SARAH RISING

A small child struggles to make sense of a scary event.

The day starts out normally for a young African American girl. She has breakfast, feeds her pets, and sets about preparing for school. Then her dad shares news that turns her world upside down: The police have “killed another Black person.” Sarah and her dad leave the house and join a protest where Sarah witnesses a White policeman’s anger and cruelty toward a butterfly, which she rescues. Despite the worrisome events of the day—at one point Sarah gets lost amid the crowd of protesters—she proves that her resilience is as strong as that of the butterfly, which lives to see another day and to “fly far away from anyone who would hurt it.” The symbolism is unmistakable—Sarah’s dad is teaching her that it is possible to overcome whatever life throws at you. The author has some powerhouse credentials as an anti-racist activist. However, despite the sweet bond between father and daughter and the vivid illustrations, the story feels jarring and will be upsetting to children. It’s a tough read for young minds but may be a necessary one during times of strife. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An important story about racial injustice but not one that’s likely to have a long stay on the read-again shelf.