Young, Black, and Determined: A Biography of Lorraine Hansberry

I never realized how young Lorraine Hansberry was when she died before reading this book. Obviously, I had heard of her plays, but I knew nothing of her life. Pat and Fredrick McKissack brings the reader into Hansberry's world. I really enjoyed the narrative.

The McKissacks also present many great extras in this book. The time line of Hansberry's life is told alongside events in African American history. This helps puts her life in perspective and tells the reader exactly what was going on as she was writing and growing up. The index and bibliography are extensive and it is obvious the authors put a lot of work into this book.

This would work well in a unit on authors, African Americans, or important women.