Becoming Billie Holiday

Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the complexities of identity, the weight of systemic inequality, or the need to see how profound hardship can be transmuted into timeless art. Written in evocative verse, this fictionalized biography follows the early life of Eleanora Fagan, better known as Billie Holiday, as she navigates a childhood marked by poverty, sexual assault, and racial discrimination. It is a powerful exploration of resilience and the transformative power of finding one's voice. While the subject matter is heavy and suited for mature readers, parents will appreciate the lyrical beauty and the honest, dignified portrayal of a cultural icon reclaiming her narrative through jazz.