Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's Fiction, History Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. What an amazing but also cute way to teach the younger generations about their cultural history. Phillip addresses slavery and the horrors in an age appropriate way, even with the pair even stopping for a hug when it gets a bit much for McKenzie. I found McKenzie asking for a map in her hair after learning the history sweet and so much like what a child would ask. The illustrations are great and focus on the facial expressions on the people and their hair which feels like the most important parts of the story. Favourite Quote: “The patterns in their hair weren't just for beauty, It was so they could communicate escape routes with one another. The slaves also created secret messages and hid small tools in their cornrows.”
Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Memoir, Trauma Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book isn’t an easy read but it’s an important one. Odell shares her childhood traumas both through family relationships and her grooming and abuses at the stables she held dear for years. It’s interesting to see her as an adult reflecting back on some of it, such as how quickly she was left alone with Clarentine without parental supervision. Odell is able to explore the relationship with her mother and how toxic it was, and how that both left her vulnerable to and drove her into the control and abuse of Clarentine. It's also interesting to see Odell navigating the impacts those childhood experiences have on her adult relationships, especially her marriage. It’s also important that she outlined the grooming tactics she experienced to show how easy it is to be drawn in little by little and also shares warning signs for readers to keep a look out...