A historical middle-grade novel in verse from multiple Coretta Scott King winner Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Now in paperback! As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine” for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world. Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else. It’s not all bad, though. Cooper and her beloved older sister have fallen for the Beatles, and Cooper is thrilled to have something special they can share. And what she learns about her British idols adds new complexity to Cooper’s feelings about race. ★ "Nelson deftly weaves in major events from the 1960s, such as President Kennedy’s assassination, the Birmingham church bombing, and The Beatles playing on The Ed Sullivan Show , along with themes from The Wizard of Oz , into a story that reminds readers, 'A star can’t shine without a black night sky.' VERDICT This gentle yet thought-provoking historical novel in verse is perfect for anyone who has wished to be somewhere or someone else." —School Library Journal, starred review "Sweet, soft, and moving, this is a novel that feels like a hug for Black readers and young girls who want to be their best self. The historical setting grounds the narrative, but it will still resonate loudly with readers of today. A natural choice for older fans of Carol Boston Weatherford and readers of Christopher Paul Curtis."— Booklist "This verse novel examines complex themes of identity, forgiveness, self-love, and self-actualization through writing that’s accessible to young readers. Nelson intentionally and deftly uses details to situate the novel with history, and she’s crafted an endearing, three-dimensional protagonist in Cooper, whose voice and authentic struggle to make sense of her experiences will resonate in a work that presents fertile ground for discussion. A complex yet accessible exploration of self-actualization, presented in full color."— Kirkus Reviews "Nelson presents an emotive glimpse into the civil rights era via Cooper’s careful internal monologue and nuanced characterization."— Publishers Weekly "Effectively examines what it means to forgive along with the importance of family."— The Horn Book Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is an American writer known for her fiction and nonfiction books for children and young adults. Her books have won numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King medal and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award. She is a former youth services librarian and lives in New Mexico with her husband, Drew. Sometimes Sometimes I want to be white. White— like new snow or angel wings. White— like fresh milk or cumulous clouds. White— like just-washed sheets dancing on the clothesline. White— a full moon on a clear night. Fred “That’s dumb.” My big brother, Fred, laughs at me. “Nobody’s that white, except maybe Dracula. You wouldn’t use a white crayon to color a white person in a coloring book, would you?” “No. So why are they called white? Why not beige or peach?” Fred shakes his head. “Don’t know. They just are. So why do you want to be white?” “I said sometimes .” “Okay, okay, why do you want to be white sometimes ?” “Mama says I might have to do better than the smartest white person. She says I have to study harder. I have to shine brighter. It’s not fair.” Fred shrugs. “She tells me that, too. I think she just wants us to do our best. But, girl, you need to grow up. Life isn’t fair. Who said it was? And you better not let Ma and Pop hear you talking about wanting to be white.” Mama says it’s sinful to want to be something you’re not. Well, I don’t always, and I do want to shine, but sometimes, sometimes, I just want to be white. Cooper Fred’s real name is Fredrick. He was named after Grampa Dale, Daddy’s dad. Pap Cooper wanted to name me James, after him. But I was born a girl, so they gave me Pap’s last name: Cooper. Pap says he likes that even better. I love my name. Nobody else I know has it. I love my name. I love my pap. And I know Pap loves me, too. He loves me just the way I am. So I would never tell him that, sometimes, I want to be white. White— Like the kids at school. The Queen of Darkness All the kids call Mrs. Keating the Queen of Darkness. Just my luck to be in fifth grade this year and get the meanest teacher in the school. Dag! Kids say she’ll whack your hand with a ruler if you make her mad, even if you didn’t mean to.