mixed feelings.. i liked it! i like the art, and the realistic detail it has. the prose is fun. i like this turn of phrase especially- martin kept refining: painting with a preacher's fine brush, a light shade of wisdom here, a darker shade of frustration there, the darkest shade of "for whites only" everywhere. i also enjoy the complexity to martin's emotions and thought processes brought here in this short book

as a storytime book: a harder sell. not just the length but a noticeable amount of references to religion which makes sense, he is a preacher, preaching: but good to note. some of the framing of america is a bit ... softened for me. black death is mentioned throughout, but not dr. king's, nor who killed him even in the backmatter... but this is a picture book! idk mixed feelings but a valuable book to exist nonetheless