Radiant
Dutton, 7 January 2025
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.
Awards & Accolades
School Library Journal, starred review
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Reviews
“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)
“Charming and well-paced, Nelson’s slice-of-life verse novel invites readers to find the ways they shine … 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 selves. 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)
“Nelson has created a likable character in Cooper, and this quiet, introspective novel (with some moments of levity; e.g., Cooper’s embrace of Beatlemania) effectively examines what it means to forgive along with the importance of family.” (The Horn Book)
“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)
“Warm, charming, and utterly necessary, this beautiful work of historical fiction is a classic in the making. Young readers will certainly devour and adore it.” (Linda Williams Jackson, author of The Lucky Ones)