Edim’s clear love and respect for black women and their stories make it possible for this book to sidestep the danger of convening based on blackness and woman-ness alone, as she appears to have thought carefully about what the 21 contributors, including authors N.K. Jemisin, Jacqueline Woodson and Renée Watson, bring to a textual conversation with each other ... These women provide detailed and fascinating insights into their early lives as readers and go beyond the typical list of inspiring figures and 'a-ha' moments that post-panel Q&As demand ... Beyond these earnest encounters that led the writers to their respective journeys, another prominent thread in the book is the intense dissonance of black girls growing into an understanding of racism, misogyny, heterosexism and classism, in addition to other forms of structural violence ... Well-Read Black Girl demystifies the reading and writing practices of the various authors through the clarity and candor of their prose.
Tayari Jones muses on Toni Morrison, Veronica Chambers on Jamaica Kincaid, Marita Golden on Zora Neale Hurston. Other contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Stephanie Powell Watts, and N. K. Jemisin. Well-Read Black Girl Recommends reading lists covering various themes and genres add to the reach and radiance of this empowering literary resource.
... a powerful collection of essays and conversations ... The anthology is also a thorough encyclopedia ... reading the collection felt like therapy, a release. At times sentimental, it never fails to nourish the soul in how it relates the everyday heartaches and the myriad joys of black girls ... In the end, we the readers realize that each essay in Well-Read Black Girl embodies Jemisin’s call to action...
This anthology is necessary reading. Each essay in this expertly curated collection is exquisite in its own right, and the very existence of this book is a revolution against the imagined monolith of 'black women' ... Well-Read Black Girl is a special, potent volume that is expansive and introspective, diverse, eloquent and wise. Pick up this book, and let these outstanding essays speak for themselves.
Candid and thoughtful from start to finish, Edim’s collection amply celebrates the many paths black women have traveled on the road to self-definition. Other contributors include Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and N.K. Jesimin. An eloquently provocative anthology.
The book’s thematic organization—sections include 'Books on Black Feminism,' 'Plays by Black Women,' and 'Poetry by Black Women'—makes it easy for readers to dive in based on personal preferences, though they could just as contentedly read from cover to cover. Speaking directly to black women readers, this book contains a journey from which anyone can derive enjoyment and benefit.
