IDA, IN LOVE AND IN TROUBLE

Narrator Janina Edwards inhabits Ida B. Wells, giving the determined Black woman a hero's spirit, an incandescent sense of her own worth, and a warrior's pride in accomplishment. In the 1880s, Ida was a teacher, a writer of articles for Black-owned newspapers, and an outspoken advocate for civil rights. Edwards creates a flesh-and-blood woman with a flirtatious personality who enjoys the attention of more than one young man at a time. She especially longs for love from a man who will allow her to be herself. Selections from Ida's columns, diary entries, and occasional love letters lend credibility to this engrossing historical fiction. Engaging writing and Edwards's top-notch performance showcase a Black woman who pushed against the restraints imposed on women of her race. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]