DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Sheryl Lee Ralph displays her magical acting talents throughout her bold narration of this adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Magnolia Flower.” Ralph delights listeners as she breathes additional life into this story of love and freedom. The work is presented as a frame story in which the wise river tells the young, babbling brook about Bentley, an enslaved man who escaped to freedom and built a community of other freed people. One of the residents is Swift Deer, a Cherokee woman who escaped the Trail of Tears. They have a daughter named Magnolia Flower. She falls in love with a man named John. Later in life, they return to her birthplace and live free and in love. The audiobook concludes with historical and author’s notes. P.P.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 08/01/2022
Kendi (Antiracist Baby) adapts a short story by Hurston (1891–1960) in this visually stunning foray into folklore, as related by a mighty river to a babbling brook. Asked to tell of people in love, the river reminisces about Bentley, a Black man who escaped slavery, and Swift Deer, a Cherokee woman who fled “her own trail of tears.” They marry, living in “a whole village of runaways/... on an island of freedom/ in a vast sea of slavery,” and they have a daughter, Magnolia Flower, who arrives “at the time of the flowers opening.” In Magnolia’s lifetime, war over slavery comes and goes: “Black people walked/ free on the lands of Swift Deer’s ancestors.” Then John, a brown-skinned man who “had many words,” wins a now-grown Magnolia’s heart despite her father’s disapproval, and they take to the river to row away—returning 47 years later. Digital illustrations from Wise (The People Remember) make for a bountiful, nature-centered accompaniment to this romance set against the changing landscape of freedom for Black and Indigenous peoples. A historical note and author’s note contextualize themes of oppression, resistance, and love, as well as Hurston’s expertise in Black folklore. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"[A] powerful example of Black and Native resistance—an aspect of history that far too often goes undiscussed. Wise’s earth-toned, opalescent illustrations make the trees, water, and flowers feel just as key to the tale as the humans. The excellent marriage between lyrical text and stunning visuals makes for a moving, memorable story. An artfully rendered tale of life and love that also conveys an essential but often overlooked chapter in U.S. history." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Digital illustrations from Wise (The People Remember) make for a bountiful, nature-centered accompaniment to this romance set against the changing landscape of freedom for Black and Indigenous peoples. — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Freedom forges a path to love. Kendi uses poetic and accessible prose to restate Hurston's historical truths. [Wise’s] gentle digital illustrations have a vivaciousness that reinforces the depth of Hurston's characters as well as the vastness of the world encompassing them. — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
I hope that the luminous spirit of the GREAT Zora Neale Hurston is forever shining down on Loveis and Ibram for their most gracious retelling of this sweet yet powerful folktale; a declaration of love. — Derrick Barnes, Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, NY Times Bestseller, Ezra Jack Keats Award and the two-time Kirkus Prize winner
Digital illustrations are a real complement to the story, creating a lush landscape filled with beautifully drawn flora. Bright pinks, yellows, and aqua blues fill each page and are a perfect accompaniment for lyrical text. — School Library Journal
[A] pleasing introduction to Hurston's oeuvre. — Booklist
Kendi adapted this 1925 short story about Afro-Indigenous love and resistance into a picture book so children wouldn’t have to wait to absorb Hurston’s rich folkloric tales. — New York Times Book Review
[A] true launchpad for recentering the narrative of U.S. history, honoring Zora Neale Hurston and her legacy, and building cultural awareness and sensitivity. (5 STARS!) — Common Sense Media
Both the lyrical text and the flowing digital illustrations let the theme of love running through Hurston’s stories shine. — Horn Book Magazine
School Library Journal
09/01/2022
Gr 2–4—Kendi admirably adapts Hurston's short story for younger readers, simplifying it to a sweet story of enduring love. The wise River tells the playful Brook the story of Magnolia Flower, a spirited young girl born to parents who escaped slavery and the Trail of Tears. When Magnolia Flower falls in love with the poor poet John, her father forbids the love match and Magnolia Flower is required to take matters into her own hands. A historical note offers details on the Maroon communities as portrayed in the story. In an author's note, Kendi discusses his love for Hurston's work and his wish to share it with his daughter. He creates an accessible story employing much of the original wording, but this is still best shared one-on-one in order for younger readers to grasp the meanings and imagery of the lyrical prose. Digital illustrations are a real complement to the story, creating a lush landscape filled with beautifully drawn flora. Bright pinks, yellows, and aqua blues fill each page and are a perfect accompaniment for lyrical text. VERDICT While this is a nice introduction to Hurston's work, many readers will be first drawn to the vibrant illustrations.—V. Lynn Christiansen
DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Sheryl Lee Ralph displays her magical acting talents throughout her bold narration of this adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Magnolia Flower.” Ralph delights listeners as she breathes additional life into this story of love and freedom. The work is presented as a frame story in which the wise river tells the young, babbling brook about Bentley, an enslaved man who escaped to freedom and built a community of other freed people. One of the residents is Swift Deer, a Cherokee woman who escaped the Trail of Tears. They have a daughter named Magnolia Flower. She falls in love with a man named John. Later in life, they return to her birthplace and live free and in love. The audiobook concludes with historical and author’s notes. P.P.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-07-13
Scholar Kendi adapts a short story published by Hurston in the Spokesman in 1925.
The Mighty River tells the whimsical, mischievous Brook the story of Bentley, who flees slavery for a Florida forest where Black and Native people live free together as Maroons. Bentley marries Swift Deer, a Cherokee woman who escaped the Trail of Tears, and they have a daughter named Magnolia Flower, who “came at the time of the flowers opening.” When the Civil War ends, Magnolia falls in love with John, a Black man whom Bentley dislikes because he is poor. Bentley locks John up in their house to keep him away from Magnolia, but one night, Magnolia frees John and escapes with him by boat, making the Mighty River a part of their story. The tale comes full circle when Magnolia and John return 47 years later to reflect on and affirm their love. Deeply committed to sharing Hurston’s writing with young readers, Kendi writes in his author’s note about the elements of Black folklore in the story, such as making nature a speaking character. And, as he stresses in a historical note, the tale is a powerful example of Black and Native resistance—an aspect of history that far too often goes undiscussed. Wise’s earth-toned, opalescent illustrations make the trees, water, and flowers feel just as key to the tale as the humans. The excellent marriage between lyrical text and stunning visuals makes for a moving, memorable story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An artfully rendered tale of life and love that also conveys an essential but often overlooked chapter in U.S. history. (Picture book. 5-10)
