Angela Shanté

Unfortunately I didn’t notice the “ask reviewers to identify with these communities”. And I’m too neurodivergent to understand if that means all,or at least one. I am a part of the LGBTQIA+ community but not the rest. I enjoyed this book, her writing style and the references/further listening etc for media (was really glad to see Lupe Fiasco mentioned). I am passing this along to my black daughter as I feel this is a must read.

Thank you Angela Shanté and Page Street Publishing for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.


I adored this book. It's truly so well written and explained, the references are on another level (and have all made it onto my TBR). Reading this memoir feels like having a life-changing conversation with a good friend, one where you unpack and process your childhood and trauma. Feels very reminiscent of one of Maya Angelou's memoirs, in the absolute best way possible.

You can tell that Shante is an educator through her excellent use of footnotes. I frequently say this, but this book would be great in a Women and Gender Studies or Africana Womanisms class, especially since it comes with recommended readings. The poetry is raw and poignant. This book feels like it may be the first in a series of healing poetry books for Shante and other black women.

Thank you to Angela Shante and LibraryThing for the gifted copy!