Freedom Fire: Black Girl Power

This empowering collection of 15 stories about girlhood, written by authors of the Black diaspora--including Sharon Flake, Kekla Magoon, and Ibi Zoboi--and edited by Johnson (Ellie Engle Saves Herself), who also contributes, contains messages of hope, resilience, power, and friendship. Each story depicts Black girls contending with relatable conflicts: in "The New Rules" by Elise Bryant, a tween with anxiety must navigate the first day of school alone after her best friend ditches her. Speculative tales also abound: "First Bite" by Dhonielle Clayton follows a vampire who must find someone to be her first bite, and "Crème de la Crème" by Roseanne A. Brown features the humorous correspondence from a witch apologizing for a mishap at her magical pastry school. Stories sensitively handle subjects like grief, as when Sharon M. Draper showcases a tween dealing with guilt following her brother's death in "The Last Chocolate Cookie." Via unfiltered dialogue and striking characterization, authors center varied Black girls in stories that end on an upbeat note and urge readers who relate to the protagonists to always be their truest selves, even in the face of adversity. Ages 8-12. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary. (Nov.)

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Gr 3-7--A mighty collection of 15 tales of Black girlhood from titans of kid lit. The entries run the genre gamut, deftly tackling common tween concerns such as bullying, identity, and first-day-of-school jitters through prisms of tongue-in-cheek fantasy, heartfelt realism, and even a touch of horror. An incumbent seventh-grade class president works hard to correct her big mistake in Sharon G. Flake's "Fake President," while an aspiring opera singer takes one step closer to her dream (despite her parents' skepticism), with the help of her sister in Tolá Okogwu's "An Aria for Abi." Prevalent throughout is the theme of Black girls tackling big life changes, and realizing they possess the inner strength to weather their respective storms. Also emphasized is the power of friendship, family, and community; most of the protagonists succeed thanks to unexpected allies or supportive loved ones. Highlights include Amerie's "The House Downstairs"--a delightfully unnerving horror story of two sisters battling a sinister dollhouse that wants them to stay, forever--and Reneé Watson's "Black Girl, Be," a lyrical beckoning for Black girls to delight in everything they are and all they can be, even (and especially) when the world does not. Readers will enjoy dipping into these bite-sized stories of complex characters finding their footing. VERDICT An anthology that beams with heart and hope, especially for young Black girls. Recommended for all middle grade collections.--Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Electric: bequeaths confidence-building stories that sizzle with wisdom and a little bit of magic.

 A celebration of Black girl power that is essential for all middle-grade collections.