X : a novel (edició 2016)

The book itself is well-written, but the real gold lies in the end materials where the author (Malcolm X's middle child, Ilyasah) lays out additional information, such as a discussion of what is fictionalized and what is not, and a family tree. The is a sound introduction to an extraordinary life, and will spark interest in learning more. ( )

Told by one of Malcolm X’s daughters, this novel chronicles Malcolm’s teenage years through his conversion to Islam in 1948. Timeline, Malcolm’s Family Tree, Historical Context: 1925 to 1965, Further Reading

A novelization of the formative years of Malcolm X, written by the middle of his five children with Betty Shabazz and co-authored by the talented Kekla Magoon, following Malcolm from his birth in Omaha to his childhood in Flint & Lansing to his teenage years in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood and Harlem, and finally to prison. The book's strengths are its raw honesty, authentic speech, and reflections of oppression and pervasive racism, the destabilizing and destructive effects on Malcolm of a murdered father and depressed mother, who was eventually institutionalized. On the other hand, I think that daughter Ilyasah, who was three when her father was assassinated and who forged a compelling story from anecdotes of relatives, has idealized some of Malcolm's actions and decisions, most especially his conversion to Islam. It is crystal clear that Malcolm had no guiding force in his early life, other than narcissism.

The substantive endnotes are an excellent resource, helping to sort out facts from fiction. I actually skipped back to them in the middle of the book, and in retrospect, would have liked to read them first. ( )

You know, at the beginning, I wasn't totally taken by this book. Part of it might have been that the time hopping didn't work for me so much, though I appreciated its purpose, but I've also been pretty overwhelmed by the rest of my life which has provided ample distraction. However, by the time everything was going pretty much in straight chronological order, I was bummed to put it down, and by the end, it was nearly impossible to even pause reading. By the end, I was totally bowled over. Shabazz and Magoon paint such a thorough picture of Malcolm's complex youth, and even though it's a fictionalized biography, it gives a deeper context to his life and legacy. It's been a while since I've read such a beautifully crafted character, fact or fiction--there is some incredible artistry going on in the authors' collaboration. I want this to get into as many hands--teens and adults--as possible.

A great effect, as I'm sure is one of the main intentions of this book, is that I really want to read The Autobiography of Malcolm X for real now. I tried reading it several years ago, but I found it difficult to dig in...I was probably too immature. So I read a lot *about* him instead, and watched the movies and documentaries and all, but it's high time get back to it.

Read it. ( )

RGG: Fictionalized biography of Malcolm X's youth, adolescence, and young adulthood ending with his becoming Malcolm X (not Little) and joining the Nation of Islam. Detailed, but engaging. Malcolm X's crimes, drug usage, and poor decision making is not sugar coated, but the rationalization for why he made the mistakes he made and what caused him to change seems a bit sudden and naive. Still fascinating history. Reading Level: YA.