Kendi is such a fantastic communicator, and this book does not disappoint.

Kendi masterfully weaves together Malcolm's life with the rest of the history of the era AND, more importantly, the ongoing impact and lessons for today. This is a testament and a tool, which Malcolm would have appreciated.

The moment where he described a typewriter for young readers absolutely *sent* me, too.

I liked this enough. But I think my biggest problem with it was the way it was written. Like sentence structure wise. Every sentence was short and normally that wouldn't bother me, but in the audiobook and the way he was narrating it, it felt staccato and weird. But I did like the information it gave. My cousin read it with me and he said he didn't know about some of the things that happened, so it was nice to see he learned something too. (He's 14)

"Malcolm Lives!" is a great introduction to learning about Malcolm X-especially for younger readers. Kendi does a good job of explaining terms without seeming like he is patronizing to the reader. I would recommend this for libraries, schools. community groups and more.

Full disclosure. I am a white reader. I have read and enjoyed two books by Kendi and one book where he was an editor. I was raised by a 1960s civil rights activist. I went to a high school that had serious race riots in the late sixties. I remember when a Black friend suddenly started telling me I was the devil and when another Black friend joined the Nation of Islam. In high school, I read the autobiography of Malcolm X. I saw "One Night in Miami," which featured a transformative night in Malcolm X's life life when Mohammed Ali won the heavyweight championship on my tenth birthday. This by way of saying that I thought I would read this book as more of a story I'm familiar with than as another set of lessons I need to learn. I kept being jarred by Kendi's take on this biography for young people and then the penny would drop. Yes! I get it! This is something I already believe or should have thought of, but it still shook me for a few minutes.

In sum, this is a wonderful book about a complex and profoundly important man in US history. I remember his life, his death and his autobiography, but Kendi told me how and why Malcolm X was relevant to his time in a way only someone who could reflect on him years after his death could. Anyone who cares about doing the right thing in matters of racism and how the US treats people who are marginalized in general gets that not only were there still things to worry about when Kendi wrote this book in the last few years or months, but that Trump's election probably coincided with the time this book was ready to go to the editor.

Kendi deftly ties the ways that the childhood trauma Malcolm X suffered at very vulnerable times/ages in his life impacted his youthful and young adult behavior. At key points in his life from the womb on, his family was subjected to a visit from the KKK, having a home burned down with all their possessions, his father's abandonment and a few years later, his mother's institutionalization when he was just around 13. And then, in kind of a last chance moment, Malcolm's favorite teacher who validated and encouraged white students to dream big, discouraged Malcolm from pursuing his dream of being a lawyer and told him to try for carpentry like his father. Who does that?! My guess is, as would likely be Kendi's, that far too many people who could be so much more for their students, their young parishioners, their young part time employees and their own children do that.

Kendi draws from Macolm's life that what we as a society and culture put into children and young adults will inform their choices and their futures. Malcolm was a kid/young man of excesses, walking on the wild side with jazzy clothing, white girlfriends, petty and a little worse than petty criminal activity and more. He had relatives who tried to steer him right and others who took him along for the ride. In fact, his brother Reginald who was older eventually introduced Malcolm to Islam while Malcolm was in jail for an unusually long sentence when one accounts for his crime and his having no record. He made the mistake of burglarizing homes with his white girlfriend, his best friend and his best friend's white girlfriend. Oops. While in jail, partially due to his connection with Elijah Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm became a voracious reader, stopped smoking and eating pork and embraced the faith and all of it's cultural and social expectations.

But you know how at some point in your life, you totally bought into whatever some person who influenced you had to say to you and then they didn't live up to their own supposed values that they preached? And how you do not want to believe it? Well, this part of Malcolm's life is particularly important for all of us to remember. Our heroes will disappoint us. Maybe to such an extent that we must take them off the pedestal, try to do the right thing within their orbit and if that does not work, then pull out of their orbit. Malcolm did that and died because of his decision.

In sum, I cannot read Kendi without learning or cementing my vague beliefs and it took me a while to realize how powerfully educational and consistent this book is about societal issues today and how Malcolm's life is a superhuman reflection of the must more ordinary human things people of color face in the United States. And right now the racists in power will make this much, much worse and we must fight back as we can. Malcolm is an inspiration as a brilliant, super well-read, exposed to a huge array of life experiences and fundamentally a man of values and social views that evolved and would have made even a bigger difference had he lived.

I'm not sure what age group this is directed at, but I'd say middle school or later and adults should read this. It is not watered down or childish, but a profoundly interesting look at a profoundly important man. My one complaint is that Kendi's narration seemed strained and not as accessible as his other books that he wrote. I think someone else should have narrated an A+ book like this. He did okay. But it could have been way more powerful. As a result, I'd recommend reading the print copy.

Ibram X. Kendi earns a commendable 4.25 out of 5 stars—a compelling and accessible introduction to a complex historical figure, written for middle-grade readers.

Kendi, a National Book Award–winning author, brings Malcolm X's story to life with clarity and depth. The biography traces Malcolm's journey from his early life in Omaha, Nebraska, through his experiences with systemic racism, to his transformation into a prominent human rights activist. Kendi's narrative is enriched with previously unpublished letters, photographs, and notes, providing a vivid portrayal of Malcolm's life and times.

In summary, Malcolm Lives! is a valuable resource that not only educates but also inspires young readers to engage with history and consider their role in shaping a more equitable future. It's a significant addition to youth literature on civil rights and social activism.

This book is pretty special. It’s not surprising because Dr. Kendi is a special author and teacher. But this book tries to do multiple difficult things and manages to achieve them all beautifully.

This is a middle grade book that wants to demystify Malcom X, one of the most controversial and misunderstood figures in American history. It helps its young audience to empathize with Malcolm and understand how they would feel in his shoes. And it also wants its readers to understand why this history is relevant to them today. Those are powerful goals for a middle grade biography. I wish every history book had the same goals.

The audiobook, narrated by Kendi, is excellent. Kendi is a passionate narrator. However, if you can get your hands on an eyeball copy, it has some great pictures and other primary sources.

I hope this book gets into the hands of school librarians. It’s important.

Powerful! Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this audiobook.
This audiobook reminded me that history repeats itself. That is always a constant reminder when we read/listen to the biographies of those who fought for our equal rights. This audiobook was thought provoking and opened my eyes to a lot of the racial equalities that we are still facing to this very day. I was able to earn a lot about Malcolm’s early life and received information leading up to his death that I did not know about. I highly recommend this book to history lovers, young readers, and especially black men.

I've said it over and over again that I've learned more and more about the history of the world, my country, and especially significant people and events in Black history as an adult than I ever did in my school career. I am so thankful for resources like this to learn from myself AND to share with my children too in our homeschool.

Malcolm Lives! is powerful in both message and mood—it’s purposeful in its storytelling and filled with reverence for Malcolm X’s legacy. It invites kids (and adults, honestly) to see Malcolm not just the activist in the spotlight, but the human behind the name

Kendi does a beautiful job telling Malcolm's story (which came as no surprise to me as I have read almost every version of Stamped that exists and recommend them often).

You get to know his flaws, his mistakes, his grief, his trauma and how it all led him to be one of the most prominent figures during the Civil Rights movement. He was far from perfect but seemed to always be trying to find his direction.

What I really appreciated was how it brings in pieces of Malcolm’s story that kids (and many adults, including me!) might not already know. Like how he loved jazz and hustled in Harlem(hello conked hair and zoot suits!), how his father died under suspicious circumstances, the extent of his travels outside of the U.S., how the nation of Islam was founded by a white man masquerading as a black activist, and more. The book doesn't just drop facts—it invites readers to imagine what Malcolm might’ve felt in those moments, which is both a strength and a slight pause point for me.

There’s a lot of “maybe he,” “perhaps he,” or “possibly Malcolm felt…” sprinkled throughout. While I get that it’s trying to explore the emotional side of his experience (and the gaps in history we can’t confirm), And while I get the intention—to help kids step into Malcolm’s shoes and connect emotionally—I did wish that there was less of that and more solid, grounded statements, especially for kids who are still learning how to tell fact from interpretation. It could just be potentially confusing.

Also, even though the suggested age range is 10–14, I’d personally lean toward the upper end of that. There are references to things like extramarital affairs, lynching (you get detail on Emmett Till, etc), life in prison, domestic violence--these are heavy topics that definitely call for some mature conversation. Not a reason to avoid the book—but definitely a reason to read with your child or be ready for those follow-up talks.

I listened to this on audio, narrated by Ibram X. Kendi himself and it was paced well and he delivered the narration clearly, passionately, and thoughtfully. When we got to Malcolm's assassination (though I obviously knew it was coming), it gave me chills.

This book is a meaningful tribute that’s less about getting every detail “just right” and more about honoring a life that still matters.

This is an excellent read for young readers and adults alike! I feel like I learned so much! Kendi outlines the life of Malcom X in chronological order, sharing outside context when needed and explaining concepts that might be difficult for your readers in a really understandable way. The only critique I had as an adult reader was that there were moments where I think there is more nuance, however, this is just the nature of a middle grades/young adult work.

Beyond that, the audiobook narration was phenomenal. It made it so easy to stay engaged with a nonfiction work! I've already preordered a copy to have on my shelf!

On my quest to learn more American history I was glad to get this opportunity to learn about Malcom X since I did not know much about his life. I love the convenience of listening to audiobooks and I think that the author did a great job narrating. While this book is geared towards younger readers, I think that it is appropriate for all audiences. This is a great starting point to learn about Malcom X and it gives you just enough insight to do your own research if needed. I like how the author explains a situation and then he asks the reader to put themselves in that situation. Overall, this was a very informative read that I am glad I got to listen to before it was published. Much thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This is a middle grade biography of Malcolm X. While much of what is offered in this biography covers information I'm quite familiar with, this offered a few new pieces of information as well as a fresh perspective on the facts I'm already familiar with. This is written for a younger audience so there's a bit of repetition that can be tiring for older audiences. This offers an interesting perspective on Malcolm's life and is structured in a way that I think would appeal to adults who are unfamiliar with Malcolm's life. If you've only ever seen Spike Lee's movie on Malcolm, this will be a treat for an adult. This is very accessible, well written, and engaging. I highly recommend it for kids and some adults. This is a thorough introduction to Malcolm while also being less distressing than some of the adult centered biographies. I recently reviewed a book that covered his childhood and incarceration in depth and great detail. This is much lighter and more easily accessible to lay readers of history.

This audiobook is narrated by Ibram X. Kendi. Dr. Ibram has a cultured and smooth voice. The advantage of the audiobook is the reader gets to directly hear the author's own excitement and emphasis on words. I truly enjoyed the narration on this. It added depth and I think helps this appeal to the targeted age group. This also offers a rich opportunity for immersion reading, which is a wonderful way to study history.

Thank you to Ibram X. Kendi, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

As someone that knew very little about Malcolm X and his life and his journey I found this to be a great and easy way to learn about such a complex man and public figure.

I was able to listen to an early copy and also given the ebook so I didn’t miss out on the pictures which I thought were a great addition. I also thought listening was a great way to consume this book it felt like being chatted with from someone very passionate about the subject.

I enjoyed it and learned a ton.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an alc and eARC.

Incredibly engaging listen about the life of Malcom X and in many ways how he became who he is! This is so timely, important and informative and a great choice for young readers.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I love the authors previous work but perhaps this was written was a tad too much od information dumping for young readers to pay attention. I loved the narration and the information provided but wasn't able to connect to the way rhe information was compiled. I felt parts of it a bit repetitive. I will look for adult non fiction about Malcolm x books to learn about him.

3.5/5☆

There are many books telling the story of Malcolm X. There is absolutely room for one more. Kendi is an excellent writer of the "why" as well as the "what." His writing is gentle, compassionate, and age-appropriate without glazing over some of the more complex or challenging aspects of the story

"Malcolm Lives!" is an absolutely phenomenal audiobook that brings the life and legacy of Malcolm X to a new generation. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s engaging narration adds a personal touch that makes Malcolm’s story even more impactful. The way Kendi captures Malcolm's powerful oratory style through his use of repetition and rhetoric is truly impressive, making it feel as if Malcolm himself is speaking directly to the listeners.

The structure of the audiobook, with its short and swift chapters, mirrors Malcolm's own dynamic life journey, keeping listeners captivated throughout. The inclusion of never-before-published letters and notes provides a unique and intimate glimpse into his thoughts and experiences, enriching the narrative in a way that is both educational and inspiring.

This biography is not just a retelling of history; it’s a powerful reminder of the potential within every individual to create change. Kendi’s work is accessible and thought-provoking, making it a must-listen for young people and adults alike. It's a brilliant tribute to Malcolm X, and I wholeheartedly give it five stars!