But, ah, well, you didn’t get it. You worked and you begged
and maybe you even saved but you didn’t get what it was that
you wanted. You were sad, but you got over it. You’ll try
again, work harder, save more and, as in The
Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson, one
day, you’ll reach your goal.
This book is just for you. But it’s something you have to
share because it’s “for the unforgettable,” too. It’s for
those people who opened the doors to all kinds of new
opportunities for everyone, but they never became famous for
it.
It’s for people who did whatever it took to get to America,
to thrive and find a home and happiness. This book is for
people who struggled, and for those who didn’t.
It’s about people who were strong and were admired for that
strength. It’s for those who believed in themselves but who
also put their faith in a higher power. It’s for those who
“tackle vision” and those who don’t hide their light behind
anything, ever.
It’s for soldiers and dancers, marchers and players, boxers
and parents and kids, and it’s for you. It’s for Black lives
that matter and for the people who never got a chance to
know that. It’s because of the “unspeakable.”
Share this book for those who won’t be stopped, who’ll keep
dreaming and reaching and imagining and proving. It’s for
the athletes we know, and for the ones we don’t know about
yet. It’s for performers we sing along with, and for songs
not written. It’s for those who tried and tried until the
last breath they had.
You’ll have to share it, but this book is for you. It’s “for
us.”
The Undefeated
is one of those things that’s really had to nail down.
It’s a quick read that may be too quick for some
kids; it’s over almost before it begins because author Kwame
Alexander’s words are spare and not very attention-grabbing
for the very youngest of children. It doesn’t help that the
picture-book-style illustrations are attractive but they
aren’t particularly colorful or active.
For gradeschoolers, none of that will matter because The
Undefeated is a poem set to picture and it’s
inspirational for them, especially if they’re just learning
about African American history. But there’s a possibility
for those kids that the power behind the illustrations by
Kadir Nelson might be missed because the stories of the
people in this book are at the end and not always with
the pictures.
Adults, however, might find this book to be a treasure.
Alexander’s poem pulses with strength and the artwork, from
an adult’s POV, is perfectly rendered. You may recognize the
people depicted – and if not, there’s always the back of the
book.
The trick, perhaps, is to carefully share this book with the
child you love, explain, and let it spark conversation. Once
kids understand, The Undefeated is a book they’ll
want very much.
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