Lockington, Mariama J. For Black Girls Like Me. 2019. 336p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (9780374308049) Recommended grade levels 5-6.
Author Mariama J. Lockington has a talent for writing poetically. Written in verse, this book zooms in on a very specific age and experience for Makeda, an eleven year old Black girl who is transracially adopted and has just moved with her family to a new town. Any adoptee who has experienced the discord between their identity and their family’s will resonate with this powerful read. This book tackles the hard feelings that come with growing up in a time where language to describe the experience of being transracially adopted did not exist. Additionally, Makeda is also learning how to navigate her mother’s mental health. This book is recommended for adult adoptees and best suited for 5th and 6th grade readers who are around the main character’s age. It is recommended to be available to middle grade readers who may have questions or offer support in processing the emotions this book may bring up.
Borrow it and then buy it!
Reviewed by María Valiente
The Adoptee Bookshelf 