2021 children's picture book by Carole Boston Weatherford
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 .
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.
Eboni 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]
Unspeakable 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]
^ 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 .