Description: Born to parents who fled slavery and the Trail of Tears, Magnolia Flower is a girl with a vibrant spirit. Not to be deterred by rigid ways of the world, she longs to connect with others, who too long for freedom. She finds this in a young man of letters who her father disapproves of. In her quest to be free, Magnolia must make a choice and set off on a journey that will prove just how brave one can be when leading with one's heart.
Brief description:
Zora Neale Hurston wrote four novels (Jonah's Gourd Vine; Their Eyes Were Watching God; Moses, Man of the Mountains; and Seraph on the Suwanee) and was still working on her fifth novel, The Life of Herod the Great, when she died; three books of folklore (Mules and Men and the posthumously published Go Gator and Muddy the Water and Every Tongue Got to Confess); a work of anthropological research (Tell My Horse); an autobiography (Dust Tracks on a Road); an international bestselling ethnographic work (Barracoon); and over fifty short stories, essays, and plays. She was born in Notasulga, Alabama, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, and lived her last years in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Review Quotes:
Digital illustrations are a real complement to the story, creating a lush landscape filled with beautifully drawn flora. Bright pinks, yellows, and aqua blues fill each page and are a perfect accompaniment for lyrical text. - School Library Journal
[A] pleasing introduction to Hurston's oeuvre. - Booklist
I hope that the luminous spirit of the GREAT Zora Neale Hurston is forever shining down on Loveis and Ibram for their most gracious retelling of this sweet yet powerful folktale; a declaration of love. - Derrick Barnes, Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, NY Times Bestseller, Ezra Jack Keats Award and the two-time Kirkus Prize winner
"[A] powerful example of Black and Native resistance--an aspect of history that far too often goes undiscussed. Wise's earth-toned, opalescent illustrations make the trees, water, and flowers feel just as key to the tale as the humans. The excellent marriage between lyrical text and stunning visuals makes for a moving, memorable story. An artfully rendered tale of life and love that also conveys an essential but often overlooked chapter in U.S. history." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Both the lyrical text and the flowing digital illustrations let the theme of love running through Hurston's stories shine. - Horn Book Magazine
Freedom forges a path to love. Kendi uses poetic and accessible prose to restate Hurston's historical truths. [Wise's] gentle digital illustrations have a vivaciousness that reinforces the depth of Hurston's characters as well as the vastness of the world encompassing them. - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
Kendi adapted this 1925 short story about Afro-Indigenous love and resistance into a picture book so children wouldn't have to wait to absorb Hurston's rich folkloric tales. - New York Times Book Review
[A] true launchpad for recentering the narrative of U.S. history, honoring Zora Neale Hurston and her legacy, and building cultural awareness and sensitivity. (5 STARS!) - Common Sense Media
Digital illustrations from Wise (The People Remember) make for a bountiful, nature-centered accompaniment to this romance set against the changing landscape of freedom for Black and Indigenous peoples. - Publishers Weekly (starred review)