This beautiful sequel to Strange Fruit Volume I will be welcomed by readers eager to glimpse more historical heroes presented in author Joel Christian Gill’s wonderful graphic style. Using a palette of rich earth tones, Gill introduces the reader to African Americans born in the 19th century, both familiar and unknown. Each comic feels complete but also whets our appetite for further learning. We can only hope Gil gives us Volume III.
Librarians may wish to use any of the eight chapters as a jumping off point for inquiry. Social studies teachers may wish to use some chapters to supplement instructional texts.
ELA teachers may engage students in the study of expository narrative structures in graphic shorts, or examine the epistle that provides the text for the opening chapter. This particular use of a primary source for content would make for a perfect introduction or companion to a rich conversation about reparations to African Americans specifically, and to the idea of reparations in general. Art teachers may wish to utilize Strange Fruit in collaboration to examine sequential art and its power to bring biography and history to life.
Highly recommended. Educators will want to pay attention to the visual symbolism Gil employs to represent hateful speech. Back matter includes extra kernels of knowledge for each biography, a bibliography, an author-illustrator bio, and brief acknowledgements.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber
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