Randy DuBurke

The drawings are stark black and white, no shadowing, not always finely detailed, but perfectly done to portray everything that needs portraying. The text was nothing special for me, I've read his autobio and this essentially serves as a very condensed version of it, but the art adds the detail that bolsters the text.

I'm probably being a little harsh in only giving 3 stars, as I don't see anything bad about the book, but my reviews are naturally subjective, and knowing his autobiography as show more well as I do, this just felt a little flat to me. But for anyone who enjoys graphic novels, especially if not having read much about him, this ought to be a good pick. show less

This book offered a strong and detailed look into the life of Malcolm X. He was a man of many skills and he was quite popular. Malcolm, during his younger years, was into a lot of trouble. He ended up being sent to prison where he was, in my opinion, manipulated into joining the Nation of Islam. After he became a member, his life took on a drastic turn that eventually led to his death at age 45.

I would undoubtedly share this book with seventh and eighth graders. It is a realistic look at his show more time. Instead of things happening dealing with racism being sugar-coated, as I realized my teachers did with me, this book puts them in your face. I could see reading this book during Black History Month. It is also a more fun read because the images in the book really contribute to the story. I would also be a little concerned about how students would process this information presented, because, like I said, it is a jarring experience and it is real. Breaking the class up into small groups so they can express how they felt about it and hear feedback from other students would also be a great idea.

I really enjoyed the book. It was a different experience for me because I have not read a comic book in quite some time. I have seen the movie based on his life and it was interesting to see the connection between the graphic book and the movie. My favorite part of the book was when Malcolm realizes that the man he idolized was actually human and sort of a fake. That would be a good lesson to express to students: never place anyone on a pedestal because you never know what that person is going through. show less

Review: "The Moon Ring" is a captivating story about a young girl named Maxine who experiences the magic of the blue moon on a hot summer night. Her grandmother tells her about the magic and suddenly a silver ring falls from the sky. Maxine picks up the ring and is instantly taken on many adventures that take her around the world and ultimately back to her home. No one but her grandmother believes her, but thanks to the seal and penguin that she picked up along the way, Maxine knows that it show more was real and will be their little secret.

Genre: Fantasy

Genre Critique: This story has a lot of elements of fantasy particularly because Maxine travels to different continents instantly. She goes to real places, but she rides on animals and even takes a couple of them with her back home. Maxine's imagination runs wild in this story, therefore defining it as a fantasy story book.

Character Critique: Maxine is a very relatable main character even if the means by which she travels is not. She is dynamic in the way that she allows herself to be stretched and grown from what she knows to be true, compared to what she actually experiences. Maxine really carries the plot by using her mind and the magic of the silver ring. show less

This biography gives the reader an idea of how Malcolm X's adolescent experiences influenced the development of his beliefs, which would be easily relatable to many young adults. Helfer focuses mainly on how events in Malcolm’s youth, particularly the racism Malcolm experienced, shaped his later life as a confrontational leader against white racism. The detail of Randy DuBurke's illustrations and the intensity of the story's themes provide a fascinating candid look at Malcolm X’s life.