★ “An engaging, quick, and relatable read that skillfully incorporates themes of race, class, post-war American life in the North and South, and a bit of Langston Hughes’ poetry. This is a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.“—School Library Journal, Starred Review
★ ”The impact on the reader could not be more powerful. A memorable debut novel.”—Booklist, Starred Review
★ ”A fascinating work of historical fiction . . . Cline-Ransome at her best.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
★ ”Finding Langston is about cultural heritage and personal growth and, at its heart, about finding home wherever you land.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
★ ”Written in short chapters, this crisply paced book is full of historical details of the Great Migration and the role a historic branch library played in preserving African American literary culture.”—The Horn Book, Starred Review
“There aren’t any explosions in this spare story. Nor is there a happy ending. Instead, Langston discovers something more enduring: solace. To quote Langston Hughes: ‘My black one / Thou are not beautiful / Yet thou hast / A loveliness / Surpassing beauty.‘”—The New York Times
An ILA Teacher’s Choice Title
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
Winner of the 2019 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
A Junior Library Guild selection