Fast Enough

Starred review from January 15, 2019
Future black female motorcyclist Bessie Stringfield triumphs over boys who say she can't join their daily bike races in this fictional imagining of her childhood."Have you ever been told you are not enough?" Bessie was. Boys, black and white, are shown telling this darker-skinned girl with very large afro puffs that she isn't "pretty enough" or "tough enough." After school, they race past her, laughing when she says she wants to join them. Downcast, Bessie asks Mama if "girls can ride [bikes] fast," to which Mama replies, "the only one who knows for sure is the Man Upstairs." At bedtime, she asks in prayer, with one eye open, and then falls asleep. In her dream, she rides like magic through vast landscapes and cityscapes, so fast "she even raced up into the night sky." She wakes up ready, and that afternoon, when the boys say "Go!" she zooms past them, astonishing everyone. Dark brown, gold, and neutral tones dominate the captivating scenes, which segue skillfully into paragraphs of backmatter information in smaller font about Stringfield's impressive exploits. She traveled widely on her motorcycle(s) in the mid-20th century, using the Negro Motorist Green Book to stay safe when riding across America. Discrepancies between different versions of her life story are explained as an example of how legends grow. A playful introduction to Bessie's exciting, triumphant, and unforgettable story. (Picture book. 5-9)

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March 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 3-Young readers are introduced to Bessie Stringfield, the famed "Negro Motorcycle Queen," who rode all over the world. The text presents Bessie as a child and encourages readers to consider times when they might have been made to feel inferior in order to understand Bessie's background and appreciate her resilience. Accompanied by read-aloud friendly text, each spread offers unique visual perspectives, expressive characters, and plenty of thrilling action sequences. Bessie was a child in the 1920s and period details such as clothing and automobiles help to establish the setting. The story centers on Bessie's desire to be included in the neighborhood boys' bike races and her determination to disprove their doubts. Emboldened by a dream of riding without fear, Bessie surprises everyone, including herself, when she wins an afternoon race. The back matter consists of an afterword that celebrates the historical significance of Bessie's accomplishments. She rode during a time when it was deemed improper for women to ride motorcycles and when it was dangerous for black people to travel without resources such as the Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor Hugo Green. Additionally, there are conflicting stories about Bessie's childhood, namely her place of birth and her family. In this respect, back matter is severely lacking and would benefit from the inclusion of a bibliography, further reading section, a time line, and even photos of Bessie. VERDICT An inspiring story featuring a compelling historical figure, though scant back matter does give pause; not an essential purchase.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 25, 2019
A story about a girl who proves she can ride faster than a group of dismissive boys introduces readers to Bessie Stringfield, an African-American motorcyclist active in the 1930s and ’40s. The imagined tale centers on her reactions to being “told she was not enough,” and its somewhat predictable plot, in which Stringfield shows she is a faster cyclist than thosetaunting her, feels tame compared to her rule-breaking life. A substantial afterword includes details such as how Stringfield “became one of the first women to ride a motorcycle across America” and earned extra money performing in circuses, and notes her penchant for embellishing her own story. Slick, full-color illustrations in a comics style match the story’s contemporary sensibility, with whooshing curves showing Bessie’s speed and a triumphant, if ahistorical, high-five accented by jagged red emanata. Ages 4–8.