Shabazz and Magoon expertly guide the reader by presenting loaded scene after loaded scene.... The result is a satisfying (and appropriate) complexity.
Skillfully rendered moments…are what make the novel so successful. Shabazz and Magoon expertly guide the reader by presenting loaded scene after loaded scene, often making us watch young Malcolm choose the wrong path or opt for the buzz of the street over the pull of family and principle. The result is a satisfying (and appropriate) complexity…X is a powerful, honest look at the early years of one of our country's most important civil rights leaders. Most exciting of all is the prospect that his story will awaken a new generation of young activists, inspiring them to step into what remains a vital fight.
The New York Times Book Review - Matt de la Peña
★ 10/27/2014
★ 12/01/2014
Depicting the formative years of Malcolm X, narrator Dion Graham captures the great humanity of the civil rights leader who is most known for his angry, confrontational style. Hooking listeners with his dynamic rendition of the opening scene, Graham portrays Malcolm on the run in Harlem, and then moves deftly between the bravado of his teen years and the vulnerability of his childhood in periodic flashbacks. As the text portrays Malcolm’s keen intelligence as well as the insecurity and pain that drive him, Graham delivers a sensitive performance that keeps the time shifts clear and gives vibrancy to the large cast of characters. The production concludes with historical notes as well as an afterword read by coauthor Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter. A gripping, moving, and illuminating production. A.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, SYNC 2015, 2016 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
★ 2014-10-22
