The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander – Book Review
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander – Book Review
The Undefeated
Author – Kwame Alexander
Publisher – Walker Books
Pages – 40
Released – 3rd October 2019
ISBN-13 – 978-1783449286
Format – ebook, paperback, hardcover
Review by – Stacey
Rating – 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
This post contains affiliate links.
This is for the unforgettable. The unafraid. The undefeated.
From New York Times bestselling-author Kwame Alexander comes this powerful and important ode to black history: the strength and bravery of everyday people and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest artists, athletes, and activists.
With references to lyrics and lines originally shared by our most celebrated heroes, this poem digs into the not-so-distant past to underline the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.
The Undefeated is a poetry picture book featuring the words of Kwame Alexander together with the watercolour illustrations of Kadir Nelson.
The poem was initially written by Kwame for his new daughter back in 2008 and for Ex-President Obama too. The words are powerful and are made more poignant by the beautiful illustrations that adorn nearly every page. As daft as it might sound the one page that didn’t have any illustrations felt the most powerful out of all of them.
The book is a celebration of black Americans, especially those that are overlooked in today’s society such as heavy-weight boxer Jack Johnson, writer Zora Neale Hurston, and golfer and tennis player Althea Gibson, amongst many, many more names, some will be familiar others not so much.
This is a book to show children to never give up, it reminds them that no matter what their status, gender, race, or background that if you truly want to achieve something you will with determination and a desire to keep going.
The Undefeated has a powerful, passionate message and includes a poem full of wisdom, some of the best illustrations I have ever seen and a glossary at the back with information on each person in the book.
Book Reviewer – Stacey
Purchase online from:
Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.com – Amazon.in – Blackwells
About the Author
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including THE CROSSOVER, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include SURF’S UP, a picture book; BOOKED, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.
Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.
