Indigo and Ida

by Heather Murphy Capps

When eighth grader and aspiring journalist Indigo breaks an important story, exposing an unfair school policy, she's suddenly popular for the first time.

The friends who've recently drifted away from her want to hang out again. Then Indigo notices that the school's disciplinary policies seem to be enforced especially harshly with students of color, like her. She wants to keep investigating, but her friends insist she's imagining things.

Meanwhile, Indigo stumbles upon a book by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells―with private letters written by Ida tucked inside. As she reads about Ida's lifelong battle against racism, Indigo realizes she must choose between keeping quiet and fighting for justice.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

302 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Sara Codair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! I had great messages about friendship and standing up for what's right. It didn't shy away from tough topics, like racism and equity. I loved the way the letters and the main story connected, and how the story hinted maybe there was a little more than Indigo thought to her brothers out there theories but never outright confirmed or denied that suspicion. Overall a fantastic read!

[mel lachcik · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25!
This was such a powerful story for adolescents that discusses real issues surrounding race.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

Content Notes:

- Fatphobia
- References to segregation
- References to lynching
- Racism
- Medical racism
- Protests
- Mentions of antisemitism
- Racist comments towards Black girl (angry Black girl stereotyping)
- Ableism, particularly regarding neurodivergence (challenged)
- Naming of white and (cis) male privilege
- Misogyny
- References to transphobia, especially nonbinary discrimination

Keep your eyes out for this book, and this author, because this was excellent and I need everyone to read it.

Full review closer to release.

Full review:

Oof, this book is a heavy hitter, but also so important and so emotional and so good. It feels similar to We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in how a young Black girl finds her voice and strength through the stories of Black women who came before them - in this case, Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I also loved the element of letters that were exactly what Indigo needed to hear in order to speak the truth and keep making noise, even as administration and her peers tried to silence her. Uncomfortable topics are just that - uncomfortable - but if we can’t have those conversations then nothing can change. And we need change, as Indigo makes clear with her recognition of the racist application of school policies to disproportionately punish Black and brown students. This story takes place over just a week, and what an intense week it is. I found this to be an unputdownable story and look forward to the stories Heather Murphy Capps will write in the future.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES! Powerful middle-grades novel about confronting racism wherever you see it and the power of journalism to spur change. "Indigo & Ida" discusses the school to prison pipeline in an age-appropriate way, and Indigo will empower her young readers by unapologetically fighting for justice from any age. 'I don't understand -- I really don't -- how I'm too intense just because I want everyone to be treated fairly.'

***Repeats the harmful myth that you can't report a person missing until 24 hours have elapsed -- hope the editor will catch this before it goes to print!***

Neurodiverse representation (Indigo's brother Elijah); NB/trans rep (Abbie's sibling Taylor); mixed-race family

"'But if you make a fuss and get all militant, people get mad, and they don't listen. Then you're nowhere. You have to get them to trust you first, then deal with the race stuff later.'

Indigo searched for friend's face. Abbie's cheeks were splotchy, her eyes red. 'What do you mean by "militant"?'

'You're intense. Turns everyone off.'

Indigo's shoulders caved inward. 'I don't understand -- I really don't -- how I'm too intense just because I want everyone to be treated fairly.'"

[Maria Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Takes Courage to Shine a Light on Truth
"But I believed then, and still do today, that it is necessary to stand up for what's right rather than what makes you popular." This is one of the many gorgeous, powerful, poignant pieces of advice that our protagonist, Indigo Belle Fitzgerald, serendipitously receives from Ida B. Wells, via the mysterious letters she finds tucked away in one of Ida B. Well's books. In this stunning debut novel, Heather Murphy Capps reminds us to courageously "ring the bell for justice" and to be faithful to our values and beliefs. This book packs a powerful punch in its masterfully written sentences and memorable protagonist, Indigo. This young girl is spunky, smart, and unafraid to shine a light on the truth, no matter how ugly it may be. I fell in love not only with Indigo, but with her brother Elijah, her parents, and so many other characters that stole my heart (despite also breaking it at times). This novel touches on important issues of today in a way that will keep middle-schools engaged and turning the page! They will be rooting for Indigo every step of the way, just like I was. I'll be talking about this book for a long, long time!

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 8th grader Indigo intentionally gets detention to try to break a story, she stumbles upon a book about Ida B. Wells. Soon, Indigo is inspired to run for student body president. However, there are many internet trolls, plus the school principal, who are trying to bring her down. It doesn't help that her former best friends seemingly have turned against her. She decides though to follow in Ida's footsteps and become someone to stand up for equality.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it covered a lot of heavy topics well. I wish there had been a little more incorporation of the letters from Ida that Indigo found. Every now and then, she would be like oh yea, Ida! But I felt like they could've been more clearly incorporated. Overall though, a really good Middle Grades read.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Noa Nimrodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important, relevant and touching story about confronting racial discrimination and choosing what’s right over what’s popular.
Readers will cheer for Indigo from the very first chapter. She is the epitome of the strong conscious female protagonist that kids should be reading about! The bits of past history of Ida B.Wells are cleverly woven into the story enriching the plot— Indigo finds her own path to justice inspired by Ida’s story.
Although dealing with serious issues, Indigo and Ida is a fun read, layered with depth of the subjects it explores.
Heartwarming family dynamics and fading childhood friendships are authentically portrayed. And aside from the well-developed characters, the beautifully described details in the setting (the sky, the clouds, the snow) are the cherry on top of this five-star read.

[Sydney Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful middle grade novel that explores important themes of injustice, inequality, and standing up for what is right. I adored the main character, Indigo, from the very first page when she purposely gets in trouble so she can experience detention. I love how this book weaves in relatable friendship/school situations with more serious issues. My favorite part is Indigo's connection with Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells, and how she is inspired by her. Ida's personal letters were so interesting and placed so well throughout the story. I believe that Indigo will be a true inspiration for young leaders of today, and I hope INDIGO AND IDA finds its way to young readers everywhere.

[Naina B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It's a great book for more advanced elementary school readers, and a good light read for middle school. It's relatable and funny, capturing middle school drama perfectly, while also covering real world topics like racial equity. Through mysterious letters, this amazing book connects historical civil rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells, and Indigo, an aspiring 8th grade journalist who just wants to make her school fair for everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Indigo is very interested in investigative reporting, so even though she is usually well behaved and doesn't get into any trouble, she spray paints a quotation from Winnie the Pooh on the school sidewalk in order to get sent to afterschool detention. She is supposed to read a book about a "social influencer", and finds a book on Ida B. Wells left there by a substitute teacher. She also finds out that students are not allowed to go to the restroom, and even though this is clearly stated in the school handbook, she finds it unfair. Her parents, both doctors, are not too thrilled that she's gotten into trouble, but they are both heavily invested in issues of social justice, so understand. Her father, who is Black, and her mother, who is white, are both involved in being street medics, attend protests, and work hard to make sure that their work environment is fair. Indigo follows their lead with her investigations, and often angers Principal Belkin. This has also alienated her from some of her friends, who don't want to be involved in her crusades. Indigo has a blog through the school web site, and has a decent amount of followers. Upon reflection, she also realizes that detention attendees seem to be largely Black and brown kids. She thinks a great way to make change happen at her school is to keep investigating, but also to run for student body president. Unfortunately, her opponent is the popular athlete who is running to spite her and has no concrete ideas about what he would do in office. The letters of Wells inspire Indigo when she is feeling down. There are issues outside the school community as well, with a Black man who was in a lot of distress being turned away from the hospital. Indigo's parents are involved in this, of course, but there is a surprising connection to Indigo's life as well. In addition to her activism at school, Indigo has to watch her younger brother, who feels misunderstood, and who bonds with a friend's nonbinary older sibling. When all of these issues boil over, will Indigo be able to take comfort from Wells' experiences and be able to continue her work at making a difference?
Strengths: Indigo's interest in investigative journalism is great to see, and makes her chance encounter with writings of Wells even more inspirational. The friend drama is quite on point, and is something my students always are eager to explore. There is a lot of different representation showcased in this book: Black and brown students, LGBTQIA+, mental health, and even a glimpse at a student who is discriminated against because of a police record, although the principal has gotten the wrong student. The letters add a tiny bit of magical realism, but the fantasy element is not too heavy. Indigo's parents are quite interesting, and show up just enough to support her. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Capps writes.
Weaknesses: There were a number of things that didn't ring quite true to my middle school experience, but I'm sure schools in different areas have different rules. Class elections and student reporters are also not something my school has ever had.
What I really think: Indigo would be friends with Shayla from Ramee's A Good Kind of Trouble and Neva from Kendall's The True Definition of Neva Beane.

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the middle-grade novel Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps (Carolrhoda Books, April 2023), teenager Indigo Fitzgerald discovers a biography (with loose personal letters) about the nineteenth-century investigative writer Ida B. Wells. As she reads of Ida’s reporting on frequent lynchings in the South during the post-Reconstruction era, Indigo is inspired to focus her campaign to be student president on real issues in her middle school, especially the racist disciplinary policies of the school’s principal. As she struggles with her dedication to her work and also her rocky friendships, she finds her own strengths and delights in her life’s purpose.


Indigo’s eight grade struggles initially focus on the difficulties of changing friendships as her long-time friends are now drifting away into new interests and friendships. She desperately longs to reunite with them and is delighted to find that her most recent report brings her into the popular school-wide spotlight. But as she focuses on the role of race in her principal’s decisions in her reporting, her “troublesome” and “serious” nature takes away her popularity and she questions what she is fighting for.

At the beginning of Indigo’s story, she finds a biography of Ida B. Wells and personal, signed letters fall out of the book. Her persistence nicely aligns with Ida’s story. Both Indigo and Ida consider themselves investigative reporters. Both are exposed to persistent racism and empathize with those who face such difficulties. While the real Ida wrote about her experiences and wrote for journals and newspapers, Indigo uses a school-district-wide vlogging platform to share her stories. I loved her update to the format.

I appreciated that Indigo’s story made parallels between the unfairness of the school’s racism to the issues facing her friend’s LGBTQ sibling. Her story frame of sharing the historic letters wonderfully tied the fight for civil rights post-Reconstruction into the present. Although in reality, the quoted letters were not actually Ida’s words, they were based on Ida’s own autobiographical writing. The simplified language will help middle-grade readers readily understand her story today.

Indigo and Ida is not without some plot issues for me. First, I loved that Ida’s “glittering” handwriting was an inspiration, but adult-me struggled with the impossibility that letters from this co-founder of the NAACP would remain outside of museums 100 years later, especially since in the novel the original owner of the letters never came to claim the lost book. Any person with such a treasure would have known it and eagerly sought their return. Also, Indigo’s story takes place over just one week, which likewise felt unreal. So much happens in this book, including running an entire student presidential campaign, that I felt months had passed.

For young readers, it’s likely that these plot points will not bother them. I loved that this important “influencer” in American history has been highlighted in a novel of this kind. I believe it’s time I bring her books and her story back to the top of my TBR pile. Can anyone recommend a great biography?

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the digital ARC of Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps.

I would give this book 10 stars if I could! Incredibly relevant and timely, this book tackles social issues head on and had me cheering for Indigo as she stands up to racism and discrimination, and against the unfair bias she is thrown under as a black girl. I could not put this down and I think middle schoolers will be equally engrossed.

Indigo is an amazing protagonist. She's in the 8th grade and has recently been dropped by her closest friends due to a minor incident in which she was deemed embarrassing to be around. Ugh, middle school is the worst. Indigo, who is biracial with a white mom and black dad, starts doing some investigative journalism at her school. The first story she addresses requires that she be sent to detention, as she believes the bathroom policy during detention is unjust (students are not allowed to go even in an emergency). While there, she uncovers a much larger story, in that all of the kids who are at detention and who are sent there regularly, are black/brown students. Even though their white classmates are often doing the same minor infractions - having their phones out, wearing a short skirt (the RAGE I felt at this one), throwing chalk being a few - only the black and brown students are being punished.

Indigo decides to run for President of the student body, and she uses her voice and her video blog to highlight important issues. She is unfairly bullied by the popular crowd, and the rest of the school including her former friends label her as "intense" and #toomad. We see some white girl tears and lots of racist behavior from other students.

The one thing helping Indigo through all of this are a series of letters she finds written from civil rights journalist and activist Ida B. Wells! These letters give Indigo the support that she is lacking from her supposed friends who keep telling her to "chill out" on the important social justice issues she continues to raise.

There is so much more I could get into, but I'll leave the review with two enthusiastic thumbs up and the recommendation that this should be required reading for all middle schoolers. I will for sure be sharing this with my own children.

[Río · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~plot~~
Indigo is a reporter. She cares about the real issues.
That is why she needs to spray paint words from Winnie-the-Pooh on the school.
In front of everyone.

Successfully thrown into detention, where she can get the scoop on how students are treated (no bathroom breaks! And not allowed to do regular homework?!), Indigo grabs a book for the mandatory book report - a book on activist Ida B. Wells that was left behind by a substitute.
While setting up for her video exposing what really goes on in detention, Indigo is surprised to stumble across a different insight -- there are no white kids in detention, only Black and Brown kids.

Indigo's video protesting the no-bathroom-breaks-in-detention policy blows up, earning her popularity as all the students rally being her. Indigo chooses to cash in on that and run for class president, hoping to make real change.

But when she speaks up about the racial discrimination she see, Indigo begins to get pushback.

All the while Indigo is reading letters that Ida wrote about her own challenges fighting against racial injustice.

Will her words bring about change? Or will they only lead to more division and conflict in an already uneven school?


~~review~~
This book sheds a light on both the importance of the challenges of speaking up for injustices. Indigo quickly finds people using harsh, militant language to describe her behaviors when she pushes against the status quo. She is repeatedly told that she should be nicer and more approachable before she brings the problem up, and also is she even sure there really is a problem because it all seems to be fine to them
..
In response to someone commenting that maybe some issues don't need solved now, and maybe they should focus on smaller things instead, Indigo counters: "no one should have to wait in line for equality" (chp 13).

There is nothing I can really say aside from read this book, don't push down one group to help another, and support those speaking up about inequality.

[Haerlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Official Description:

When eighth grader and aspiring journalist Indigo breaks an important story, exposing an unfair school policy, she's suddenly popular for the first time.

The friends who've recently drifted away from her want to hang out again. Then Indigo notices that the school's disciplinary policies seem to be enforced especially harshly with students of color, like her. She wants to keep investigating, but her friends insist she's imagining things.

Meanwhile, Indigo stumbles upon a book by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells—with private letters written by Ida tucked inside. As she reads about Ida's lifelong battle against racism, Indigo realizes she must choose between keeping quiet and fighting for justice.

Review
I read this in concert with "Ida B. the Queen" by Michelle Duster, which was written by a descendant of Ida B. Wells and chronicles the life and challenges that Wells faced personally, professionally and for the race. Many of those facts were presented in this book through letters written to a "friend" and signed by "Ida."
This approach was a great way to introduce and humanize a historical figure without it being preachy or presenting a person as untouchable. The letters that Ida wrote Indigo mirrored some of the challenges that Indigo faced in her search for justice, rendering Ida as a person to be emulated, not just admired.
I recommend this book for classrooms and reading clubs. This is a great duet with "Dear Martin" and terrific for mentoring groups: the mentee could read "Ida and Indigo;" the mentor could read "Ida B. the Queen."

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: Racism, bullying, white privilege, transphobia, references to lynching

After eighth grader Indigo intentionally gets herself detention trying to expose an unfair school policy, she gets an assignment that causes her to stumble across a book by journalist and activist Ida B. Wells - with private letters by Ida tucked inside. While reading the letter, Indigo gets inspired to investigate more into her school’s policies - and she notices that the school’s disciplinary policies seem to be enforced harsher on students of color.

When Indigo reports on this issue, her friends tell her she’s overreacting and her classmates tell her she’s too aggressive, loud, and annoying.

By continuing to read Ida’s letters, Indigo realizes she’ll have to choose between keeping quiet and taking the easy way out or possibly standing alone to fight for justice.

An inspiring middle grade novel about a young journalist being inspired by Ida B. Wells as she finds her voice to stand against the injustice taking place at her school. So much happens in this book that I sometimes found it hard to believe it all took place in one week! But this covers a few heavy topics and the author does so in a way that makes it easier for middle grade readers to understand - segregation, lynching, racism, protests, white privilege, transphobia (just to name a few).

I believe young readers will enjoy this book as it addresses many issues they see today and is written in a way they can understand and relate to. Indigo is also an amazing example of a young person standing up for what they know is wrong - even if they’re standing alone.

*Thank you Carolrhoda Books and LibraryThing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and powerful middle grade story about a young journalist finding her voice while inspired by Ida B. Wells. Indigo is a brilliant, rule-following girl who gets in trouble in order to investigate unfair bathroom policies in detention. While there, she discovers something even more troubling--the school's disciplinary policies lead to way more students of color getting sent to detention compared to white students who make up the majority of the school. Soon Indigo is reporting on these issues and others while reading letters written by Wells that recount not only her reporting and freedom fighting activities but also the emotional tool that took on her and her loved ones. I think that is where this book really shines--I felt the very personal impact of standing up for what's right on Ida, her family members, and her friends because Heather Murphy Capps keeps us so close to the day-to-day action of what makes real change possible. I also loved that she weaved classic friendship concerns like popularity, shifting alliances, and former friends into the school election plot where Indigo runs to not only report on what is wrong at the school, but to try to be a leader in making this better. In terms of content notes, there is racism and discrimination on the page and some concerning issues about healthcare and dementia are also explored. A truly excellent book that I hope middle grade readers and their parents will enjoy and discuss! Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for the chance to read early!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely blown away with this middle grade novel about Indigo, who is an aspiring journalist. She intentionally causes problems in school with hopes of getting detention. Her goal is to find supporting evidence concerning discrimination that occurs on school campus. While in detention she finds a book about investigative journalist, activist, and early leader of the civil rights movement, Ida B Wells. She decided to run for class President to make a change. Social change is never easy and she finds herself receiving hate and negative comments from the school’s social media platform, “MyTube”.

While flipping through the Ida B Wells book she finds hand written letters from Ida. The letters provide her with guidance and encouragement to keep fighting the good fight.

I was very impressed with the hard hitting topics within this book. Not only did it target racism straight on, it also touched on issues of women’s rights, health care, and discrimination. I loved how true historical facts of Ida B Wells was incorporated in the forms of letters. Very intriguing way to include history without it being boring for middle age readers. Such a great book for all ages.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced release copy for an exchange of my honest review/ opinion of the book.

[Betsy Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capps' debut is a middle grade novel filled with social lessons on prejudice, racism, and unfair school policies. When Indigo realizes that her middle school treats white and black students differently, this biracial student decides to act. Caught in the act of painting the lyrics of Winnie the Pooh's hummed song on school property, she winds up in detention for the first time in her life. A budding journalist with a channel on her school's YouTube account, she reports what she sees: no people in detention who aren't either black or brown.

Assigned by a teacher they call Salmonella to pick a book off a library table and write an essay on it by the end of the term, she sees nothing that appeals. All the books are by white men. One is off to the side, a book about Ida B. Wells. She opens it and finds a series of letters written by Ida B. Wells that speak to her heart.

Indigo is willing to risk her reputation, her parents' wrath, and the loss of her cadre of besties to broadcast about the inequities she sees in her school. Along the way she realizes that her true friends and supporters come from unexpected corners of her world.

This may be written for middle grade students, but this way-out-of-middle-school reader found the book relevant, the writing clear, and the relationships between teens clearly laid out. Highly recommended.

[Jan Raspen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I go into every book wanting to love it. And especially after getting to hear this author speak at AASL a few weeks ago, I was excited to read Indigo and Ida. The AASL session was about "tackling serious topics with tweens," and I'd say that the book did a good job on that front. Indigo's connection with Ida B. Wells spurs her into tryig to dismantle some rules that are harshly applied more to students of color than white students. I think this book would be good for sixth and seventh graders, and certainly as part of a bookclub, where adults can help students reflect on the broader implicatioans of Indigo's actions.
I listened to the audiobook, and I know that part of my less-than-great review is because of that. The narrator's voice took me out of the story time and time again. Channie Waites has very odd inflections and pauses within sentences that really turned me off. Her voicing for Indigo's little brother made him sound like a toddler (he is not).
I think this story could have been better with an editor who tightened up the story line of Indigo and her friends (they hate her--they love her--they hate her--they love her) and also Indigo's parents' influence (or not) on her social media usage. For parents who were pretty restrictive in terms of letting Indigo loose on "real" social media, they seemed pretty checked out about what their daughter was doing.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indigo and Ida follows the story of Indigo, an aspiring journalist as she discovers racist practices within her school. As she attempts to make decisions on whether she will speak up or be quiet and get along, she finds letters written by Ida B. Wells in a copy of her biography.

Within this book, Heather Murphy Capps does a great job of bringing forward the racism faced by Black students in a way that I think will educate young readers without being too didactic. Many middle grade novels which deal with social justice issues, I’ve noticed being a bit didactic in how they approach them, and Capps is able to avoid this in her writing. The book draws from Black history and uses it as a way to empower the main character Indigo.I found Indigo’s personality to be realistic and her struggles to feel real. This book feels similar to the YA novel We Are the Scribes by Randi Pink in its themes and presentation, but written for a younger audience. Overall, the story was engaging and I really enjoyed the character of Indigo. I would recommend this for the middle grade reader in your life.
Thank you Netgally and Carolrhoda Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[3queensread]

Indigo is a budding reporter who sets off in getting herself sent to detention to report on an injustice she thinks is going on. The story she finds ends of being bigger than she could have ever thought. While in detention the teacher gives the students an assignment, pick a book about an influencer and right a paper on it. Indigo finds a book about Ida B. Wells. When she opens it she realizes that the book holds more than what it first appears to be and maybe it will help her uncover the truth of everything happening at her school.

Middle school is such a weird time for children. The hormones and all the changes are difficult to deals with and we see Indigo and her friends try to tackle these changes. These changes are especially hard when race, gender identity, classism, and popularity come into play. The parallels between Indigo and Ida!!! Those parallels helped Indigo search within her herself and find who she truly is, what she believes in and what she stands for. I don’t really agree with most school reading list but this book should be on all middle school reading lists. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick middle grade read. the book took place over a very short amount of time (a week or two) and a lot happened in that time. i felt like some inconsistencies between descriptions of characters and situations and the actual plot could have really been tightened up. for example - this book just so happened to be left on salmonella’s desk by a substitute, and also happens to have extremely rare personal letters and objects in them? that nobody finds while the book is at school? everyone knows everyone in their small town, and then nobody realizes a very clear connection between a certain character and (big event i don’t want to spoil) until the very end? indigos parents don’t let her have any social media, but they have no idea about the school website thing and everything she posts on there? anyways. there was a lot of very quick friend drama - they aren’t friends, now they are, now they aren’t, now they are - that feels very true to middle school but was tough to keep track of on the page. that being said, i enjoyed the premise of the story, loved elijah’s character, and it was set in minnesota which we always love to see

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

book is a triumph! Definitely recommended reading for all ages!

Indigo is a typical middle grade student in many ways - struggling to fit in while standing out, mostly staying out of trouble, but Indigo sees more. There are problems in her school, and she tries her best to follow the example of Ida B Wells, an activist journalist whose biography and letters Indigo discovers while in detention.

Her eyes are opened to the sweeping injustices in her school and social setting, but also in her larger community.

And I'm sure the reader's eyes will be opened as well. Such a powerful story in one little book. It reminds us that we all have a voice. And that we need to use our voice!

"Indigo herself had been on the sidelines, playing it safe. Everyone who had shared their stories had been brave. Now it was time for Indigo to do her part."

Nothing changes until one person is brave enough to speak up.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigo and Ida
by Heather Murphy Capps
Pub Date 04 Apr 2023
Lerner Publishing Group,Carolrhoda Books
Children's Fiction| Middle Grade| OwnVoices


Netgalley, Lerner Publishing Group, and Carolholda Books provided me with a copy of Indigo and Ida for review:


Eighth grader Indigo becomes popular for the first time after uncovering an unfair school policy.


Suddenly, friends who drifted away want to hang out again. As Indigo observes, disciplinary policies at the school seem particularly harsh on students of color. She wants to keep investigating, but her friends say she's making it up.


In the meantime, Indigo stumbles upon a book written by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells with private letters inside. Indigo is forced to choose between keeping quiet or fighting for justice as she reads about Ida's lifelong battle against racism.


I give Indigo and Ida five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this one for a while, and I'm glad I finally found the time to sit down with this book, especially now.

If you're looking for a great middle grade title that touches on historical figures, racism, youth activism, forming morals, accountability and is highly accessible to all readers without forsaking the protagonist's identity to become a shell -- Indigo & Ida should be your next read.

I got a little misty eyed throughout, and hope more classes find time to add this to their reading and discussion roster. A perfect middle grade read for readers who are ready to engage with more complex instances of racism and microaggressions than they have probably learned about on the elementary level.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

[J.C. Kato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lerner Books for the gift of Indigo and Ida.

Strong and straight as an arrow, Indigo Fitzgerald, aims to make her mark as a hard-hitting reporter for her eighth-grade class and win friends back at the same time. Heather Murphy Capps weaves the spark and determination of Indigo, a biracial student, into realistic school and home dynamics. I especially loved the inclusion of history with the letters of Ida B. Wells. It encourages Indigo to rise above the school’s acceptance of discriminatory rules by using her journalistic instincts, finding that losing some friends while gaining others was a better target after all.

#readyourworld
#lernerbooks
#HMCWrites
#mixedupfiles

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for teenagers--and other ages, too! I really appreciated how the author seamlessly blended historical facts and quotes from Ida with a modern story with themes that resonate with young readers. The characters were well-formed and diverse, and the plot was meaningful and impactful. Highly recommend it for everyone to read—even if they are older than teenagers or young adults, I think the story is still engaging, important, and timely.

I was provided a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. This in no way influences my review.

[Caitlin Trepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a brave young woman who confronts inequity and injustice in her school. At the same time, she is also inspired by Ida B. Wells, famous civil rights journalist of the past. While the writing style is 6th grade and under, the topics and themes are a little older. It was not really my favorite due to how the educators were portrayed and the rules the protagonist had issue with. However, in many ways it was also groundbreaking, and overall, the protagonist sets a good example, even if she has to get into trouble to do it. While this book is not my favorite; it's still a staple; I will be keeping it on my shelf for students.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book -- great messages about being yourself, the power of the press (now and in the past), Ida Wells' inspiring life, social justice, and the extreme vagaries of friendship in middle school. Indigo is a great character -- full of fire and frustration and confusion. The letters from Ida are very well interspersed into the story. The background crisis with a Black man turned away from the hospital makes a good counterpoint to the other stories that are unfolding. Lots of big themes, presented in an accessible book for middle schoolers.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an intense and needed read. Indigo fights for what is right within her school. She is backed by her family and new friends she makes along the way. I loved the book she finds that has letters that Ida wrote and as Indigo feels more connected to her it helps her stand up for herself.
This book really shows that people can be mean and only think of themselves that's why it is important to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!