Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. Radiant. Dutton, 01/2025. 312pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-85578-2. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.
Fifth-grader Cooper Dale describes her life as one of the few Black students at her suburban Pittsburgh school in 1963–64, where she is bullied by a boy named Wade who calls her slurs. When her mother starts working for Wade’s family as a house cleaner, Cooper is not sure how she will deal with the situation. Told in free verse in a believable voice of a girl at this time, Cooper is both serious and silly, thinking about racism while also falling in love with The Beatles. Both the historical references and pop culture facts are accurate and well-integrated into the story, which should appeal to a wide age range. Cooper’s loving extended family is also a stand-out feature of this novel.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool