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Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. A piercing, unforgettable love story set in Greenwood, Oklahoma, also known as the "Black Wall Street," and against the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Isaiah Wilson is, on the surface, a town troublemaker, but is hiding that he is an avid reader and secret poet, never leaving home without his journal. Angel Hill is a loner, mostly disregarded by her peers as a goody-goody. Her father is dying, and her family's financial situation is in turmoil. Though they've attended the same schools, Isaiah never noticed Angel as anything but a dorky, Bible toting church girl. Then their English teacher offers them a job on her mobile library, a three-wheel, two-seater bike. Angel can't turn down the money and Isaiah is soon eager to be in such close quarters with Angel every afternoon. But life changes on May 31, 1921, when a vicious white mob storms the Black community of Greenwood, leaving the town destroyed and thousands of residents displaced. Only then, Isaiah, Angel, and their peers realize who their real enemies are.… (more)
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Sixteen-year-old Angel Hill is disregarded by her peers as a goody two shoes. Her father is dying from an unknown illness and her family's financial situation is in turmoil. Also a vivid reader, Angel is a loyal follower of Booker T. Washington, and she believes, through education and tolerance, that black people should rise slowly and without conflict.
Though they've gone to the same school, Isaiah had never paid Angel much mind. That is until he sees her dance at church one day - after that he falls in love quickly. Their English teacher offers them a job on her mobile library. Angel can't turn down the money and Isaiah is eager to have a reason to be close to Angel.
But life changes on May 31, 1921 when a vicious white mob storms Greenwood and sets it ablaze.
This was a love story, but it wasn't any kind of Insta-love that happens a lot in YA novels. This one was slower. You could "see" the duo fall further and further in love. Especially the moment when Isaiah sees Angel dance... Randi Pink did an amazing job at capturing that into words.
This novel ends right after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Within twenty-four hours after the violence began on May 31, 1921, 35 city blocks of Greenwood lay in ruins of ash. More than 800 people were treated for injuries (though refused treatment at the white hospital nearby). Contemporary reports state that deaths began at 36. Historians now believe that as many as 300 people died .
I actually learned very briefly about this in High School - surprisingly. This is a good starting point to talk about what happened. Firebombs were dropped on Black Wall Street! An entire African-American neighborhood was burnt down! This is a time in history many people don't even know about!
I love the banter between Isaiah and Angel that Pink uses to discuss W.E.B. DuBois versus Booker T. Washington. Those topics weren't ones I was too familiar with and have since begun looking into them more because of this book.
Miss Ferris, the English teacher, is the type of teacher all kids need. She realized Isaiah's love for writing and gave him a journal to write in. There was even a time when she could tell him was going through a lot of emotions and simply asked him, "Do you need to write?" and then let him. She even talked it out with the duo about any guilt they were having about being black and having more advantages than others.
This novel is touching and tender - about finding who you are yourself and also falling in love for the first time. It's also very educational to its readers. It was a pretty quick read for me (even if I got sick right when I was starting it). I would highly recommend this to young and old alike.