How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Oprah Daily’s “20 of the Best New Summer Books to Pick Up This June.”
By Leigh Haber, Michelle Hart, Hamilton Cain and Joshunda Sanders
Oprah Daily, June 2, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is reviewed by NPR which says, "in rich, evocative language, Smith synthesizes first hand research, textual sources, and interviews as he weaves a lyrical and precise tapestry of the truth of America's past that many would like to continue to hide."
By Hope Wabuke
NPR, June 2, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is named as one of The Millions’s “most anticipated” books of June 2021.
By Carolyn Quimby
The Millions, June 2, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is named as one of Bitch Media’s “17 Books Feminists Should Read in June.”
By Evette Dionne
Bitch Media, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Washington Post’s “10 books to read in June.”
By Bethanne Patrick
The Washington Post, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of NY Observe’s “best new summer reads.”
By Lauren LeBlanc
NY Observer, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is reviewed by USA Today which says, “What [Smith] does, quite successfully, is show that we whitewash our history at our own risk.”
By Chris Vognar
USA Today, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is reviewed by The Seattle Times which says, “[A] brave and important book that needed to be written and demands to be read.”
By David Takami
The Seattle Times, June 1, 2021
In a review by the New York Times, Julian Lucas writes that How the Word Is Passed "sketches an impressive and deeply affecting human cartography of America’s historical conscience…an extraordinary contribution to the way we understand ourselves."
By Julian Lucas
New York Times, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is named as one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “June releases elevate overlooked stories and offer insights on oft-discussed topics.”
By Meilan Solly
Smithsonian Magazine, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is reviewed by Ploughshares which shares “[How the Word Is Passed is] an important and effective call for us to examine how it is we remember our past, and how central our historical memory is to our existence today.”
By Joel Pinckney
Ploughshares at Emerson College, June 1, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Daily Beast’s “best summer reads of 2021.”
By Allison McNearney
The Daily Beast, May 30, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “15 books you need to read this June”
By Seija Rankin
Entertainment Weekly, May 28, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of “75 books you should read this summer” by Literary Hub
By Literary Hub
Literary Hub, May 28, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Kirkus’ hottest summer reads of 2021.
By Kirkus Editors
Kirkus May 28, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is recommended as one of Time’s “36 books you need to read this summer.”
By Raisa Bruner , Annabel Gutterman and Cady Lang
Time, May 25, 2021
How the Word Is Passed is named as one of the “16 best books of June” by Kirkus.
By Kirkus Editors
Kirkus, May 25, 2021
How The Word Is Passed is named as one of the “28 new books you need to add to your summer reading list ASAP” by Buzzfeed.
By Arianna Rebolini and Tomi Obaro
Buzzfeed, May 21, 2021
Clint Smith’s gifts as both a poet and a scholar make How the Word Is Passed a richly provocative read about places where the story of American slavery lives on.
By Alden Mudge
BookPage, May 14, 2021
The writer and poet talks about novelistic nonfiction and why he thinks of his grandparents as monuments.
By Clint Smith and Ben Purkert
Guernica, May 3, 2021