Author: Shy L. Williams

Illustrator: Cameron Wilson

Publisher: ShyQuira L. Williams

Release date: January 19, 2018

ISBN: 1983431060, 978198431067

Format: paperback

Rating: 4 Stars

I received a free copy of this book.

Proud Black Girl is a story about a young girl named, Samya, coping with the cruel words her classmates made about her dark skin.

Samya is beautiful and proud of the skin she lives in. She has a chocolate-colored complexion, full lips, and kinky curly hair that she loves to twirl around her finger. Although she has found self-love and self-respect, Samya hasn’t always been this confident about her appearance. It took a little self-reflection before she realized how truly unique she is.

In school, her friends called her, “Darkness”, then laughed, leaving Samya confused and searching for a way to make sense of her identity as a black girl. With the help of her mother, Samya, finds the self-respect she needs to appreciate her beauty and who she is.

Proud Black Girl offers a wonderful message of empowerment and self-acceptance. Williams has created a likeable character that girls will relate to. Samya is the perfect role model for all girls as they become more aware of who they are and who they want to be. She teaches self-love and self-affirmations that will help girls appreciate their unique worth.

Wilson’s illustrations are cute, colorful, and complement the story. They capture Samya’s positive spirit and are sure to bring a smile to a young reader’s face.

There were a few technical items I found jarring that took me out of the story. A quick edit can easily fix these. The tense shifted from first to third person and grammatical errors were peppered throughout the story.

Overall, a heart-warming story that will lift the spirits and inspire girls struggling with their identity.