First, WOW! I knew a couple of these people from past readings, however, I have never seen a black historic graphic novel. I can't wait to add this to our library collection. I'll also be sure to order anything else he has written. My 10 year old also read this along side me, he really enjoyed it. He actually asked if we could get both volumes for our home collection. Often times, it's difficult to get kids, especially young boys to red non-fiction. We need more authors willing to put their ideas into a different format, or we can just get Joel Gill to do it! Amazing work, I look forward to more from him.

Strange Fruit is an incredibly important and engaging graphic novel that details the lives of various Black American historical figures. I wasn't familiar with any of these incredible people before this book and it definitely took me down the Google rabbit hole to find out more about them. American or not, young or old, this is one I wholly recommend to everyone.

This little graphic novel is absolutely PHENOMENAL and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It covers eight stories of important black historical figures, and makes them perfectly readable for any age range. There is some creative censoring in place for young readers whose parents might not be comfortable with them seeing slurs in print, as well as older readers who don't want to be reminded of those hurtful phrases, but the point is never glossed over. That said, these stories do not focus on black pain—they focus on black pride and the amazing things these individuals have done.

The individuals highlighted in the collection are Jourdon Anderson, Stagecoach Mary Fields, Willie Kennard, Cathay Williams, Blind Tom Wiggins, Millie and Christine McCoy, Victor Green, and Eugene Bullard. All of the stories take place during the 1820s-1960s. While I was familiar with almost all of the stories, this collection made me realize I'd been fed whitewashed versions of many of them, so I'm very grateful to the author for putting together this work and showing me what really happened. It was eye-opening in a sense as it made me realize that I need to do better about ensuring that the historical information I'm reading is the truth and not yet another contribution to the systemic oppression and erasure of black history and culture.

Of course, this collection of stories would be a perfect one to recommend for Black History Month, but I want to echo what the author stated at the end of the collection: "28 days are not enough when it comes to Black History." Don't wait until BHM—pick this one up immediately, and you won't regret it!

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Fulcrum Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My Thoughts:
This graphic historical non-fiction highlights vignettes of black Americans living from the period of slavery to right before the civil rights movement. Because of this dark time in history, none of the stories are very uplifting except the story of Victor Green. The rest of them show different kinds of heroism but because these are real people's histories in an anti-black America, most of the lives in here are also about the effects of systemic racism in America.

The one "uplifting" story is about Victor Green, a postal worker who decided to publish the Green Book for the Negro Motorist. The first printing was in 1936. In it he identified safe gas stations, bathrooms, restaurants and resorts across America for the African American traveler. His goal was to eventually not need to publish this type of book anymore. Although it lasted a few years after the Civil Rights act, the last publishing of the Green Book was in 1967.

In truth, the rest of the stories are disheartening, however the references at the back, the artwork and the limited text are perfect for the middle school reader to do further research. We need more of these types of graphic works built on primary resources. It is time that our social studies curriculum told history from the point of view of the downtrodden too, and not just the victors.

I found this book of stories about African American history really interesting. I am ashamed to admit that I was ot familiar with any of these stories. iI enjoyed the comic book type format . I think it makes it very approachable to many readers, including kids. I would recommend this book for everyone, but especially younger readers.

I am not a teen, however, I love this book! This is a short read, which tells of stories from various African Americans. These are people who I have never heard about (though I am an avid reader of this genre.) I also like to express how I like the way the author illustrated the "bad words," excellent.

This was an absolutely amazing, engaging, informative, and beautiful piece of art and education. I fully plan on purchasing it and the first volume for my family so that I can share it with my daughters. I may even purchase copies for their classrooms - every one should have access to this. The stories are well told and should be widely known. I don't think I've felt this grateful for something I've read in a very long time. It is a gift.

#28daysarenotenough

<i><b>E pluribus unum</b>: out of many, one. That is the story of Black people in America. People from different tribes, languages, and cultures; people who were stolen from different societies, brought to this country and forced to build a new nation.</i>

All of these stories were great - but the story of Stagecoach Mary Fields was fascinating!

As I started to read the Sheriff of Yankee Hill, the art seemed so cinematic that it seemed like it should be immediately made into a movie!

I couldn’t believe the story of Contraband - that the Union army took slaves as spoils of war and keep them as slaves. I mean, I can believe it, and it shouldn’t come to be as a surprise, but it did.

I am truly sad that I can’t hear Tom Wiggins play. I’ll have to look up some performances of his work.

And Josephine Baker was a spy for the French Resistance?? I need to find and hear about that story. (It’s only mentioned in this book.)

I’ve decided that I need to get both volumes of this book for my home library. I would love to see some of these stories developed and given a bigger audience!

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Fulcrum Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

Powerful artwork, a sense of history, and important storytelling make this graphic novel a must-read. I would gladly use it in history, reading, and graphic novels courses. Highly recommended.

When I read Strange Fruit, Volume I back in 2015, I said that if it weren't for the glaring lack of inclusion of women of color, the book would easily have earned 5 stars.

Well, Mr. Gill, here are your full 5 stars. You listened, and you did well. So, so well.

Everything I loved about the first volume is here. The sharp, crisp stories, the clear illustrations that combine history with pitch perfect metaphor, such as the literal crows representing Jim Crow laws. These factors combine to create compelling, unforgettable, incredibly heart breaking stories of life for slaves, and free men and women before the civil rights movement.

The first story, of free man Jourdon Anderson, is my favorite. Mr. Anderson is contacted by his former "owner", politely (no really) requesting his return to his home, with promises of good treatment. The return letter is everything. You will want to jump up and shout for joy.

Title for most bad ass person featured, however, goes to Stagecoach Mary Fields. I hope to someday be half the badass she was.

Not every story is full of joy and kicking ass. These are stories born of pain, and loss. Families separated due to nastiness, people who had to come up with absolutely BRILLIANT ways to survive in an era where they were literally nothing more than property, worth less than even horses. The strength and bravery of the people featured in these books is enough to burst your heart.

Well done, Mr. Gill. Now, where's volume 3?

I was excited to see this title available on Net Galley after having read the first volume with my family. In this installment of Strange Fruit Gill continues his endeavor to bring to light the stories of unsung African-American heroes. As with the first edition, this volume had wonderful illustrations and catchy storylines that were able to draw in the entire family. The chapters in Strange Fruit. Vol. 2 seemed to be shorter and less comprehensive than those in the prior edition, but I was pleased that it was much more inclusive with "sheroes" represented in 3 out of 8 stories. Certainly another great edition to our family library.

I'm always looking for books that are engaging or educating or hopefully both for YA students. Call this one "both."

A wonderfully written, beautifully drawn book. Filled with amazing tales of American history. It doesn't hold back on the truth, but it isn't too graphic for a younger reader.

Beautifully illustrated and well told stories of American History. Great for history buffs, and a great introduction for pre teens and teens.

'Strange Fruit, Volume II: More Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History' by Joel Christian Gill is a graphic novel telling about the lives of 8 African Americans that are little known or forgotten.

The book is wonderfully illustrated and tells the stories in positive ways. I learned about Jourdon Anderson, a former slave who wrote a letter to his former owner after that owner asked him to come back. Mary Fields worked hard, drank hard, and became a postal service contractor. Cathay Williams was a woman who disguised herself as a man so she could fight in the Civil War. There are others, and the stories are all just as amazing.

The art has a really wonderful quality that suits these stories. The stories told are about people who had undoubtedly rough and sad lives, but the focus is on the persistence to overcome those situations. This is a perfect collection of stories for younger readers. I've read another graphic novel by this same author, and I find his work impressive.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Fulcrum Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this inspiring graphic novel.

There exist copious stories of Black success in America's history, and this book combines eight of them in simple, clear, all-ages-friendly graphic novel form. It's at pains to point out that success had to come from adversity at times, such as the girl who dressed as a man to become a soldier, or the heroic fighter ace reduced by the USA to being an elevator jockey. Adversity must surely be contained in the case of the two conjoined twins, dressed up and taught their Ps and Qs in front of their mother, who was still their owner's servant. Elsewhere mysterious (but very successful) lawmen sweep into town, clean it of baddies, and vamoose. There's a lot of drama here, all factually conveyed in ideal ways for the school library, and clear enough for many readers to engage with. But the fact remains, unfortunately, that I have read elsewhere in a book very similar to this of the Green Book's use, in a volume that also showed Jim Crow laws being upheld by, well, crows. I like the emoji to hide any form of the n-word, too, but I don't think that's new, either. Perhaps those stories of Black success aren't as copious as I at first thought, if I'm already getting repeats...