X

By: Ilyasah Shabazz, Kekla Magoon

Narrated by: Dion Graham, Ilyasah Shabazz

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Co-written by Malcolm X's daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.

I am Malcolm.
I am my father's son. But to be my father's son means that they will always come for me.
They will always come for me, and I will always succumb.

Malcolm Little's parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's nothing but a pack of lies - after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There's no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer.

But Malcolm's efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory when what starts as some small-time hustling quickly spins out of control. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he's found is only an illusion - and that he can't run forever.

X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

©2015 Ilyasah Shabazz, original book published by Candlewick Press (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Wanted to love

I so wanted to love this acclaimed book. The story of young Malcolm Little is indeed captivating and I enjoyed the way the authors depicted in his struggle against accepting his best self/the man and leader he was destined to me. It is definitely a book to get into the hands of young adults, but I struggled to connect with the writing itself. For me, it was too long in many parts and the dialogue was a little cheesy. The author's note and historical appendices were some of my favorite parts. 2.5 stars

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very well written

Even though I assumed I knew the story of Malcolm X, the way this story was told made it all seem new and exciting all over again. I listened to the entire book in just two settings and am now prepared to listen again along with my children.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Love!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've recommended this to several friends already. I loved hearing the part of the story that we never get to hear about his life. Because it was written in a more fictional style than biographical, it kept my attention.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Malcom of course. It was his story.

What does Dion Graham and Ilyasah Shabazz bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dion Graham brought life to the story!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I dont know that I could listen to any book in one sitting lol.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The fight goes on.

Loved hearing about the young Malcom X from the perspective of his daughter. It seems to me the Black mans struggle to be seen and treated equally continues.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed reading this book... keep up the awesome work my sister. I'm looking forward to the next one.

A different perspective

Gives an interesting insight into the true story of Malcolm Little as a young man, before he became Malcolm X. Well written and well narrated, with additional material by the subject's daughter.