Indigo & Ida
By: Heather Murphy Capps
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Number of Pages: 312
Published: April 4, 2023
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (Lerner Publishing)
Dates Read: April 2, 2023 - April 3, 2023
Format: ARC / Paperback

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