, Elizabeth. https://www.supersummary.com/the-undefeated/summary/. In the Writer's Web. 18 March 2020. Retrieved January 29 2021.