How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America

by Clint Smith, Sonja Cherry-Paul (adapter)

Adapted from Clint Smith's #1 New York Times bestselling and universally acclaimed How the Word Is Passed, this must-read narrative takes readers to historical sites across America, exploring the legacy of slavery to help readers make sense of our nation's past and present, and be better stewards of their own future.

Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans, Clint Smith leads young readers through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks—those that are honest about the past and those that are not—offering an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation’s collective history, and ourselves.

How the Word Is Passed illustrates how some of our country’s most essential stories are hidden in plain view—whether in places we might drive by on our way to school, holidays such as Juneteenth, or entire neighborhoods (like downtown Manhattan) on which the brutal history of the trade in enslaved people has been deeply imprinted.

Informed by scholarship and brought alive by the story of people living today, this adaptation of Clint Smith’s #1 bestselling, award-winning work of nonfiction offers kids a new understanding of the hopeful role that memory and history can play in making sense of our country, and shows how they can reckon with the past and present to become better stewards of their future.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Historical

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Author of the novel FAITH AND THE FORMULA
available at http://www.amazon.com/
- numerous newspaper columns, speeches, and other works on political, public policy, historical, and military subjects (contributor to the publications “The Boar’s Tale” and “Voices”)

-special assignment writer for several public relations and marketing companies

- A classic film buff, Clint Smith enjoys writing and speaking on the movies of Alfred Hitchcock.

- Smith’s favorite novel is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. Ironically, it was originally published on July 11, 1960, the day Smith was born.

Clint Smith is currently working on his next project, a science-fiction novel set in Alaska.

Additional notes:
- Member of the Georgia House of Representatives for 8 years
- Member of the Georgia National Guard for 32 years
- Former chairman of the board of directors of the Chestatee Regional Library System, serving Lumpkin and Dawson Counties.
- Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Georgia State University
- Associate Degree in Applied Science from the Community College of the Air Force
- The Institute of Children's Literature, Redding Ridge, Connecticut certificate (Writing for Children and Teenagers)

I am a Christian and an ordained deacon. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a Billy Graham Crusade in Atlanta in 1973 and I am a member of First
Redeemer Church in Cumming, Georgia.

A native of Atlanta, I have lived in Dawson County for over 38 years.

Reviews

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I'm such a fan of Clint Smith, and after really digging _How the Word Is Passed_, I could not wait to get into this new adaptation for younger readers. As expected, Smith does NOT disappoint here.

One of the many aspects of this writer I appreciate is his past as a teacher. If anyone can get through to a young reader, it's a person who is practiced at engaging young learners IRL year round, and that skill comes through in so many of Smith's authorial choices.

Since the original text on which the adaptation is based is such a success, it's no surprise that the adaptation is also so well constructed. I also like that Smith does not water down the content. As the title suggests, the point is to share reality with future generations. While not every graphic detail has to be involved, sugar coating or revisionist history very much defeats the entire point. Smith treats his readers as capable and respects them by offering them the truth in a straightforward but age appropriate manner.

I came into this book with high expectations and they were met and even exceeded at every turn. I'll continue to consume any media connected to Smith and to teach as much of his content as possible. In other words, I'll keep doing my part to pass this word, too.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How do you tell a story that has been told the wrong way for so long?” (70).

American history is complicated. I think that’s why so many people—from governments to school curriculums—choose to hide or embellish the truth. But if we are to learn from our complicated past, we must know the facts. We can’t smother them. Join Clint Smith—adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul—as he tours parts of America, studies their history, and interviews some of their people. From Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello plantation, which one could tour without seeing much about the hundreds of enslaved people that worked there, to the Whitney plantation that ensures enslaved people’s lives were seen for more than just their labor, Clint Smith reminds us that we must know our true history, no matter how difficult it is. Throughout this book, readers will learn about who enslaved people truly were: strong, resilient, and determined human beings. Readers will also learn that enslavement didn’t end after the Civil War, when convict leasing became the new means of control. It’s the system that should receive blame, not the enslaved people who keep it running. “…oppression is never about humanity or a lack thereof. It is, and always has been, about power” (56). But change is possible, and it starts with our young people: “…if you give young people the tools to make sense of their history, you are giving them the tools to make sense of themselves, thus fundamentally changing how they navigate the world” (173).

I read the original book by Clint Smith when it came out in 2021, so I knew I had to read Sonja Cherry-Paul’s adaptation with Clint Smith as well. It does not disappoint. A new generation will get to learn about millions of enslaved people through seven important locations, from plantations, to a prison, to a Confederate cemetery, to Galveston where Juneteenth began, to New York City where the second largest slave market existed, and finally Gorée Island, a slave trade site in West Africa. They’re all connected. Through this book, readers will see how truly miseducated America is. We must question everything and share the truth.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know this was an original adult that was adapted for young readers but I thought this was a thoughtfully done message about how slavery shaped America based on specific places that Smith visited and reflected on in writing as well as interviews. The places included Monticello and Whitney Plantations, Angola Prison, Blandford Cemetery, Galveston Island, New York City, and Goree Island.

The combination of reflecting on the past and present to interrogate what we know was well-directed at the teen audience since it was easy to follow Smith's words and thoughts that are informative and still ask plenty of questions about why. I liked the setup of traveling to specific areas notorious for their connections to slavery especially Angola Prison and I didn't know anything about Blandford Cemetery but was piqued by its origin and what happens there now. To me this should be a must-read alongside Reynolds's adaptation of Stamped.

"David sees it as essential that a guide be able to find the balance between telling the truth and not pushing people so much that they shut down. He told me that when you challenge people, specifically white people's conception of Jefferson, you're in fact challenging their conception of themselves. 'I've come to realize that there's a difference between history and nostalgia, and somewhere between those two is memory,' he said. 'I think that history is the story of the past, using all the available facts, and that nostalgia is a fantasy about the past using no facts, and somewhere is between is memory, which is kind of this blend of history and a little bit of emotion... I mean, history is kind of about what you need to know... but nostalgia is what you want to hear.'"

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author travels to different historic sites in the United States and one in Africa to explore how enslavement is represented and why that matters. Some sites have more factual representations than others. Historic sites sometimes gloss over or erase enslavement, focusing all attention on the enslavers. Some historic sites do the opposite, telling the stories of those that have long been silenced and helping the visitors grapple with the full complexity of history.

I was horrified when I visited a plantation and the guide was bragging about how many people get engaged and married there. I was stunned into silence. I can see descendants of those enslaved wanting to reclaim a space where their ancestors lived and suffered. But most of the engagements and weddings--as well as the tourists--are white. The history of the enslaved at the plantation were glossed over, as has happened too many times.

This book brings out the hidden history and grapples with difficult questions. It explores what various sites are doing well and areas for improvement.

This book should be required reading for U.S. History classes in high school and/or college. It's engaging, thoughtful, and more. Students will learn more from this book about engagement with history, historic sites, and conflicts among various people than they will from a textbook.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about Clint Smith's trips to all these important places in Black history, in American history, in the history of slavery and looking at how we discuss slavery and racism in America shouldn't be as captivating as it is. But his language and descriptions are so precise and Sonja Cherry-Paul keeps so much in that she could have cut in the name of "young readers" but the book wouldn't work the same way. I can't tell whether I now need to read the original book or whether I have gotten enough here. Because this book is really important and I hope kids understand what's important about it even though it isn't immediately apparent at the beginning what he's doing.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great. It deals with the hard and complicated subject of slavery in an accessible and relatable way. I love the narrative style. I love the power and sorrow that's documented here. I love that there are so many different perspectives and people represented. I found the chapter on Angola prison particularly horrifying and impactful. I appreciate having my eyes opened further and my ignorance challenged again. It's as kind as a book can be while calling White America on our bullshit. Well written and well adapted for young readers.

[Camilla Coleman]

I read this for class, it was so good. Usually when I read for class I am bored and forcing myself to continue, I had to force myself to stop because I was neglecting my other school work. This is the young people edition because I’m an education major so they wanted us to use this edition, but it was still so good, I can’t imagine how good the “normal” book is. I hate non-fiction so don’t take it lightly when I say, everyone should read this!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars because EVERYONE should read this. The adaptation for young readers is a quick and easy read, but very effectively brings to light critical stories about slavery in the United States that affect how we view our country today, and hopefully how we shape our country in the future.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This lyrical, moving, and engrossing investigation offers readers outstanding examples of ways to engage with and talk about the history that shapes our present-day lives, whether we’re aware of it or not." [Kirkus]

[Lisa Promis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book at the gift shop of the Whitney Plantation. Didn’t realize before I bought it that it was the young readers adaptation, but I still learned a good deal and would recommend it for adults too.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a knock-your-socks-off YRE of a fantastic book.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

vital. this adaptation makes the material accessible to all readers - even us adults. excellent book for any classroom or library that may be limited in what can be presented through the curriculum.

[Sidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great version of this book.

[Erica Lane]

i know this is objectively a good book and on paper is something i should have loved but i just could not get into it ):

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I read the YA adaptation. The writing was accessible and compelling, and I learned a lot.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all Americans. This book explains so much information that was skipped over or altered in the American education system.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read the original edition of this book but it was on my to-be-read list. I often forgot while reading this edition that it was a young reader’s version. There isn’t anything that is especially juvenile but I imagine that it is simpler and shorter than the original. I would recommend it for adults as well. Tying each chapter to locations made it easier to follow. ARC from Netgalley

[Janet]

SLJ Review book so I can't comment.