X: A Novel

This was an excellent read! I would recommend it to anyone who has ever been fascinated with the life and times of Malcolm X. This book does an excellent job of telling a fine story of how Malcolm X came to be from just a young boy as Malcolm Little all the way into his late teen (early 20's) years as Red. I found his daughter's notes at the end of the book about her father as she knew as a child and from her family's stories of him really made this novel even more compelling. The wealth of factual notes she continues to provide at the end of the novel were highly appreciated and provided a welcomed understanding of just how this advocate for African-American right became the man we learned about as Malcolm X, aka El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Lastly, I am seriously considering reading the other historical fiction by the contributing author, Kekla Magoon. Overall, I proudly give this novel 5 stars! It was an awesome read!!!

X is the fictional retelling of the early life of Malcolm X with his daughter and stellar, Kekla Magoon. Thoroughly researched using his diaries and writings, the reader meets Malcolm as a six year old when he loses his father. This incident is pivotal in his later development and the reader learns about his disillusionment with his parent's uplifting "you can do anything" talks. We follow Malcolm as he flees his home in Flint and lives in Boston and New York, totally absorbed in the high life and hustles, along with drugs, dating a white woman and burglary, which lands him in jail. I could not put this book down; the time period Malcolm lived in was rife with racism; he came from a solid family but his parents convictions resulted in Malcolm's downfall and running away from the love and support of his family. It was his time in prison, writing to his family, and embracing Islam that mark a turning point in his life to become the leader of his people.

The story of Malcolm X in his earlier years growing up and becoming an adult. This book is written by his daughter. She has recreated what she could recall from stories told and from relatives during her father's earlier years.Much of the book is fiction as she could not actually know what events took place and the exact people in those events. She took leeway in writing to piece together what she knew and what could have happened in this time.It is an interesting story of Malcolm X's formative years and give a bit of insight into what may formed this young man and why his life was what it was and how he came to be who he was.I always enjoy reading about famous people in history and this book did not disappoint. It was fast pased and easy to read.

This book was very interesting to read.I enjoyed this version written by the daughter of Malcolm x.It follows a lot of the same things written in the autobiography of Malcolm x.

In light of the unrest happening this year, it is my responsibility to learn how we got here, and what we need to do to move forward. Every account, every story adds to the knowledge I need to help. I highly recommend this book.

3.75 ⭐️ I enjoyed the writing in this book, it was powerfully rendered, however, I think I’d enjoy a book on Malcolm X from an adult perspective written for adults, talking more about his life after prison rather than everything that led up to it. Still, I’m thankful for the broader picture, the beautiful writing, the understanding and the doorway into a great man’s early life. ✌🏽

good book to learn more about the life of the activist Malcom Little.

I enjoyed this book. I mean...it's not Malcolm X's extraordinary autobiography...but it was a good read. I think I liked it better than I thought I would.The story begins with Malcolm being 14 years old around the time when he and his siblings were separated from his mother. Malcolm learns the truths about his mother, a proud black woman who could pass for white, often doing so in order to secure employment, and then losing jobs when her employers would discover she's black. The story also explores Malcolm's loss of interest in education when told as a negro he should not strive for nor attain success. they also explore how the violent murder of Malcolm's father coupled with the heartless oppression sustained by Malcolm's mother shaped teen Malcolm's world view. Malcolm's time in Boston and Harlem come alive, as young Malcolm gets a "slave", and the degrading groveling it must have taken him in order to keep his "slave". This book would make a great pairing for studies on the epic figure, that could definitely make this legendary man accessible to today's youth. I did listen to the audiobook, performed by Dion Graham. It was a solid listen, but not extraordinary. The ending was read by the author and Malcolm X's daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, and also includes a timeline of Malcolm's life. For more visit:[...]