AMOYA BLACKWOOD IS BRAVE

A child rallies after hearing criticism from unsupportive adults.

Amoya Blackwood, a Black girl with two long braids and a lively personality, raises her hand in class, makes her friends giggle, sings too loudly and a little off-key in choir, and, though she’s not the most talented dancer, moves with wild abandon. Amoya “always took up space.” But one day, several adults tell her to be quieter, calmer, and less of a show-off. She internalizes their disapproval, hiding her “magical light” and literally shrinking in size until she’s smaller than her grandmother’s cat. “Fearless and free” Gran, who’s long been Amoya’s role model, notices and gently reassures Amoya, helping her realize that she can’t let others determine who she is. Notably, the grown-ups who have prompted Amoya’s shrinkage are also Black—perhaps a warning that adults from one’s own community can sometimes do the most emotional damage. Marin’s childlike artwork, created with acrylic paint, water-soluble crayons, and digital editing, emphasizes the similarities between Amoya and Gran through their colorful, patterned clothing and their mutual love of roller skating. Though one pep talk is rarely enough to restore a child’s self-image, Allick effectively shows the positive role that a trusted adult can play in a child’s life.

A worthwhile, feel-good story of a girl whose intergenerational relationship makes all the difference.