255 pages · Released Jan 2, 2018 · Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR)
Content report card
Betty Before X parent’s guide: what’s inside
High confidence
Language
None · 0/5
Sexual content
None · 0/5
LGBTQ+ themes
None · 0/5
Substance use
None · 0/5
What it offers
A note for parents
This fictionalized biography follows young Betty Shabazz growing up in post-WWII Detroit and gaining awareness of racial injustice and her own identity. The book addresses serious historical themes including racism and segregation in age-appropriate ways without graphic depiction. It emphasizes education, resilience, family bonds, and the importance of standing up for what's right, making it an excellent introduction to both personal and historical context for older elementary and middle-grade readers.
The fictionalized biography of Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's wife) as a young girl in post-WWII Detroit, as written by her daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, with Renée Watson.The fictionalized biography of Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's wife) as a young girl in post-WWII Detroit, as written by her daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, with Renée Watson.
