The Undefeated, written by Kwame Alexander, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Shruti M.
Summary: Kwame Alexander will take your breath away with this stunning picture book. The text is a poem Alexander wrote when his daughter was born and Obama took office. He calls it his love letter to America and highlights many different African Americans who “survived America by any means necessary.” From athletes, slaves, political figures and just the average person that goes unnoticed. Readers are left with a positive message that their stories are waiting to be written. Those who came before them and those who will come after will gather strength, perseverance and grit from their collective history.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The beautiful prose of this story is a wonderful introduction for young readers to poetry. The illustrations and the words flow seamlessly throughout the story. The power of the words in this book are highlighted by the strength, beauty and grace of the historical figures featured within the pages of this book. The artist captured the variety and shades of all the different skin tones in his realistic illustrations. Each reader has the opportunity to take from the poem what speaks to them. For some readers, it might be the blank page that remembers those who did not make it. For other readers, it might be a sense of patriotism from the Civil War soldier who fought to save an imperfect union. There are paper cranes featured throughout the book, reminding readers to “keep rising.” This would be a good read aloud to a history class beginning to study aspects of the Black American experience. It would work for elementary students and it would also be appropriate for high school students. The poem was originally read a part of an ESPN documentary and has now been turned into a picture book. The author’s notes are also worth reading. This book would be perfect on a display for Black History Month, Civil Rights or a Biography book display. Alexander has written a book that will begin conversations about racism and discrimination. It’s a book that will help improve communities around us.