The Awakening of Malcolm X

Review from Booklist Reviews:

Malcolm X's daughter Shabazz teams up with YA veteran Jackson to create an affecting piece of historical fiction that focuses on the civil rights icon's young adulthood. It begins five weeks into the imprisonment of 20-year-old Malcolm Little. Through the mentorship of older prisoners and by witnessing the atrocities African Americans are subjected to behind bars, a fire is stoked within him. As his narrative unfolds, Malcolm hones his skills in rhetoric and debate to become a feared sparring partner, and, by embracing Islam, Malcolm X finds a calling to guide other African Americans to rally for true justice. The authors not only show Malcolm's intellectual and spiritual evolution, but also manage to depict the plight of his fellow inmates with equal parts compassion and revulsion. In so doing, they illustrate the social conditions that normalized injustice into everyday life. Though technically a work of fiction, this book nevertheless serves as a perfect entrée for young adult readers to learn about the formative years of a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement.