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Historical Fiction

Fire in the Streets
by Kekla Magoon (New York: Aladdin, 2012).

Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison (New York: Vintage, 1995).

Native Son
by Richard Wright (New York: Harper Perennial, 1987).

The Road to Memphis
by Mildred D. Taylor (New York: Puffin, 1992).

The Rock and the River
by Kekla Magoon (New York: Aladdin, 2009).

A Wreath for Emmett Till
by Marilyn Nelson (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005).

I’d like to express gratitude first and foremost to God the Almighty, and to the many people who aided me in the process of bringing this story to life: As always, I’m grateful for the strength and support of my family, who share my commitment to imparting Malcolm’s legacy to future generations. My mother, for keeping my father’s presence alive in our home. My sisters, Attallah, Qubilah, Gamilah, Malikah, and Malaak, as well as my nephews and niece: Malcolm, Malik, and Bettih-Bahiyah — eternal love and strength to you. The Little family members who shared many stories, including my father’s siblings, particularly my favorite aunt, Hilda Little. My cousin Steve and Deborah Little-Jones and Rodnell Collins for taking my e-mails, telephone calls, and late-night text messages, and Sheryl Little and LeAsah and Shahara Little-Brown, for sharing memories and photographs.

Much gratitude to my agent, Jason Anthony of the Lippincott Massie McQuilkin Agency, and Kekla’s agent, Michelle Humphrey of the Martha Kaplan Agency, for their work in bringing us together. Thanks especially to Andrea Tompa for her keen editorial eye, along with Jon Bresman and everyone at Candlewick who helped transform this book from an idea into a reality. And most important, to Kekla Magoon, for helping to shape the story of my father’s adolescence into this book.