A Time for Martyrs: The Life of Malcolm X

Gr 6–9—This biography introduces the charismatic leader who preached hatred early in his career but later became "a martyr for the cause of brotherhood." Chapter one begins with Malcolm asking black Americans "Who taught you to hate yourself?" and urging them to fight white racists "by any means necessary." Succeeding chapters follow the man's life through childhood poverty and self-destructive teenage years to his education in prison, his rise to national prominence, and his fall to an assassin's bullet, concluding with his legacy today. Aretha employs a conversational tone, including details that flesh out the historical context. Clean book design makes an effective background for carefully selected archival photos. Well-placed quotations crystallize Malcolm's message and are sourced by page number. The lengthy bibliography includes links to primary-source videos, which will appeal to the intended middle school audience. However, a list of "strict rules" for Nation of Islam members is confusing, because it does not distinguish between universal Islamic beliefs and those specific to Black Muslims. Also, the tight focus on Malcolm's life assumes that readers are familiar with other Civil Rights leaders, who are mentioned only in passing. Walter Dean Myers's Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (Scholastic, 1993) addresses similar content more broadly but the depth of information here, especially Malcolm's role as an uncompromising alternative to the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, makes this title a useful addition.—Toby Rajput, National Louis University, Skokie, IL