Katheryn heard a broadcast on the radio about Melba Liston and wanted to do research on the musician.
Published: Originally published in 2014
Awards: Coretta Scott King Book in 2015
Found: Sojourner Truth Library
This book is about the life of famous Jazz musician Melba Liston. Melba grew up in Kansas City where she was surrounded by music everyday. Music was in her soul and when she decided to play an instrument she chose the trombone. Even though she wasn’t great at first she never gave up and over time she become one of the best. She played in multiple bands and toured all across the country playing with some of the best.
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone would be considered a diverse book because Melba is a black woman who plays an instrument most women do not play.
I loved this book. When I first read it I didn’t realize Melba was a real person, but then I read her biography in the back of the book. I think this is a really important book for young black girls to read. Melba was judged by her peers for playing an instrument that most girls do not play but she didn’t listen to the criticism. It gives a voice to young black girls even though so many people tried to stop her or crush her passion. It is accurate because it talks about racism and segregation during that time period and the wave of jazz music that was around during that time. I would recommend this book to anyone who is systematically oppressed and who has a passion for something.
