Radiant
Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is a historical middle-grade novel in verse published by Penguin Group on January 7, 2025. This edition spans 320 pages and is presented in English. The story follows Cooper Dale as she navigates the complexities of growing up as a Black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh during the tumultuous year of 1963. Set against significant historical events such as the Birmingham church bombing and the Kennedy assassination, the narrative explores themes of race, class, and family life.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of Cooper’s experiences in fifth grade, where she faces challenges from a strict teacher and bullying from Wade Carter, the son of a wealthy white family. As she grapples with her identity and the expectations placed upon her, Cooper also finds solace in her love for the Beatles, which adds depth to her understanding of race and belonging. Through its rich portrayal of family dynamics and the struggles of growing up, Radiant offers insights into the complexities of adolescence and the search for one’s place in a changing world.
Official synopsis Publisher
A historical middle-grade novel in verse from multiple Coretta Scott King winner Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.
As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine” for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world.
Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else.
It’s not all bad, though. Cooper and her beloved older sister have fallen for the Beatles, and Cooper is thrilled to have something special they can share. And what she learns about her British idols adds new complexity to Cooper’s feelings about race.
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