Publishers Weekly
★ 08/07/2023
Via three alternating perspectives, Colbert weaves an absorbing intergenerational tale about a famous Black Hollywood family, their relationship with notoriety, and the ramifications that come with it. In present-day Los Angeles, after the death of film star Blossom Blackwood, tabloids chronicle the family’s grieving process and Hollywood searches for its next big star. Despite having grown up benefiting from her great-grandmother Blossom’s influence, Hollis has never wanted to be in the public eye. Hollis’s cousin Ardith, meanwhile, reveled in the limelight; as a child actor, Ardith yearns to follow in her great-grandmother’s footsteps. But when the teens’ personal secrets and private pasts begin leaking to the press, they must each reckon with the consequences of being in the spotlight. Periodic chapters beginning in 1942 follow 15-year-old Blossom’s rise to fame. Colbert expertly juggles each protagonist’s POV, rendering them with distinct tones and rhythmic prose that complements the characters’ individual situations. In tackling serious themes surrounding sexual harassment, sexism, and addiction, the author presents a textured look into the highs and lows of fame and the ways in which it impacts a family and its legacy. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Colbert’s sprawling novel is a deeply felt love letter to Black Hollywood’s groundbreaking forebears and a tribute to the transformative power of maternal love, providing rich emotional insights layered with thoughtful explorations of the intersectionalities around race, class, and gender. A striking testament to the bonds of family and a perceptive study in how events can echo throughout generations.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"An absorbing intergenerational tale about a famous Black Hollywood family, their relationship with notoriety, and the ramifications that come with it." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Colbert beautifully describes the complex lives of three young women through the alternating perspectives of Blossom in 1942, and Ardith and Hollis in the present day. Carefully tackles serious themes of race, family, sexual harassment, and addiction, and invites readers into the joyous highs and painful lows of fame and its legacy." — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"Told in two time periods and following the perspectives of a young Blossom Blackwood and her two great-granddaughters, Colbert's novel explores the difficult choices each has to make to stay true to themselves." — Booklist
“This story shines. Colbert’s latest novel deserves a spot in teen and high school collections.” — School Library Journal
"Colbert delivers a heartfelt, layered story that delves into themes of identity, societal expectations, and the blurred boundaries between private and public lives. The exploration of family secrets [and] the weight of expected gender roles add elements of intrigue and suspense, keeping readers engaged and eager to unravel the truth." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Brandy Colbert delivers yet again with a whip-smart look at gender, Blackness, and aspiration, and what the Hollywood machine has historically given and taken from performers of color. The Blackwoods is a story about the messiness of family and the burdens and triumphs of carrying the legacy of Black excellence. As a family, the Blackwoods are so tenderly drawn and beautifully human, I found myself wishing I could spend even longer with them well after I'd turned the final page." — Christina Hammonds Reed, New York Times-bestselling author of The Black Kids
"A gorgeously layered, expansive, and emotionally generous page-turner, The Blackwoods made me think about fame and family and legacy in ways I never had before. To put it simply, it swept me off my feet." — Nina LaCour, author of the Michael L. Printz Award-winner We Are Okay
"Wholly absorbing and meticulously researched, I was captivated from page one by this multigenerational story of Black Hollywood royalty. You will fall in love with Blossom Blackwood, her ambitions, and her entire family." — Malinda Lo, National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club
“Binge-able as the best movies, this epic, beautifully-written tale of one famous Hollywood family is Brandy Colbert at the top of her game. Full of secrets and lies, loss and love, history and destiny, The Blackwoods shines." — Laura Ruby, National Book Award finalist and author of Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All
School Library Journal
12/01/2023
Gr 8 Up—The Blackwoods are Hollywood royalty. Award-winning Black actress Blossom Blackwood broke barriers and blazed a path to success, and her recent death has left a hole in the collective heart of the Blackwood family. Her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, are particularly affected. Ardith, a successful actress herself, has worked to ensure her image is flawless, especially after her mother died of an overdose. But an unfortunate encounter with a blogger who disparages her mom threatens everything Ardith has worked to achieve. Hollis is content to be a normal high school student out of the spotlight. When a memento of a personal moment is leaked to the press, Hollis is thrust into the public eye for all the wrong reasons. At the same time, Blossom's death brings with it the revelation of a long-held secret, one that will forever alter the lives of the Blackwoods. Chapters alternate between Ardith and Hollis in the present day, as well as Blossom, whose story begins in 1942, and covers several decades. Each young woman has a distinctive voice and point of view, and Blossom's history is seamlessly interwoven with contemporary events. Family relationships are where this story shines, but serious topics such as sexism, mental health issues, and socioeconomic disparities are included in a way that feels natural for the story. VERDICT Colbert's latest novel deserves a spot in teen and high school collections; hand to readers who enjoy family sagas and the ups and downs of fame.—Alison Glass
NOVEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
Alaska Jackson differentiates the many characters, past and present, in this audiobook, especially the heroines who take center stage. Jackson clearly defines the courage of Blossom, the progenitor of a Black acting dynasty. In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Blossom is a trailblazing role model for female actors of color and generations later for her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith. Jackson convincingly depicts the two present-day cousins, who are inspired by and grieving for their great-grandmother as they attempt to take control of their lives, which are constantly subjected to the downsides of fame. Blossom's story is the most captivating, but Hollis and Ardith have stories worth hearing. Regardless of character or era, Jackson's portrayals come alive, especially in the vivid dialogues. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-07-26
Two young women from a Black Hollywood dynasty navigate the choppy waters of 21st-century celebrity while grieving the death of their famous great-grandmother.
Through decades of commitment to her craft and resilience in the face of discrimination, Blossom “Bebe” Blackwood cemented her legacy as an award-winning Black actor and trailblazer. When Blossom passes away at the age of 96, her family celebrates their beloved matriarch and feels adrift without her guidance. This is especially true for 17-year-old cousins Ardith and Hollis Blackwood, who sometimes struggle with the challenges of being born into a highly visible family. Bebe was best friend to Ardith, a devout churchgoer and rising actor. For Hollis, a grounded high schooler content to remain on the outskirts of the Hollywood elite, Bebe represented the beauty of triumph over adversity. As the teens adjust to their new normal, a long-buried secret comes to light, forever changing their perceptions of the great-grandmother they all thought they knew. Colbert’s sprawling novel is a deeply felt love letter to Black Hollywood’s groundbreaking forebears and a tribute to the transformative power of maternal love. Chapters alternate between the voices of the teens in the present day and Blossom’s heartbreaking journey to stardom, providing rich emotional insights layered with thoughtful explorations of the intersectionalities around race, class, and gender.
A striking testament to the bonds of family and a perceptive study in how events can echo throughout generations. (family tree, author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)
