Book Itch, The
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, R. Gregory Christie (2015), Carolrhoda Books
Lewis Micheaux Sr. opened the National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem in the 1930s. The bookstore was a cultural center for the community—a place where people of all colors could share ideas and make connections. Mohammad Ali and Malcolm X both visited the store and Lewis was there to meet them. Told through the eyes of Lewis Jr., this book describes the hope that the bookstore created in a community and the tragedy of the loss of Malcolm X. The story illustrates the perseverance Lewis and his dad exhibited to heal from this loss. Additionally, the story highlights the importance of reading and talking with others as ways to learn about oneself and the world.