Apassion for social justice blossoms during the middle school years for the girl who grew up to become Dr. Betty Shabazz.

Loved but unwanted by her mother, 11-year-old Betty finds solace in friends and church. In 1945 Detroit, Betty’s African-American church community is a hub for activism in the face of Jim Crow racism, police brutality, and economic inequality. With renowned guests such as Thurgood Marshall and Paul Robeson coming to speak and perform, Betty and her friends are swept up in the fervor and demand for social justice that would become a movement. They volunteer for the Housewives’ League, a group that encourages the community to give its dollars to black-owned and -employing businesses. But the movement is also personal for Betty, who struggles to find her place in a world that treats brown-skinned black girls as lesser—less beautiful, less worthy, less deserving. Authored by her daughter Ilyasah Shabazz in collaboration with Watson, this moving fictional account of the early life of the late civil rights leader and widow of Malcolm X draws on the recollections of family and friends. The result is a heart-rending imagining of Shabazz’s personal challenges as well as a rare, intimate look at the complex roots of the American civil rights movement.

A personal, political, and powerful imagining of the early life of the late activist . (Historical fiction. 10-14)

-Kirkus Review

The book “Betty Before X” by Ilyasah Shabazz is about a girl named Betty that felt unwanted by her mother that found comfort in her friends and church. This historical fiction is based in 1945 Detroit during Jim Crow and economic inequality. The intended audience for this book is 10-14 years old. ( )

This is a really well done book -- great voice, great pacing, solid history -- altogether a very enjoyable read. There's a lot of faith in here, but even as a reader who does not appreciate the koolaid, I found it to be reasonable, compelling and appropriate. I appreciate the first hand account of 1940s Detroit, the positive activism, the strong bonds of family (chosen and not), and Betty's lively mind and unwillingness to take racism lying down. The lynching scene was shocking, and the murder of a 15 year old boy was awful, but both are depressingly important to depict.

The only thing that really threw me is the scene where they are preparing for the large tea party and making Lavender Lemonade. Mrs. Malloy tells them to use manuka honey, and that seems incredibly unlikely -- was New Zealand really exporting raw honey to Detroit in the 1940s? I'd love to hear more if that is true. ( )

A three-star story but bonus points for having such a clear author's note separating fact from fictional liberties. ( )