Am I Black or Am I White? by Norman Whaler is a pertinent story for children in this age of racial divide and hatred. It begins with Tara, a little girl tormented by the question of what she is—black or white. You see, Tara’s mom is black and her dad is white. She loves them both dearly and enjoys the security of their love for each other and for her. She is teased and alienated by some of the children at school and she is frightened by the violence and hatred that fills the television. With some comforting advice from her mother, the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the even greater wisdom of God’s Word, Tara is guided through her storms of doubt.

Are you frightened by the racial division and hatred that is in the world today? If you are, just imagine how much harder it is for our children living and growing up in these conditions. Am I Black or Am I White? by Norman Whaler is the perfect book to help children through these troubling times! I think this book is very timely and well written. The beautiful illustrations by Jasmine Mills perfectly complement the story and show the reality of Tara’s emotions, fears, trials, and hopes. I truly appreciated the inclusion of verses from the Gospels. I wish this story could be read and reread to each child growing up today; maybe then they would have the wisdom to achieve what we adults seem unable to—peace, love, and understanding between all people, regardless of color.

Am I Black or Am I White? by Norman Whaler is a timely children’s book that explores racial division and inspires young children to love each other regardless of skin color. Tara’s experience at school is traumatic. Some children continuously tease her and many times she dreads school and cannot wait to get home. Unlike many other children in her school, Tara’s mother is black and her father is white. Tara does not want to choose between her parents. She feels like she is caught up between two worlds. The teasing exposes Tara to a brutal world that is intolerant of people born in a mixed marriage. She is also distressed by what she sees on TV, white and black people fighting and using race as a means to further hatred and anger.

Norman Whaler’s Am I Black or Am I White? is an amazing and relevant story especially for children growing up in today’s world. Racial segregation is a prominent topic that needs to be discussed between children and their parents. Tara’s experiences will start the discussion and, through them, a young reader will be able to understand the struggle in trying to fit in for mixed race children. They will also learn the importance of loving and accepting people despite their race. The creative illustrations by Jasmine Mills help in developing the plot. They also evoke emotional reactions with regard to Tara’s experiences and her viewpoint. Am I Black or Am I White? by Norman Whaler is an amazing story with a powerful lesson.