This well-balanced biography of the legendary Malcolm X is sprinkled with direct quotes spoken by the native Nebraskan who was born Malcolm Little. The reader learns about Malcolm's early years in Lansing, Michigan, the death of his father that eventually led to him being split up from his siblings as they were each placed in individual foster homes. The reader is able to feel the emotionally charged scenes thanks to the stunning imagery of Leonard Jenkins. From Malcolm's fancy zoot suits on the streets of Harlem to his studious nature as he learns about the Nation of Islam while in prison for robbery and gang involvement, this biography takes a wonderful stance on the life of Malcolm X, crediting him as a "complex man living in a complex time of turmoil and change."

The book does a great job at telling the life of Malcolm X. It starts out with sharing he had hopes to be successful. It also show how sometime we make pore choices that change our lives. You learn how he spoke out of Civil right.

Walter Dean Myers authors a well written account of Malcolm X's life. It is meant for elementary age children; I would say grades 4+. The book tells of Malcolm's family, time in foster care, move to Boston and New York, time in prison, The Nation of Islam, his religious pilgrimage to Mecca, and his assassination. The explicit details are left out to keep it appropriate for younger readers, which I really appreciate. ( )

I liked this book for a fourth or fifth grade class. It is a factual recollection of Malcom X's life, without going into detail of the violence. It is still mentioned so that the book is accurate, but leaving out extreme details makes it more appropriate for elementary students.

I like this book because it shows the history of blacks in our country and it makes it so it is appropriate for the young to read I like how Malcolm x went to prison and came out a better person I would also like to add that the book was really good in showing how important an education is for our youth