Review of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford

Authors

Hannah Elizabeth Smith, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publisher

Carolrhoda Books

City

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America

Date of Publication

2021

ISBN

9781541581203

Date of Review

2022

Disciplines

Library and Information Science | Modern Literature

Keywords

Children's literature, reviews

Review

Carole Weatherford tells the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre, when in 1921 the white community of Tulsa murdered and destroyed the black community’s homes, shops, and lives, displacing over 8,000 people and killing 300. While the story is bluntly honest about the atrocities committed in Tulsa, Weatherford turns to the Tulsa Reconciliation Park to encourage all Americans to choose hope and reject hatred. Weatherford’s honest depiction of the Tulsa Race Massacre incorporates historical information for both adult and child readers; Weatherford and Cooper end with an Author’s and Illustrator’s notes regarding their personal relationships to the Tulsa Race Massacre, allowing a more holistic and historical narrative to appear. Cooper’s realistic illustrations add to the narrative by focusing on the individuals’ facial expressions – each page clearly draws the reader’s attention to one theme or idea. Weatherford’s and Cooper’s collaboration excellently explores an unspeakably moving true story on a level for many ages. Highly Recommended Hannah Smith, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University

Recommended Citation

Smith, Hannah Elizabeth, "Review of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford" (2022). Library Intern Book Reviews. 343.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/343

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