Betty Before X, Ilyasah Shabazz
Betty Before X, Ilyasah Shabazz
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Betty Before X

Author: Ilyasah Shabazz, Renée Watson

Narrator: Ilyasah Shabazz

Unabridged: 4 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/02/2018


Synopsis

*Winner of a Parents' Choice Silver Award*

"In clear, measured tones, the author recounts Betty's discomfort with her home life and her work with the Housewives League...Shabazz differentiates between Betty and her mother, Ollie Mae Sanders, through pitch and projects the latter's frequent annoyance, showing why Betty often felt underappreciated. An afterword helps young listeners understand Betty Shabazz's importance in American history and and provides additional discussion on the other people in the narrative." — AudioFile Magazine

Activist, motivational speaker, and daughter of Malcolm X Ilyasah Shabazz celebrates her mother's idealism and strength of character in a touching new YA audiobook. Betty Before X is the story of Dr. Betty Shabazz before she became a figurehead for the Civil Rights Movement.

In Detroit, 1945, eleven-year-old Betty’s house doesn’t quite feel like home. She believes her mother loves her, but she can’t shake the feeling that her mother doesn’t want her. Church helps those worries fade, if only for a little while. The singing, the preaching, the speeches from guest activists like Paul Robeson and Thurgood Marshall stir African Americans in her community to stand up for their rights. Betty quickly finds confidence and purpose in volunteering for the Housewives League, an organization that supports black-owned businesses. Soon, the American civil rights icon we now know as Dr. Betty Shabazz is born.

Inspired by Betty's real life--but expanded upon and fictionalized through collaboration with novelist Renée Watson--Ilyasah Shabazz illuminates four poignant years in her mother’s childhood with this audiobook, painting an inspiring portrait of a girl overcoming the challenges of self-acceptance and belonging that will resonate with young listeners today.

This title has Common Core connections.

More praise for Betty Before X:

"...the soul of this book is Betty’s more personal battle to be loved by a mother who rejects her, and the redemption she finds in the home of a couple who takes her in. This universal theme makes the book moving as well as educational, and the reading by Shabazz — not an actress, but an experienced motivational speaker — is clear and sincere." — Providence Journal

About Ilyasah Shabazz

Ilyasah Shabazz, third daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, is an educator, activist, motivational speaker, and author of multiple award-winning publications, including her books, Betty Before X and X: A Novel. She is also an active advocacy worker and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

About Renée Watson

Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Her novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award. Her books include the Ryan Hart series, Some Places More Than Others, This Side of Home, What Momma Left Me, Betty Before X, cowritten with Ilyasah Shabazz, Watch Us Rise, cowritten with Ellen Hagan, and Love Is a Revolution, as well as acclaimed picture books: Summer Is Here, Maya's Song, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, written with Nikole Hannah-Jones, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, and Harlem's Little Blackbird, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Renée splits her time between Portland, Oregon and New York City. www.reneewatson.net@reneewauthor


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christy on July 22, 2024

4 stars A powerful middle-grade novel about the childhood activism of Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s wife, written by their daughter. ‘Betty Before X’ takes place in the 40s and follows Betty Shabazz through her childhood and adolescence. Betty is the wife of Malcolm X, but in this book, she’s just a......more

Goodreads review by Dawn on February 27, 2021

Beautiful childhood story of an American hero. Prior to this book, I didn’t know much about Dr. Betty Shabazz other than the fact that she was married to and became the widow of Malcolm X when he was assassinated. The Malcom X movie shared bits and pieces with the works, but I’ve always been interes......more

Goodreads review by Amy | Foxy Blogs on July 21, 2024

Betty Before X is a fictionalized account based on real events and people. The author, Ilyasah Shabazz, is the daughter of Betty and Malcolm X. She wrote about a period in her mother Betty's life when she was 11 years old. The story explores themes of racial injustice and community activism, which p......more

Goodreads review by Racheal on December 16, 2017

I'm going to give this a tentative 3.5 stars because I don't entirely know how to rate it. The first half was beautiful, full of tenderness and humanity; I loved it. Loved it! About halfway through, though, it morphs into a series of didactic adult conversations overheard by Betty before ending rath......more

Goodreads review by Bethany on February 28, 2020

Such a sweet and informative book about a time period I'm not as familiar with as I'd like to be. A great take on historical fiction, describing the early life of Betty Shabazz. It's a great mix of transparent vulnerability and faith-based positivity.......more


Quotes

"[T]he soul of this book is Betty’s more personal battle to be loved by a mother who rejects her, and the redemption she finds in the home of a couple who takes her in. This universal theme makes the book moving as well as educational, and the reading by Shabazz — not an actress, but an experienced motivational speaker — is clear and sincere." -Providence Journal


Awards

  • Washington Post Best Books of the Year