I was so excited for this book that I didn't pay any attention to the fact it was only a preview. I hate that. But it looks promising! I just hate getting previews on NetGalley

Stamped, while an incredibly controversial book to most of society, is an important and necessary read. This book is no exception. Provided in a graphic novel format, it makes the contents easier to comprehend, and albeit maybe more enjoyable. However, it doesn’t mean that the content is nonetheless as hard hitting as it’s purely textual counterpart. Read, learn, and grow…this book will help you do just that.

Stamped from the Beginning is another great addition to this series, making it accessible to those better able to connect with visual imagery when absorbing content. I think this is appropriate for middle schoolers and up, and I love the graphic renditions of historical content, which are fantastic for getting students more engaged in topics.

I have read Stamped from the Beginning by Dr. Ibram Kendi and Jason Reynolds and this book is a perfect visual representation of both the original and the Jason Reynolds version. I would recommend this book for teens grades 10-12, depending if a teacher thinks their students are mature enough for the content. It is jam packed with facts and information with illustrations that students will instantly connect too. 

This book is an important read for teens, young adults, and adults. Not many people know what an anti-racist is or  how to view our history from this perspective and it truly opens the readers mind to that. 

With it's dark humor (and images), quirky wording, and in your face facts, people will instantly connect with this book. 

“All men are created equal, but some restrictions may apply”

More non-fiction books, especially history, should be in graphic novel form. Bottom line! I am going to recommend this book to our AP African History Studies class and US History classes. There are some images that some students might find disturbing such as hangings and offensive representations of African Americans, but they are there to teach not to offend.  The pages are packed with text and can be a lot of some people to take in with the different fonts etc, but overall, a very easy read. NOT TO MENTION AN IMPORTANT MUST READ!

Wonderful information and easier to digest then the full text. However, one of the benefits of a graphic novel is that there are fewer words and the pictures help to tell the story. That's not always the case here. Stamped deals with a lot of heavy topics, and the text is sometimes dense and the images don't really help with the heavy lifting. I would suggest this for older middle school/high school because of the complexity of the text and presentation, but the subject matter is awesome for all ages.

Unraveling racism and it's place in our history and culture is a huge task. Expecint anyone to grasp all of the nuance seems nearly impossible. This book will help. By explaining concepts visually as much as with text we have an easier time digesting the concepts. Of course, the graphic novel format is limited in some aspects and means that a lot of nuance will be left out. That is to say, this is by no means a full exploration of the ideas and history. Instead, think of this book as a primer. It's an introduction that will get the reader thinking critically about racism and culture so they can go into a traditional text with some understanding.

Thank you to Ibram X. Kendi (author), Joel Christian Gill (adaptor/illustrator), Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic, and Netgalley for a free advanced reader copy of "Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America" for an honest review. 

As someone who read and devoured 'Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,' and "Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You,' this third version, the graphic novel edition, continues to open the available accessibility of getting all this work into the hands of even more people. 

While a very abridged offering compared to its predecessors, at 70 pages, this production still takes the reader through an intense history-laden journey of five key American figures. The whole of this book is about clarifying and educating how woven into American history racism is, and what antiracism has been fighting back against it in the hopes of accomplishing all across each of the times shown, our current time, and what could be accomplished if we all worked together, in the light, for the future.

Having read the original “Stamped,” I can glean that this excerpt is likely just the very beginning portion of the completed graphic novel. However, even from this early glimpse, it is evident that the adaptation remains faithful to the source material and is a compelling interpretation. One aspect that has always resonated with me about "Stamped" is its ability to elucidate the history and profound influence of racist ideas through the perspectives of five pivotal figures: Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W. E. B. DuBois, and Angela Davis. By grounding Kendi's thoughts and research within the framework of historical movements, culture, and policy, this approach renders the text accessible to a diverse audience, extending beyond academia. Although this excerpt concludes with Thomas Jefferson, it is apparent that Kendi's core concepts are well-represented and further enhanced by Joel Christian Gill's visual depictions. I eagerly anticipate exploring the final product.

Review based on an excerpt of the title. This is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation!  Perfect for all adult graphic novel collections.  This definitely has teen appeal as well.  Hand this to history buffs who enjoy graphic novels.

This book had a lot of good information but there was so much of it that it was hard to follow. I feel like if it was split up into volumes it might have worked better. I think it touches on history that is important and isn’t freely talked about, especially within the education system. I personally wasn’t a fan on the page setup and fonts/paneling. It made it difficult for me to read, especially the parts that had a lot of text.

Stamp from the beginning, has been a very important book in our modern society. So important that they made both a young readers addition, and a kid’s edition. Now they have come out with a graphic novel edition to help all readers, understand how racism began at the same time our country did. How from the very beginning of colonialization, the thinking of one race of people is better than other, has been stamped into everything that our country has grown up around. This book does this through looking at five key historical figures, and what they have done to burden or to help society as a whole in this endeavor to be anti-racist. The way this book was turned into a graphic novel is phenomenal. How the artist and the author bring forth the idea of antiracist versus segregationist and that both are a form of racism, had this white reader thinking “maybe I am doing things wrong”. This book starts out with a fantastic comic of a white woman going into a black school to teach all the kids, and now they’ve all passed. And how it’s a good thing. A.k.a. the Dangerous Minds situation also known as white saviorism. It helps people realize that this is a form of assimilation. That by saying things like stop, pull your pants, talk right, etc. is assimilation.  What is talking right? Too many it’s talking “white”. So, lots of fantastic ideas and history in this book that is not taught other places. Whether read in graphic novel, or any of the three other versions, this book should be read, and should be considered part of a curriculum on the history of our country.

I liked the use of modern language and slang to convey ideas as old as America, and the connections drawn from the birth of racism in America to modern inequalities and white saviorism. I am very excited to read the rest of this book.

I really enjoyed the 1st section of the book given to me as a NetGalley eARC. The Stamped from the Beginning graphic novel contains vivid illustrations and powerful storytelling. Ibram X. Kendi and Joel Christian Gill have created a remarkable adaptation of Kendi's original work.

The graphic novel format brings history to life in a way that is both engaging and accessible while still reminding the reader of the deep-rooted racist forces that have shaped the United States. The illustrations convey the emotions and struggles of the key American figures discussed in the book. Stamped from the Beginning graphic novel is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and combating racism. It's an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about race and serves as a powerful tool for education and empathy.

I immediately requested a copy from my library to read the remainder of the book, and I will update the review when I finish.

I was super excited to receive this excerpt! I have only read the YA version (and a few chapter of the OG by Kendi), so I love a good graphic novel adaptation. It makes it easier for some readers to understand, and I think it adds to the information well.. I'll definitely pick up a physical copy of this, though, because I feel like I can never do graphic novels justice when I read them through NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley, Ten Speed Press, and the authors (Ibram X. Kendi & Joel Christian Gill) for an advanced excerpt of this book! All opinions are my own. Available as of June 6, 2023. With historical figures as "tour guides," readers explore how racist ideology became ingrained in our systemic institutional structures. The information is provided to audiences without being filtered down and remains accessible. I enjoyed that the art style used a simple palette and helped the content flow. I really loved reading this excerpt and have already reserved a copy from my library! I plan to add the paperback to my collection.

The open pages start with a classroom scene that is dead on. Just flipping through the book it hits many of the points of how racism works. Unlike the weighty adult version, this version fills a gap of helping people understand racism's history. I see this as a companion to the adult version, not a YA or youth version since they are very different. Both deserve places on your bookshelf.

Thanks to Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, and NetGalley for an excerpt of Stamped from the Beginning - A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America. 

Even though I was only able to read the first 70 or so pages of this graphic novel, it was absolutely PACKED with history and facts that explain how America got to where it is today in terms of racism. Although this is a very serious topic, Kendi added some levity by interjecting modern slang periodically. Gill's illustrations are brilliant. He and Ibram X. Kendi worked so well together to bring readers an amazing and powerful book. I can't wait to read the full book when it hits shelves this week! I would recommend this for upper elementary and high school students due to the level of vocabulary and the depth of content.

Personal rating:
4.5🌟, rounded up to 5🌟

How I wish I received the full version of this book. I enjoyed my time reading this so very much, in case it's not clear. Best believe I'll be on the lookout for the finished version as soon as it comes out :>

I should say that I have yet to read the original, non-graphic version but rest assured, it has been added in my tbr list—quite awhile ago, in fact. This version made the information so very easy to be digested, which is key because there are a lot of it, even in this abridged version of the galley. 

The graphic is neat and easy on the eye. It suits this type of book very well, imo. I like the AAVE slang smattered throughout the dialogues as well. Helps to lighten up the atmosphere and not make it feel too-much-like-a-history-textbook kinda situation.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

“All men are created equal, but some restrictions may apply”

In this graphic interpretation of Ibram X Kendi’s  Stamped From The Beginning, Gill illustrates the impact of racism and take a look at it throughout history. This version of the book could easily be a favorite of young reader due to its accessibility and ease of reading.

Every iteration of this book is exceptional, but I think that putting it into a graphic novel format was a great idea. It makes it accessible to people of all ages who want to read about this content and educate themselves about the racist history of America but don't have the ability or time to read a full-length text-based novel. Kendi doesn't hold back -- he trusts that young people and adults alike are able to understand the content while still being respectful of their limitations. There is no sense of being talked down to in this, just an honesty and accountability that every reader, especially younger ones, will definitely appreciate.
I only wish I could have gotten to read the whole thing instead of an excerpt, but I'm thrilled that I got to read even a little bit of this.