Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly

by Walter Dean Myers (Author) Leonard Jenkins (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

"A compelling account. A perfect blend of well-written text and well-executed illustrations." (School Library Journal starred review)

Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, together with illustrator Leonard Jenkins, delivers a compelling portrayal of one of America's most influential Civil Rights figures.

Malcolm X lived by the idea that Black people should demand equality by taking their lives and futures into their own hands. With guidance from the religious leader Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm became one of the most powerful leaders of the Civil Rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s, and his beliefs live on today.

This nonfiction picture book is a strong choice to share in the classroom or home, and for book reports and research by young readers.

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Publishers Weekly

In this excellent picture-book biography, Myers focuses on the challenging childhood of Malcolm Little, who would grow up to be Malcolm X, and draws upon the man's own words to illustrate his leadership qualities. Jenkins's lifelike portraits and often clashing color combinations effectively convey the unrest of the man and his times. Ages 5-8. (Jan.) Copyright 2004 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Myers makes the complexities of Malcolm X's story accessible without compromising its integrity. Leonard Jenkins's sophisticated acrylic and pastel paintings use neon colors; they blend realism with abstraction to heighten the underlying emotional drama."—The Horn Book
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780060562014
Lexile Measure
960
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Amistad Books for Young Readers
Publication date
December 20, 2003
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Cultural Heritage
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century
JNF007070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Political
Library of Congress categories
X, Malcolm
Black Muslims

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