Be the Light

“A moving picture-book biography that reveals a complex personality who followed a unique path.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Peoples fuses lyrical text with stark realism, transitioning from a bucolic reflection that personifies Davis’ childhood emotions to a more firm directness, capitalizing fully her various roles. The art strikes a similar balance between conceptual and groundedness… . The dual messages here–that current inequities are terrible and brutal but can be fixed–make a timely reminder.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A forthright account of the life of activist Angela Davis.” – Publishers Weekly

“Readers will come to know Davis as an ordinary girl who grew up to be an extraordinary woman. Vibrant watercolor illustrations highlight the role of community, ancestors, persistence, and hope in Davis’ journey. This biography demonstrates how identity is shaped by environment and should be part of all social studies curricula.” – Booklist

“Peoples’s reverent narrative and evocative digitally rendered gouache-like illustrations vibrantly convey the essence of Davis’s unwavering activism and resolute optimism for a new world.” – Horn Book Magazine

“A picture book biography that expertly combines traditional and digital art forms to detail the life of political activist Angela Davis… . This volume introduces readers to tough topics… but does so in a way that is accessible… . It also provides an opportunity to discuss these topics while remembering Davis’s sentiment, that there is freedom in the future ahead and it will not always be this way.… Essential.” – School Library Journal

Daria Peoples grew up in Paso Robles, California, in a household rich with culture. She has a degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and earned her master’s in education from Regis University. The daughter of two educators, Daria Peoples has worked as an educator herself, teaching both English and art in elementary and middle schools and at the college level. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the author-illustrator of This Is It; I Got Next; America, My Love, America, My Heart; and Hello, Mister Blue.