Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink – Book Review

Title: Angel of Greenwood Author: Randi Pink Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Release Date: January 12, 2021

Isaiah Wilson struggles to step out of the shadows of those he has followed his whole life, especially Muggy Little Jr. Branded a troublemaker, Isaiah knows deep down that he is much more. He is a poet, a reader, and a believer in W.E.B. DuBois. Angel Hill also knows exactly who she is. She is a helper, a dancer, a passionate reader, and follows Booker T. Washington. While Isaiah, and many other young people his age, pay no mind to Angel, that changes the morning he sees her dance. Then, when their English teacher offers them both the chance to deliver books to people on the other side of Greenwood, their converging paths lead to a budding romance. Yet, as their love grows, their lives are irrevocably changed on May 31, 1921.  A white mob descends on the idyllic Black community of Greenwood, burning it to the ground and killing countless people. Isaiah, Angel, and other Greenwood residents must band together to survive.

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink blends classic love story, alternating perspectives, and history to give readers a comprehensive and intimate view into the lives of two Black teenagers living in Greenwood, OK. While Greenwood has largely been left out of the national historical record, a tragedy in and of itself, Pink breathes life into this once prosperous and thriving community. The narrative’s slow crescendo to the deadly and violent Tulsa Race Massacre effectively punctuates the devastating and shameful attack by the white mob. Once this moment is breached, the last few chapters will leave readers left with a palpable sense of loss, raw heartbreak, and a feeling of simmering injustice at such a hate-filled attack. As a result, Angel of Greenwood will stay with readers long after the narrative reaches its conclusion.

Angel of Greenwood opens many doors for students to learn about Greenwood, Black Wall Street, the Tulsa Race Massacre, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois. Although a relatively short read, its content provides ample opportunity for educators to more deeply explore this tragic event and investigate the ways it still echoes today.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Feiwel & Friends, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a History unit about Greenwood and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.
• Literature Circles – Use the novel as part of a study of Greenwood and the Jim Crow Era.
• Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading historical fiction books.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Greenwood
• Black Wall Street
• Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with Angel of Greenwood. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Nonfiction Connections, Character Connections, Themes)
• Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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