Martin Rising: Requiem For a King

Great classroom book for Black history month at school

This book is gorgeous in every way!

I found it difficult to get through this without a great deal of emotion; I cannot imagine a more beautifully-rendered, detailed, touching narrative of Dr. King's last days, as well as the days immediately following his murder. The story line speaks for itself, as to power, but the Pinkneys' handling of it somehow increases the depth of it. The artwork is breathtaking. When, more than right now, will we ever need this book more? I cannot recommend it enough, and would give it one hundred stars, if I could.

This soul-stirring verse novel, created by the author team in the form of "docu-poems," illuminates King's life in the most moving way I've encountered yet, pairing vibrant illustrations rooted in African-American expressionism with hauntingly lyrical poetry. Touching on Martin Luther King's early life before diving into the Sanitation Workers' Strike, which began when long-underpaid and mistreated Black sanitation workers faced the ultimate denial of humanity - two of their fellow workers crushed to death on a truck. King and his fellow advocates played an enormous role in this protest movement, called in by community leaders who know King's presence and words will uplift and ignite the protestors in peaceful action - which they do, until and even after King's tragic death.Through poetry and image, the story unfolds, each poem a piece of greatness on its own, illuminating moments from the movement with metaphors of weather and nature - the storm that raged as outrage thundered, the forsythia flowers' growth an anti-parallel to the Sanitation workers' downward spirits at treatment that tries to crush their humanity, the heavy rain a mirror of King's heavy weight of leadership as he gives his "on the mountaintop" speech while wracked with fever. But moments of joy also stand out in this story - a cozy birthday celebration with his family, a pillow fight with friends after a long, difficult day - they help us see the human side of King, under the venerated leader. The book also names and notices others who played significant roles in the fight for equality - Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Rev. James Lawson, and others. I would recommend this book to every grade from 2nd grade up - the most moving portrait of this phenomenal leader that I've ever seen.

Thank you to KidLitExchange for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.Martin Rising is a collection of poems that the author calls “docu-poems,” documenting the events of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. While it encompasses the timeline of his whole life, most of the book is about the events immediately preceding King’s death in the spring of 1968.Poetry is hard for me to review. Even as an English major, I admit that I have difficulty telling if poetry is good or not. But this, this is good. I couldn’t put it down. The language was beautiful while conveying events during a very difficult part of our country's history. The illustrations are so perfect for this work: they never overshadow it but always complement. I spent as much time reflecting on the art as I did the poetry. The author and artist notes at the end describe how this was a project of the heart. The added information at the end aid the reader’s understanding of events described in the book.

This book is other worldly good. It is formatted like a picture book yet it is an uncustomary 128 pages. Mind blowingly stunning. I see new picture books on an almost daily basis. This is one of the spectacular ones that make me stop in tracks and say Wow! A true must-have, must-read for Everyone!

Besides being filled with magical language, this account of MLK's last few days is written in verse. While intended to read from start to finish, most poems stand alone as well. I absolutely loved this book and plan to use it as a read aloud with students in fifth grade. It will inform you and resonate long after the last page.