RADIANT

Author/narrator Vaunda Micheaux Nelson presents this nostalgic story in verse, set in 1960s Pittsburgh. Listeners meet endearing 11-year-old Cooper Dale, who is hoping to shine in her all-white school. Emotive descriptions of her family's horrified reaction to the Kennedy assassination and her delight at the Beatles are realistic. Nelson flawlessly presents the family's warm interactions and Cooper's maturing as she finds she was misled about a teacher others had maligned. Most poignant is her questioning of others on how they cope with constant racism as she learns about forgiveness from her mother and teacher. Learning about Cooper's favorite books, historical figures, and poetry is especially enhanced in the audio format. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]