From School Library Journal Gr 2–6—The heartbreaking story of Emmett Till is shared with great emotional depth. Using cut-paper collage and lyrical storytelling, Joy and Washington revive Mamie Till-Mobley's story. The brilliant, loving mother of Emmett was a child of the Great Migration. Mamie and her family moved up from Mississippi to Argo, a Chicago suburb, where the studious girl worked hard to graduate at the top of her class. She married Louis Till, and after a strenuous birth, their only son arrived. Though doctors predicted he would have severe cognitive and motor delays, Mamie insisted on bringing Emmett home. Louis turned violent, and Mamie refused to tolerate the behavior. Now with just his mother and grandmother, Emmett grew into a kind boy who played joyfully in the streets of Argo until he fell ill with polio. The disease left him with a stutter, which his ingenious mother helped him circumvent using a clever trick of stopping when he was stuck on a word and whistling to calm him before he continued speaking. Unfortunately, like Mamie before them, readers are powerless to stop Emmett's fateful trip to Mississippi. They cannot stop Emmett's alleged whistle, the white woman's lie, the white kidnappers' murder, or the jury's unjust verdict. The symbolic red and blue colors in the collage, weaving Mamie and Emmett's lives and stories together, creates a beautiful artistic tapestry. With rich language and a wealth of knowledge in the back matter, this text has depth and usefulness for a broad audience. VERDICT An essential purchase for all libraries.—Abby Bussen Review "In an extraordinary volume, Joy’s cadenced prose and Washington’s dimensional cut-paper artwork portray Mamie Till-Mobley’s (1921–2003) life." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review "[T]old with hauntingly lyrical language... [and] powerful expressionistic art crafted from cut paper and silhouettes. A devastating, uniquely told story that will resonate." ―Kirkus, starred review "Washington’s dramatic paper-cut art, featuring bold black-and-white silhouettes and figures on brown backgrounds with blue, brown, and red tissue-paper accents, perfectly captures the courage and dignity of the subject." ―Horn Book, starred review "[A] forceful, strikingly illustrated nonfiction picture book." ―Shelf Awareness, starred review "By placing Emmett’s murder in the context of [Mamie Till-Mobley's] life, the narrative brings a deep intimacy to the portrayal of a woman mourning her son, not a symbol." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "The heartbreaking story of Emmett Till is shared with great emotional depth... An essential purchase." ―School Library Journal, starred review Caldecott Honor Book Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for Illustrations Orbis Pictus Honor Book Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner Walter Dean Myer Award Winner Cybils 2022 Award Winner for Middle School Nonfiction 2022 Blue Ribbon List Kirkus Reviews Best of the Year List Horn Book Fanfare Best of 2022 List Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2022 Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Year New York Public Library Best Books of 2022 Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids