I picked this after seeing the #ReadSoulLit challenge going around Twitter and Booktube, in honor of Black History Month. It was a nice reminder that it is always a good time to diversify your reading and expand your world view.

And really, that's what our focus should be when we speak of diversifying our reading. Not keeping count of the race or religion of the authors or main characters for the sake of statistics, but seeking out media that will expand our understanding of the world and help us see through the eyes of those that are different (but it turns out, not so different) than us.

For that reason, I loved Buck. I loved it because I felt completely immersed in Asante's world and his upbringing. It is a history, and yet, I still found myself on the figurative edge of my seat, feeling the danger that was around every corner of his life.

I'm amazed by the way Asante writes both conversationally and lyrically. He keeps so true to his own voice and it makes the style incredibly fluid. He's talking to you through the pages and before you know it, you've read the whole thing, like it was just one long story with an old friend.

Best of all, I feel that what Asante offers is a look into many race issues that turn out to be incredibly easy to relate to. They are universal themes of loss and family and hope and hopelessness. This was a very impacting read and one I would highly recommend.