Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life

The married cofounders of Just Us Books join forces to edit another stunning anthology, featuring 22 Black authors and eight artists exploring Black identity, the Black Lives Matter movement, the long history and legacy of standing up for Black lives, and more, in poems, short stories, essays, and comics. In “The Storms and Sunshine of My Life,” author Lamar Giles writes, “I know I’m lucky because not all of us get to go on, unscathed, to life’s joys.” Poems by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Nikki Grimes, Denene Millner, and others offer declarations and affirmations. Interwoven, full-page quotes and excerpts from Black forebearers such as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Frederick Douglass provide historical context and emphasize the timelessness of some issues, while eight full-color inserts feature lush, multilayered art by illustrators including Vanessa Brantley-Newton and Ekua Holmes. An empowering, powerful compendium that asserts how “Black lives matter./ Black lives have always mattered.” Front matter features a foreword by the editors; back matter includes artist notes, sources, biographies, and more about the BLM movement. Ages 10–up. (Oct.)