Inspirational history of
African Americans
“The Undefeated” by Kwame
Alexander, illustrations by Kadir
Nelson
c.2019, Versify
$17.99 / higher in Canada
40 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
You wanted it. And you wanted
it very much.
But, ah, well, you didn’t get
it. You worked and you begged
and maybe you even saved but
you didn’t get what it was that
you wanted. You were sad, but
you got over it. You’ll try again,
work harder, save more and, as
in “The Undefeated” by Kwame
Alexander and Kadir Nelson, one
day, you’ll reach your goal.
This book is just for you. But
it’s something you have to share
because it’s “for the unforgettable,”
too. It’s for those people who
opened the doors to all kinds of
new opportunities for everyone,
but they never became famous
for it.
It’s for people who did whatever
it took to get to America,
to thrive and find a home and
happiness. This book is for people
who struggled, and for those
who didn’t.
It’s about people who were
strong and were admired for
that strength. It’s for those who
believed in themselves but who
also put their faith in a higher
power. It’s for those who “tackle
vision” and those who don’t
hide their light behind anything,
ever.
It’s for soldiers and dancers,
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marchers and players, boxers and
parents and kids, and it’s for you.
It’s for Black lives that matter
and for the people who never
got a chance to know that. It’s
because of the “unspeakable.”
Share this book for those who
won’t be stopped, who’ll keep
dreaming and reaching and
imagining and proving. It’s for
the athletes we know, and for the
ones we don’t know about yet.
It’s for performers we sing along
with, and for songs not written.
It’s for those who tried and tried
until the last breath they had.
You’ll have to share it, but this
book is for you. It’s “for us.”
“The Undefeated” is one of
those things that’s really had to
nail down.
It’s a quick read that may be
too quick for some kids; it’s over
almost before it begins because
author Kwame Alexander’s words
are spare and not very attentiongrabbing
for the very youngest of
children. It doesn’t help that the
picture-book-style illustrations
are attractive but they aren’t particularly
Book cover of “The Undefeated.”
colorful or active.
For gradeschoolers, none of
that will matter because “The
Undefeated” is a poem set to
picture and it’s inspirational for
them, especially if they’re just
learning about African American
history. But there’s a possibility
for those kids that the power
behind the illustrations by Kadir
Nelson might be missed because
the stories of the people in this
book are at the end and not
always with the pictures.
Adults, however, might find
this book to be a treasure. Alexander’s
poem pulses with strength
and the artwork, from an adult’s
POV, is perfectly rendered. You
may recognize the people depicted
— and if not, there’s always
the back of the book.
The trick, perhaps, is to carefully
share this book with the
child you love, explain, and let
it spark conversation. Once kids
understand, “The Undefeated” is
a book they’ll want very much.
Undefeated author Kwame
Alexander.
Portia Wiggins Photography
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