Ibi Zoboi’s biography of science fiction writer Octavia Butler presents a clear picture of her work and of what life was like when Butler was growing up. Narrator Robin Miles’s smooth and honeyed voice alternates with Zoboi’s higher, lighter pitch as the two make the most of the text’s poetry and prose. The audiobook explains the major events of the day and how they influenced Butler’s writing. When Zoboi speaks of how she herself became acquainted with Butler, she does so with a warmth and conviction that help convey the influence the MacArthur Fellowship winner had on her own work. Listeners new to Octavia E. Butler are likely to seek out her books for themselves. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

11/29/2021

Alternating between verse forms, prose interludes, and direct quotations, Zoboi (The People Remember) recounts the life and career of legendary speculative fiction writer Octavia Butler (1947–2006), emphasizing her beginnings as a “star child” (her middle name, Estelle, means “star”). A sweeping mix of allusive poetry and contextualizing prose traces Butler’s birth during the baby boom and childhood “raised by her mother and grandmother—two hardworking and God-fearing matriarchs” in unsegregated Pasadena, Calif. Portraying Butler as a solitary child who “always seemed distant and aloof,” Zoboi traces the determined figure’s initial forays into literature, first as a reader and then as a creator of worlds. Examples cover Butler’s first novel, penned in her trusty pink notebook at age 10; early submissions to editors at age 13; and her subsequent focus on science fiction and making “imagination her life’s mission.” In a turn toward memoir, one section recounts Zoboi’s commonalities with Butler, including thebirthday they share and conversations between them. More extensive ode than strict biography, this is a fittingly expansive tribute to Butler’s visionary mind and the childhood that sowed it. Ages 10–up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.)

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
A We Need Diverse Books Walter Dean Myers Honor Book
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An NPR Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

★"A one-of-a-kind masterpiece of literature. This must-read biography belongs on every library shelf and will redefine the way readers engage with biographical texts.”—SLJ, starred review 

★"A biography that’s as unique in form and content as the groundbreaking sci-fi/fantasy author herself.... Informational and inspirational, this innovative work will draw committed Butler fans and entice those unfamiliar with her work to seek it out."—Horn Book, starred review 

★"Zoboi has created a necessary addition to school and public library collections through this memorable look at how writers incorporate their lives into their work."—Booklist, starred review

★"A radiant biography spotlights the life of science fiction great Octavia Butler through a compilation of poetry, prose, quotes and photos."—Shelf Awareness, starred review

★"An inspiring look at the formative years and work of a literary giant that’s sure to capture young readers’ attention."—Kirkus, starred review

★"This title truly has something for every reader."—SLC, starred review 

"Here’s a true statement for you: If you live a good life and are true to yourself and persevere, you might, you MIGHT, be lucky enough to get someone like Ibi Zoboi to write your biography for kids."—Betsy Bird, Fuse #8 

"Zoboi movingly highlights the importance of empathy in Butler’s work and her role as a mentor and source of inspiration for countless other Black creatives."—BookPage

"A fittingly expansive tribute to Butler’s visionary mind and the childhood that sowed it."—Publishers Weekly

"Zoboi pairs elegantly crafted poems with direct, informative prose to create an emotionally charged look at a Black woman who changed the literary landscape, writing in a genre dominated by white authors and white characters. [T]his is a compelling blend of artistry and nonfiction that will likely send readers directly to Butler’s books."—BCCB

★ 03/01/2022

Gr 5 Up—Zoboi's biography of science fiction author Octavia Estelle Butler details her life from birth in Pasadena, CA, to her legacy as an author. Raised by her mother and grandmother after losing her father when she was four, Butler grew up in a non-segregated town filled with opportunities that her mother worked hard to give her. After struggling with dyslexia in school, Butler found reading and storytelling as a way to escape the schoolyard banter, where she found it difficult to connect with her classmates. Butler's life story is complemented by the history she grew up within, providing context of the Great Depression, World War II, the space race, the red scare, and the Civil Rights movement. Told through poetry, narrative, photographs, newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, story drafts, childhood sketches, quotes, report cards, and war propaganda, this stunning biography is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece of literature. Zoboi carefully crafts each chapter of Butler's life with various types of poetry, using clever rhymes and rhythmic stanzas. Each poem and section of prose elegantly connects to the space theme, painting the picture of Butler as a star child, born out of stardust. The vivid poetry will fill readers' heads with imagery of the historic journey Zoboi presents. The quick-paced chapters and rich voice will draw readers of all ages into this nontraditional biography. VERDICT This must-read biography belongs on every library shelf and will redefine the way readers engage with biographical texts.—Angie Jameson

Ibi Zoboi’s biography of science fiction writer Octavia Butler presents a clear picture of her work and of what life was like when Butler was growing up. Narrator Robin Miles’s smooth and honeyed voice alternates with Zoboi’s higher, lighter pitch as the two make the most of the text’s poetry and prose. The audiobook explains the major events of the day and how they influenced Butler’s writing. When Zoboi speaks of how she herself became acquainted with Butler, she does so with a warmth and conviction that help convey the influence the MacArthur Fellowship winner had on her own work. Listeners new to Octavia E. Butler are likely to seek out her books for themselves. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

★ 2022-03-02
By the time she was 10 years old, Octavia Butler knew that she wanted to be a writer.

Weaving together quotes from Butler, prose passages of historical and biographical information, and her own original poetry, Zoboi explores the visionary speculative fiction author’s early life. This ambitious experimental biography is at once a tribute from an adoring fan and an introduction to Butler’s juvenilia and her childhood growing up as a shy Black child in postwar 1950s America. Each chapter covers a different aspect of, or key moment in, Butler’s girlhood and adolescence, showing the challenges she overcame and the sustaining force of her imagination. Included are black-and-white childhood photos and a facsimile of a handwritten story about wild horses that Butler worked on as a child and illustrated herself. Young readers familiar with the Butler oeuvre will note the allusions to her famous and groundbreaking works. Zoboi’s powerful poems vary in style and form; particularly interesting are several concrete poems, including the titular “Star Child,” “Moon Child,” and “Moon Child II,” with the words arranged on the page to reveal an image of a star, quarter moon, and full moon respectively. Readers will come away with an understanding of Butler’s early influences and an interest in her writing.

An inspiring look at the formative years and work of a literary giant that’s sure to capture young readers’ attention. (author’s note, bibliography, endnotes, photo credits) (Biography. 12-adult)