★ 10/30/2017
The daughter of Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X, Shabazz (X: A Novel) joins with Watson (Piecing Me Together) to tell this absorbing fictionalized account of her mother’s formative years. In a straightforward but engaging narrative voice, Betty describes living with three maternal figures, who offer different strategies for coping with life’s difficulties. When Betty sees the victims of a lynching as a child in Georgia, Aunt Fannie Mae tells her, “Baby, some things we just have to take to the Lord.” In Detroit, her stern biological mother, Ollie Mae, tries to shield her from knowledge of race riots (“You have enough years ahead of you to know pain, Betty Dean”). After a beating, Betty moves in with Mrs. Malloy, an inspiring leader in the Housewives League. In response to her growing awareness of racism, Betty ponders Malloy’s philosophy (“Have faith in the Lord and find the good and praise it”) and develops an affinity for community organizing. History comes alive in this illuminating portrayal of the early life of this civil rights activist, which is bolstered by substantial endnotes. Ages 10–14. Agent: Jason Anthony, Massie & McQuilkin. (Jan.)

"...this moving fictional account of the early life of the late civil rights leader and widow of Malcolm X draws on the recollections of family and friends. The result is a heart-rending imagining of Shabazz's personal challenges as well as a rare, intimate look at the complex roots of the American civil rights movement. A personal, political and powerful imagining of the early life of the late activist." —Kirkus starred review

"...absorbing...History comes alive in this illuminating portrayal of the early life of this civil rights activist..." —Publishers Weekly starred review

"An excellent work of historical fiction that will illuminate and spark discussion."—School Library Journal starred review

"The lessons from Betty’s life are abundant: forgiveness, gratitude for life’s blessings, and planting seeds for the future. Her response to hardship and injustice is timeless."—Booklist

"Set mostly in the black neighborhoods of 1940s Detroit, this affecting novel covers Betty’s life from age eleven...to just before the start of high school... The authors tell Betty’s story in an engaging and accessible first-person voice; they manage to portray Betty as a relatable pre-teen who likes to dance to Billy Eckstine records and read Ebony magazine even as they lay the groundwork for the remarkable woman she will grow up to be." —The Horn Book

07/01/2018
Gr 3–7—Betty Dean is heartbroken when her beloved Aunt Fannie Mae, who raised her, dies. She is sent north to live with her mother, stepfather, three younger half-sisters, and two younger half-brothers in Detroit. This fascinating first-person fictionalized biography of the future activist and wife of Malcolm X focuses on Betty's years between age 11 and just before high school. Betty is drawn into volunteering for the Housewives League, which supports black-owned businesses and advocates for black people to be hired by a variety of businesses. Through her work for the League, and the support of a family in her church, Betty is able to move beyond her difficult relationship with her mother and find confidence and purpose in her young life. The audio presentation is read by the author, the daughter of Malcom X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. VERDICT While the pacing is somewhat inconsistent and occasionally choppy, the narrator's conviction in the power of the story being told shines through, providing a significant and worthwhile listening experience.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT

★ 12/01/2017
Gr 4–6—This novel centering the girl who would become the wife of Malcolm X and accomplish much on her own after his assassination reminds readers that even legendary figures are real people. Betty Dean Sanders was born in 1934 in Pinehurst, GA. At barely a year old, she was taken from her mother, Ollie Mae, because there was evidence of abuse. She lived with her grandmother and aunt until she was seven. When Aunt Fannie Mae died, Betty was sent to Detroit to live again with Ollie Mae. The mother-daughter relationship was never comfortable, and when there was more abuse, Betty was taken in, at the age of 11, by Lorenzo and Helen Malloy, who raised her until she left for college. The authors highlight Betty's personal trials and those of the civil rights struggle. Emotional but not melodramatic, the facts and events speak for themselves. Readers will acutely feel the confusion and pain Betty experiences with her mother, her anger at the treatment of African Americans, and the hopefulness instilled by Helen Malloy and her Housewives' League as they boycott businesses which will not hire blacks. There is also the warmth of Betty's community, the love of her sisters, the peace she finds in her faith, and the joy of her accomplishments. VERDICT An excellent work of historical fiction that will illuminate and spark discussion. Pair this with Shabazz's X: A Novel for a well-rounded picture of the couple and their times.—Katherine Koenig, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter, narrates her middle-grade novel about four years in her mother’s life, starting in 1945, when Betty was 11 years old. The story shows how Betty became an activist in the Civil Rights movement. In clear, measured tones, the author recounts Betty’s discomfort with her home life and her work with the Housewives League, which supported black-owned businesses. She also discusses speeches made by influential figures of the day in Betty’s church. Shabazz differentiates between Betty and her mother, Ollie Mae Sanders, through pitch and projects the latter’s frequent annoyance, showing why Betty often felt underappreciated. An afterword helps young listeners understand Betty Shabazz’s importance in American history and and provides additional discussion on the other people in the narrative. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

★ 2017-10-16
A passion for social justice blossoms during the middle school years for the girl who grew up to become Dr. Betty Shabazz.Loved but unwanted by her mother, 11-year-old Betty finds solace in friends and church. In 1945 Detroit, Betty's African-American church community is a hub for activism in the face of Jim Crow racism, police brutality, and economic inequality. With renowned guests such as Thurgood Marshall and Paul Robeson coming to speak and perform, Betty and her friends are swept up in the fervor and demand for social justice that would become a movement. They volunteer for the Housewives' League, a group that encourages the community to give its dollars to black-owned and -employing businesses. But the movement is also personal for Betty, who struggles to find her place in a world that treats brown-skinned black girls as lesser—less beautiful, less worthy, less deserving. Authored by her daughter Ilyasah Shabazz in collaboration with Watson, this moving fictional account of the early life of the late civil rights leader and widow of Malcolm X draws on the recollections of family and friends. The result is a heart-rending imagining of Shabazz's personal challenges as well as a rare, intimate look at the complex roots of the American civil rights movement. A personal, political, and powerful imagining of the early life of the late activist. (Historical fiction. 10-14)