Lit Bite: Betty Before X
March 6, 2023
“And these trees have deep roots, so grounded that even though they bend, they don’t break. So many of us bearing fruit, so many of us just planted.”
In this story, we see the childhood of Betty Shabazz and the people and events that shaped her in her formative years. She is born to a teenage mother but then raised by her aunt. When her aunt dies, she is sent to live with her mother, who has since married and had 3 more daughters. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, who she calls Ollie Mae. When she tries to run away, she’s taken in by the Malloys, a married couple from church who cares deeply for Betty. The Malloys are activists, and Mrs. Malloy is a leader in the Housewives League, which works towards boycotting businesses that won’t hire black employees. She teaches Betty about activism, but also how to find the good in life even when everything appears to be terrible.
This Lit Bite takes 3 weeks to complete (as written). While it is flexible age-wise, I recommend it for ages 10 – 12.
Every Lit Bite comes with:
- a full reading schedule
- vocabulary
- discussion questions
- copywork and dictation taken from the literature
- activities and project ideas to help you achieve the best reading experience with your children!
Required book:
Amazon: Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson – Buy at Bookshop.org
Purchase the Betty Before X Lit Bite – $5.95
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