The Beautiful Struggle (adapted for Young Adults)
Random House Children's Books · Paperback · January 11, 2022
Adapted from the adult memoir by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, this father-son story explores how boys become men, and quite specifically, how Ta-Nehisi Coates became Ta-Nehisi Coates.
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- Who it’s for
- A candid father-son memoir traces how family, identity, and a turbulent Baltimore shaped one young man.
- Themes
- Father-son relationship, Coming of age, Black identity amid racism
- Genres
- African American U.S. History for Teens, Biographies, Prejudice & Racism for Teens
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Start with this bookAbout this book
Adapted from the adult memoir by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, this father-son story explores how boys become men, and quite specifically, how Ta-Nehisi Coates became Ta-Nehisi Coates. As a child, Ta-Nehisi Coates was seen by his father, Paul, as too sensitive and lacking focus.
Continue reading
Paul Coates was a Vietnam vet who'd been part of the Black Panthers and was dedicated to reading and publishing the history of African civilization. When it came to his sons, he was committed to raising proud Black men equipped to deal with a racist society, during a turbulent period in the collapsing city of Baltimore where they lived. Coates details with candor the challenges of dealing with his tough-love father, the influence of his mother, and the dynamics of his extended family, including his brother "Big Bill," who was on a very different path than Ta-Nehisi. Coates also tells of his family struggles at school and with girls, making this a timely story to which many readers will relate.
Family and Formation
A candid father-son memoir traces how family, identity, and a turbulent Baltimore shaped one young man.
Come here for
- A close look at tough love and the work of raising proud Black men
- Family ties shaped by very different paths and expectations
Expect
- Candid reflections on school, girls, and growing up amid racism
- A personal story rooted in family and a changing Baltimore
Where it sits
| African American U.S. History for Teens | 56% |
|---|---|
| Prejudice & Racism for Teens | 53% |
| Biographies | 31% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Biographies
- Parents
- African American U.S. History for Teens
- Authors
- Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Publisher
- Random House Children's Books
- Published
- January 11, 2022
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Father-son relationship · Coming of age · Black identity amid racism
- Reading lane
- Biographies