I did not love nor hate Small-Girl Zora and the Shower of Stories: A Tall Tale Based on the Life and Work of Zora Neale Hurston by Giselle Anatol and Raissa Figueroa as the illustrator. It was an experience book where after reading you need to stop and think about it. You need to take your time in the first place and I would even recommend a second read.. It was interesting and different but had a familiar overtone as well. Taking the life experiences and works of an artist and making them into a fictional text is not new, but not overly common either. It just was a read that was enjoyable.
Now, I might have had a different reaction had I read more of Hurston’s work. But now, I am interested in reading them. It is a nice story about a girl and how she tries to do the only thing she can (tell some tall tales) to help her family, friends and community. There is a lot going on; it is busy and colorful and detailed. It is poetic telling of what the author uses from inspirations the author had with the real Zora Neale Hurston and their works.
Read via an online reader copy, this book is due mid-January 2026. I want to find a final copy as I am curious about the dimensions of the book. Is it more rectangular or square in shape is the main one, as I think that might affect the reading audience. It could go up to ages 8 or 9 (even a young 10) as there are layers and it has depth, but it’s also good for the strong listener at least six and up. And though I have not read Small-Girl Toni and the Quest for Gold, I assume each are good companions to the other. But regardless, it’s on my TBR.