Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lyrical storytelling and haunting illustrations from the duo behind And the Soldiers Sang recount the achievements of the all-African-American 369th Infantry Regiment in WWI. Known as the Harlem Hellfighters, the 2,000-strong regiment was recruited with the help of -magnetic bandleader James Europe.... Even the tops of buses hosted Big/ Jim-s band, recruits hopping aboard to the/ irresistible tug of patriotism, ragtime, and jazz.- Panels in dark hues appears alongside Lewis-s free-verse poems, which feature titles like -Recruited in Song- and -Orders to Move.- These small poetic stories depict the Hellfighters- journey to the French front, battles, and the racism back home. The often-jarring images, with their shadows and angular lines, hit hard with poignancy. One spread intimates a ghost slave ship passing the Hellfighters- troop transport ship over the Atlantic; chained slaves stare out from an eerie fog, their faces coming closer with each panel. Classic works of art inspire Kelley-s pastels (one softer scene features an upright piano in a field of impressionist red poppies). That these musicians turned soldiers didn-t give up their music strikes a hopeful tone in this powerful tale. Ages 9-12. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 6 Up-This beautifully illustrated collection of free-verse poems introduces readers to the Harlem Hellfighters, a group of black American soldiers who fought in World War I, impressing the French with their courage and tenacity while also inspiring Europeans with their music, "a mix of primitive jazz, blues, and upbeat ragtime." Despite the picture book format, the sophisticated writing style will be best understood by older readers. In addition, background knowledge is necessary to fully comprehend the poetry. For example, the poem "Somewhere" reads, "Somewhere/in the mid-Atlantic/fog of history, two/dark ships passed/in the night&30;." The illustration shows a slave ship crossing paths with the soldiers' vessel, but the slave trade itself is not mentioned anywhere in the text. The poems are of varying quality: some read more like expository text with some figurative language thrown in, while others feature strong imagery that will help readers visualize the sights and sounds of war. Kelly's atmospheric, pastel illustrations in muted tones are a perfect match for the time period, documenting the violence of war in Europe and the horror of lynchings at home. Those who look closely may notice that the illustrator has referenced some other works of art that are detailed in the artist's note. Refer students who would like to know more about these brave soldiers to Walter Dean Myers's The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage (HarperCollins, 2006). Though this title isn't a comprehensive look at the subject, it imparts the mood and feeling of the war well and serves as a good jumping-off point. Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Starred Review Evocative free-verse poems and illustrated panels introduce youngsters to the story of 2,000 African American men who, although treated like second-class citizens, were inspired to valiantly fight for democracy during WWI, awing their enemy, who nicknamed them the Hellfighters. The opening spread featuring headshots of black soldiers is the first clue that readers must digest this slowly. The lyrical text is both beautiful and hard-hitting, providing a loose time line of events and experiences, from the men's recruitment through their training in the Jim Crow South, disappointing grunt work overseas, and their courage and tenacity when finally embedded with French troops fighting the Germans. But this is a story of music, too. Many of the soldiers were recruited by bandleader James Europe. Some were fine musicians, who brought the sound of Harlem across the ocean. Fluid, somber-toned pastel drawings depict the desolation and add emotional depth, as when the regiment sails to France and passes a ghostly slave ship in the night. One of the brightest spots in the art is a picture of a piano Europe found in a French farmhouse, where he composed songs. This is a powerful tribute. Use it to spark students' research and as an example of courage and creative expression.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

The story of an all-black regiment is a revealing lens through which to view the Great War. Lewis brings a stark poetic sensibility to his topic; he references the irony of black men being shipped across the Atlantic, while in Kelley's atmospheric illustrations enslaved men in shackles appear out of the mist. A needed antidote to sentimental WWI books of this centennial year. Bib.