Wonderfully compelling (if highly fictionalized) telling of the opening and brief existence of the Prudence Crandall School, America's first known integrated school (1832). The story begins shortly before the admission of Sarah Harris, a local young Black woman, and continues through the transition of Crandall to an all-Black school and, ultimately, the closure of the school following increasing violence on the part of local whites. A sub-story about Feral, a wild Black boy who eschews all trappings of modern life, is interwoven with that of the young scholars and poses the compelling question of what freedom is and how to obtain it.

3.5 Stars
The story of Sarah Harris, one of the young black women who just wanted an education that they deserved, at Miss Prudence Crandall's Boarding school.

I am starting this by acknowledging that a white author wrote this.
And because of that, it loses a star, I'm sorry, but it is how I feel.

A small recount of history drawn in a BEAUTIFUL art form shows the racism and sexism that these young women dealt with when trying to get an education. It showed both obvious and subtle reminders of their hardships, and their determination and the tragedy that happened to Charles hits home the dangers of their lives for simple living and wanting to be treated right. It also offered more snippets of history that I didn't know about and was interested in discovering -which I wish to learn more about.

It lost half a star because the story was a little random at times, and I felt uneasy when they described Nat Turner as a Cult leader because I don't believe that. I admit that I only learnt a little about him in school, so I will need to do research, but I don't believe that title.

First of all, this novel has an absolutely gorgeous art style. The plot itself was interesting, especially since it’s based on a true story. In my opinion some parts of the book were a bit confusing though and could’ve been left out.
Overall an interesting read with beautiful artwork.

This graphic novel was amazing, emotional, heartbreaking, and educational. I had never learned much about black history before, so I'm glad books like these exist to educate me and others. There are so many parts in this book that will just break your heart. This story is also based on true events which makes it even more painful to read. The fact that this happened and events like this still happen today frustrates me so much because why do people have to be so heartless. I really like how this book includes a "foreward" which has more info about the events that happen in the story. It was also so fascinating to read about the lives of the students who went to Prudence Crandall's school in the "afterword". The artwork was also very beautifully done. One critique was that the font was a bit hard to read especially when I read it on my Kobo, but it was definitely worth reading! I highly recommend this book!

4.5/5 Stars

‘White All Around’
‘Even in the land of the free, not all of American’s children are welcome’.

*** I received a free Advanced Review Copy from NetGalley. This review is entirely my own and reflects my honest opinion.

The year is 1832. We’re in Canterbury, Connecticut. A new female boarding school has opened, run by the Crandell family – with Prudence Crandell at the helm – and it has managed to find success among the townspeople. That is until Prudence opens up the school to young Black women. Suddenly the Crandell family and their students are faced with a string of violence and harassment, the townsfolk rapidly turning against them. In the so-called ‘free’ North, thirty years before the abolition of slavery in the United States of America, the students are met with a wave of hostility that puts the future of the school in question, and their very lives in peril.

Beautifully illustrated by Stephane Fert and accompanied by a well-thought-out script courtesy of Wilfrid Lupano, this graphic novel is a good introduction into the severe oppression faced by Black American women in the 1800s. Relying on both historical detail and fictionalised elements, ‘White All Around’ gives a strong overview of Prudence Crandell and her efforts to extend education to young Black women, despite threat from townsfolk and investors. It shows the lengths people are willing to go in order to do what is right. And, in the case of the townsfolk, how low some people will sink to assert their privilege.

I especially enjoyed the biographies of the African American women who attended Crandell boarding school, which was included at the end. It really helped assert that this was more than just a story and provided key information as to what happened after Crandell school was eventually burned down.

‘White All Around’ is an artistic venture into the past that affords us a glimpse into American history while never letting us forget that there is a lot of work still to be done…

Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A graphic novel based on a true story about a woman who opens a boarding school to educate black girls in pre-civil war America.

The book is easy to read, interesting and educational. I love reading historical books and especially when they teach us about parts of history that are swept under the rug. The art is beautiful, it

The book moves quickly though, and it was hard to situate myself at times. I also feel like the story focused a lot on Prudence Crandall, and it would've been interesting to get some more depth about the students. I would definitely recommend researching more on the story if you read the book.

It's an enjoyable read and could be read easily with kids, if you want to talk about important subjects.

It feels so right to be reading this graphic novel this month. I have not learned this piece of history before and I really appreciate this book for opening my eyes to this story of some of the bravest women in American history. Personally, I found the character of the witch to be confusing, but that's the only complaint I have for this beautifully illustrated book.

An excellent graphic novel featuring the plight of Black women seeking education in the 1830's. The story art by Stephanie Fert drives the narrative and celebrates the beauty of POC and nature. A moment in the story that didn't sit well with me was when a White woman is questioned if she is. a witch due to her age and appearance. The white female character pictured playfully touching the characters hair and talking about it in a negative way. Whilst it may have been indicative of the time 1 do not think it was essential for the story.

This is a fascinating and moving story about the first boarding school for black girls in the US. It is quite heartwrenching because the story shows how the white people of influence in the town, did their utmost to close the school down by resorting to violence, threats, exclusion and even passing legislation. Even the small local church was complicit. A shameful perversion of the Gospel but not surprising because people will use any means as a weapon when seeking to discriminate or oppress others. Thankfully the courage of the teacher and students now echoes through history.

I thought the sections at the beginning and the end were very helpful if the reader wants to know more about the school and the history. I actually saw a TV programme which mentioned the school and so it has been good to read this. I wasn't too fond of the artwork but the story is gripping and a helpful introduction to the real history.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley.

Set in Connecticut in the 1830's, when slavery was still legal in the southern states. Although people of colour were "free" in the north, they did not enjoy the same rights as whites.

This beautiful illustrated story tells the true story of a white girls school where the owner decides to close her doors to white girls and start educating black and mixed race girls.

As other reviews have said, a large part of the story focuses on the white owner's story, when it would have been interesting to have understood what the individual students and their families went through in order to attend. That said, it is still a wonderful story, painted in a beautiful colour palette of muted colours and a rainbow of skin tones.

What I really loved about this book was the back pages where a lot more history was told about what happened to individuals within the story. I have had The Underground Railroad on my pile waiting to be read for ages and this graphic novel has really wet my appetite to read more on the topic.

My kids have recently become interested in graphic novels and this is one I will definitely be adding to their collection.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Europe Comics for a review copy of #WhiteAllAround

The writers tell a bittersweet story about racism and attempts to overcome it in 1800s America, which proves more complex and engaging than any similar works. The illustration style, which allows for characters who can seem caricatured or multilayered depending on the setup, adds more layers to the story and creates an engaging read.

As a historian, I’m always pro using various mediums to convey important historical issues. This graphic novel would do that very well for a middle grade audience. I agree with previous reviewers that there is too much focus on the school owner (which is ironic really).
The illustrations are gorgeous though and sometimes it can be hard to convey emotion through graphic novels - it’s done well here

Wilfred Lupano and Stéfane Gert's White All Around is a beautiful, evocative graphic novel about the Prudence Crandall boarding school and Black girls' right to education. Set in the early 19th century in Connecticut at the height of the abolitionist movement, Black people were "free" but were still fighting for civil rights.

This is a historical novel based on actual events. The students faced physical violence, deprivation of basic supplies, their teacher was thrown in jail and they were barred from the town's church. Ultimately, the school was burnt down by the townspeople who saw the education of Black girls as a threat and deprivation to their communities.

Just yesterday I was listening to Ezra Klein interview Heather McGhee (author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together). In the interview they talked about how in 1950s White communities in the US shut down public pools, depriving ALL, because they couldn't tolerate Black people being able to access them too.

The idea that public goods is a zero sum game is so ingrained and persisting in society still, the result is ultimately - everyone loses. It's the reason why in one of the richest countries in the world is still doesn't have UHC, maternity leave and a robust social safety net.

Okay, I didn't mean to get so serious on a review of a graphic novel, but this is the consequence of a great book! Thank you @netgalley and @europecomics for this eARC.

#whiteallaround #europecomics #netgalley
#blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #graphicnovel #graphicnovels #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #readersofinsta #igreads #comics

While I really loved the art of this book, the story didn't quite sit right with me. I think that the nature of how the story was told felt very forced and choppy. It really jumped out to me, and while i wanted to LOVE it, i just liked it. I also think that the info at the back of the book might have been more useful at the beginning of the book. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.

White All Around dives into the history of Canterbury, Connecticut and tells the story of Prudence Crandall's Female Boarding School. Although Connecticut was part of the "free" North, people of color did not have the same rights as white people and not all white people were willing to make any changes to achieve it. When Prudence Crandall decided to start admitting black females to her school the town of Canterbury was not happy and went to great lengths to make that known.

White All Around is beautifully illustrated and does a great job telling the story of the boarding school's trials. This was a part of history that I was not previously familiar with and I enjoyed learning it through a graphic novel. I also appreciated the thorough research put into this novel which is shown in the Afterword at the end of the novel.

This book makes you hold your breath and your stomach hurt. The author did a fantastic job of relying the horribleness of the time. The dire situation young African American girls were in. I learned quite a bit of history from this book. Things I had never heard of, I epically loved the part where she questioned what she was learning. There is some nudity in this book, regardless I adored it and will be adding it to the library.

The grace of graphic novels is that it is a way of spreading stories in a simple way, sometimes on topics as important as this, so, on that side, it serves its purpose by highlighting the school for black girls created in 1832 in Connecticut. Not to mention that it could be said that it was the first integration of a black student in a school for white girls. But the canvas here falls short to demonstrate the courage and importance of the people who lived it. For the short time that could be.

What it did help me was to learn about a piece of history that made me want to do a little more research on Prudence Crandall, a Quaker-educated woman who opens a boarding school for girls in Canterbury, Connecticut ("The Canterbury Female Boarding School" in 1831-1834). When 20-year-old Sarah Harris asks to be her student to teach other black girls later, the trouble begins. The parents protest and withdraw the white girls, and so Prudence ends up turning it into a boarding school for black girls in the face of opposition from all over town, and specially from her neighbor Andrew T. Judson(*), a politician, who previously supported her with her school.

Screenshot-2021-02-14-10036651

Prudence ends up in jail, and they fight for the girls to continue in the school with laws and they manage to get a new law, but that is not enough because violence prevails.

Screenshot-2021-02-14-10036651-pdf-9791032811320-1-pdf-2

The twist that Lupano gives to his novel is to introduce a black boy who lives in the woods and who recites the story of Ned Turner, who starred in a bloody rebellion and created a kind of even greater paranoia towards blacks who could read and write and that knew something of the biblical scriptures. It is in how he presents this child that I have a problem, because he seems too close to that of the 'good savage' (he even says he calls himself Feral) with his proclamations against "white" education.

And then he goes and puts that woman who lives in the forest (a witch?), And he puts feminism and the Goddess and all that story that I think he got a bit out of hand in wanting to put everything together with the education of the women and all the anti-patriarchal roll and against religion and traditional European education. It is too much together that you want to put here, diverting the focus from the main idea.

So, no, I am not satisfied with how this story is told. The History is so much better.

What I did like was how the girls interacted at school.

The art? Interesting color and palette.

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[In Spanish now:]

La gracia de las novelas gráficas es que es una forma de difusión de historias en forma sencilla, a veces de temas tan importantes como éste, así que, por ese lado, sirve su propósito destacando a la escuela para señoritas negras creada en 1832 en Connecticut . Eso sin contar que podria decirse que fue la primera integración de una alumna negra en una escuela de niñas blancas. Pero el lienzo aquí se queda corto para demostrar la valentía y la importancia de la gente que lo vivió. Por el breve tiempo que pudo ser.

En lo que me sirvió a mi fue para conocer una pieza de la historia que me hizo querer investigar un poco más acerca de Prudence Crandall, una mujer educada como cuaquera quien abre un internado para niñas en Canterbury, Conneticut ("The Canterbury Female Boarding School" en 1831). Cuando una joven negra, Sarah Harris de 20 años le pide ser su estudiante para enseñarle después a otras chicas negras es cuando empiezan los problemas. Los padres protestan y retiran las niñas blancas, y así Prudence termina convirtiendole en un internado para señoritas negras frente a la oposición de todo el pueblo, y especialmente de su vecino Andrew T. Judson , un politico, quien anteriormente la apoyaba con su escuela. Prudence termina en la carcel, y se lucha porque las chicas sigan en la escuela con leyes y logran sacar una ley nueva, pero eso no es suficiente pues la violencia prevalece.


El giro que le da Lupano a su novela, es introducir a un niño negro que vive en los bosques y que recita la historia de Ned Turner, quien protagonizara una cruenta rebelion y creo una suerte de paranoia aun mayor hacia negros que supieran leer y escribir y que supieran algo de las escrituras bíblicas. Es en cómo presenta a este niño que tengo un problema, pues me parece demasiado cercano a eso del 'buen salvaje' (inclusive dice llamarse Feral) con sus proclamas en contra de la educación "blanca".

Y después va y mete a esa mujer que vive en el bosque (¿una bruja?), y mete feminismo y la Diosa y todo ese cuento que creo que se le pasó un poco la mano en quere meter todo junto con la educación de las mujeres y todo el rollo antipatriarcal y contra la religión y la educación tradicional eurpeo. Es demasiada cosa junta que quiere meter aqui, desviando el foco de la idea principal.

Así que, no, no me deja satisfecha como esta contado este cuento. La historia es mucho mejor.

Por otra parte, me gutó como interactuaban las chicas en la escuela, a pesar de ser diferentes y como pensaban.

¿El arte? Interesante color y paleta.

This is a Graphic Novel based on a true story about a female boarding school in Canterbury Connecticut in the 1830's that began accepting black students, & the results that ensued. The story is easy to read & follow along, & the drawings/artwork that accompany the written words are really good & expressive! This tells about some history that I hadn't known about & the Afterword really is very good, telling about where the real characters went on from there.....earning the 4th star in rating! I'd recommend this book to everyone! What a great way to learn history!
I received this e-book from Europe Comics via NetGalley, in return for reading it & offering my own fair/honest review.

This graphic novel is based on true events that happened in Cantebury, CT in the 1830's. This was the time shortly after the Nat Turner rebellion. Slavery was still legal in the south. While Black people were free in the north, they didn't have equal rights. A local white woman, Prudence Crandall ran a girl's boarding school. She made a decision to make the school exclusively for Black girls. This made most of the towns folks angry and they protested the existence of a school for Black girls. Crandall ended up going to court for her right to keep the school open.

This was an interesting piece of New England history that I was not previously aware of. It is important to know the history of all races so we can better understand how we got to where we are. I highly recommend this one to history buffs or fans of realistic graphic novels.

WHITE ALL AROUND is a historically based graphic novel about courage, allyship, and the threat of racism in an even liberal-leaning environment. Beautifully written and illustrated. It draws the reader into a story that examines the darkest period of the U.S., and the courage of those who nearly two centuries later continue to shine.
WHITE ALL AROUND is recommended for ages 12 and up.

WHITE ALL AROUND is based on the life of Prudence Crandall, an American schoolteacher at the Canterbury Female Boarding School and activist. Crandall had what is considered being the first integrated classroom and later operated the first school for black girls (“young Ladies and little Misses of color”) in the United States. The story also follows her students, Sarah Harris Fayerweather, a curious girl with a quick mind and desire to learn, (a teacher’s dream) her sister Mary Harris, and Mary Elizabeth Miles.
The author also created supporting characters vivid and impactful, most notably the nameless boy that terrorizes the community with his recitals of the “Confessions of Nat Turner.” Reminding all that Nat Turner’s violence was a response to the violence of slavery.
The story opens in Canterbury, Connecticut, a city with a significant population of Blacks who were free while slavery flourished in the south. However, the town’s people are ill at ease., a year prior, the Nat Turner revolt in Southampton County, Virginia continued to send shock waves throughout the land.
Nat Turner was a slave, a preacher, a rebel who became a cult leader, most disturbing about Turner, was that he was a slave that could read.
Prudence Crandall arrives and establishes a school for girls that become successful. It is when she is open to allowing Harris, a black girl, into her school that sets in motion events with an outcome that is painful, shocking but all too familiar.
Wilfrid Lupano tells a story of Prudence Crandall’s heroism with empathy and balance.
Stephane Ferte’s art is engaging, capturing the range of emotion of characters with a lush pallet of colors.
It is noteworthy, this powerful tale was published by French publisher Dargaud, and distributed by Euro-Comics.
The last six pages are dedicated to Prudence Crandall, the school and the Black students she empowered.
Stories like WHITE ALL AROUND are important to remind Americans and the world beyond that its promise of a land free for all is a promise worth fighting for and a fight that one should expect.
AJ Harper is the author of the YA series Tales of Urban Horror