Book: BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS by Renée Watson, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
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Release Date: February 13, 2024
Publisher: Kokila
ISBN-13: 978-0593461709
Position in Bibliography: This is Renée Watson’s 17th book, specifically, her 5th YA book.
Numbered Pages: 81
Chapters: 38 (Not Numbered)
Word Count: N/A
Jacket Art: Ekua Holmes
Jacket Design: Jasmin Rubero
Text Font: Masqualero
Audiobook Run Time: 51 minutes (Unabridged)
Audiobook Narrator: Narrated by the author, Renée Watson
Genre: Poetry
Setting: Portland, Oregon
Tense: First Person
Point of View (POV): Present tense
Themes/Subjects: Race, class, gender
Triggers: Racism, Fatphobia, Sexual Harassment, Gun Violence, Police Brutality
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Synopsis:
In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.
Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.
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Dedication: In Loving Memory of Kamilah Aisha Moon 1979-2021
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Cover Blurb:
“Renée Watson in these poems has beautifully embraced the joys of being a girl and especially the love of being a sister. This ‘Atlas’ holds our hearts up. You will love it.” – Nikki Giovanni, poet
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Characters + Identifiers (In Order of Named Appearance):
Renée – Her curls fall to her shoulders (page 24)
Roy / King, Cheryl, Trisa, Elizabeth, Dyan – Renée’s siblings
Grandma Roberta
Ms. Tiny
Big Momma
Mom
Aunt Mary
Dad
Grandma Agatha
Akiba, Karen, Tenisha, Clairvetta – Cousins, Schoolmates, Classmates (p. 30)
Uncle Frank
Chanesa
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Fun Facts:
This semi-autobiographical collection of poems mentions pivotal people in American history such as Rodney King, Emmett Till, Mulugeta Seraw, Benjamin Banneker, George Washington Carver, Margaret Walker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Renisha McBride, and Breonna Taylor as well as pop culture icons including Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Miles Davis, Mariah Carey, Boys II Men, Anita Hill, & Bob Marley as well as Dawkins & Dawkins, Virtue, Commissioned, Jodeci, Aaron Hall, and Blackstreet.
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Suggested Reading: Books by Elizabeth Acevedo, Mahogany L. Browne, Amber McBride