Radiant is a wonderful story written in verse and very smooth and easy to read. Nelson's writing flows nicely, and even though Radiant is written for a younger audience (early middle grades, late elementary), I found myself not being able to put it down. There is something warm and wonderful - and kind - about this story, and although I don't know Nelson's other books (yet!), for my introduction to her writing, this was a good place to begin (she is also a Coretta Scott King Award winner...)!
Radiant tells the story of Cooper, a young Black girl in an all-White elementary classroom. The story takes place in the 1960s, which were both turbulent times (racial violence all across the United States) but also exciting times (the explosion of new music and musicians, such as The Beatles), and Cooper is dong her best to navigate all of it. There is one boy in her class who continues to taunt her with racial stereotypes, and Cooper is trying to be her best, most beautiful self while also wanting to directly confront - and stop - the bigotry.
The story line isn't incredibly unique, but Nelson writes in a way that really makes you feel part of Cooper's life, the good and the bad. I have always admired writers who write in verse, even though it might seem like fewer words would be easier. I believe that to tell a good story with less words would be more of a challenge, but some authors do it incredibly well - Karen Hesse, Kwame Alexander, and k. a. Holt, to name a few of my favorites. Radiant might be slightly less strong than a Kwame Alexander book, but her writing kept me reading, and that is a very good thing! 5 paws!
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