Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre is a picture book written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Published on February 2, 2021, by Carolrhoda, it tells the history behind the Tulsa race massacre in verse.
 | |
| Author | Carole Boston Weatherford |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Floyd Cooper |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Picture book |
| Publisher | Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publications |
Publication date | February 2, 2021 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 32 |
| Awards | |
| ISBN | 978-1-5415-8120-3 |
The book was praised by critics, receiving several starred reviews, and was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award in both the author and illustrator categories.
Reception
editReviews
editEboni Njoku, writing for The Horn Book Magazine, commented on how Weatherford took "[g]reat care" to describe the community that lived in what was known as the "Black Wall Street" and praised the "[s]mall details" present in the writing, which "add to the authenticity of the narrative". Njoku also praised Cooper's illustrations, due to "the sepia-toned images resembling historical photographs."[1] A review published in The School Library Journal further adds that the "illustrations are infused with a personal connection", as Cooper's grandfather would tell him stories about the Tulsa race massacre.[2]
Publishers Weekly highlighted the fact the book focuses not only on "the attack, but also on the positive achievements of the Black business owners, lawyers, and doctors".[3] Kirkus Reviews called Unspeakable a "somber, well-executed addition to the history as the incident approaches its 100th anniversary."[4]
Awards and honors
editUnspeakable is a Junior Library Guild book.[5]
In 2021, Kirkus Reviews,[6] The New York Times Book Review,[7] the New York Public Library,[8] and NPR named Unspeakable one of the best picture books of the year.[9] The Horn Book Magazine named it among the year's best nonfiction books,[10] and the Chicago Public Library named it among the year's "Best Informational Books for Older Readers".[11]
The same year, Booklist included Unspeakable on their "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth" list.[12] The following year, they included it on their "Top 10 History for Youth" list.[13] It was also considered a notable children's book by the Association for Library Service to Children,[14] Capitol Choices,[15] and the International Literacy Association (CL/R SIG).[16]
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Nonfiction | Honor | [17] |
| Kirkus Prize for Picture Books | Finalist | [18] | |
| National Book Award for Young People's Literature | Longlisted | [19][20] | |
| 2022 | Caldecott Medal for Author | Honor | [21][22] |
| Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Middle Level) | Won | [23] | |
| Coretta Scott King Award for Author and Illustrator | Won | [24][25] | |
| Kids' Book Choice Award for Book of the Year: 3rd to 5th Grade | Won | [26] | |
| 2022 | Sibert Medal | Won | [22] |
References
edit- ^ Njoku, Eboni. "Review of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Piehl, Kathy. "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Children's Book Review: Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Floyd Cooper". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "UNSPEAKABLE". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Best of 2021". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books". New York Public Library . Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Best Books for Kids 2021". The New York Public Library. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ "Books We Love". NPR. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Horn Book Fanfare 1938 to present". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ ChiPubLib_Kids. "Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2021". Chicago Public Library. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2021". Booklist. 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Reagan, Maggie (2022-02-01). "Top 10 History for Youth: 2022". Booklist. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Notable Children's Books: 2022". Booklist. 2022-03-15. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Reading Lists". Capitol Choices. 2017-09-02. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "NBGS Lists". CL/R SIG. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Awards: Washington State Book Winners; Kirkus Finalists". Shelf Awareness. 2021-09-17. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Carole Boston Weatherford". National Book Foundation. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "National Book Award Longlists: Young People's Literature, Translated Literature". Shelf Awareness. 2021-09-16. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma (2022-01-24). "Barba Higuera, Chin, Boulley Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ a b Price, Tirzah (January 24, 2022). "The 2022 ALA Youth Media Awards Are Announced". Book Riot. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Carter G. Woodson Book Award Winners and Honorees". National Council for the Social Studies. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Coretta Scott King Awards". American Library Association. 2019. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ "ALA's Youth Media Award Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2022-01-25. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Jones, Iyana (2022-12-08). "2022 Kids' Book Choice Awards Announced". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.