Fierce Aunties!

K-Gr 4–Right off the bat, Fierce Aunties! is exciting. There’s such liveliness and vivacity with the title and the exclamation point. That carries on, the book exploding with appreciation for the dynamic women in a child’s life. The story follows a young girl celebrating the different aunties and their influence on her life. From the first page, the women burst into the narrative in a flash of color and fun. They’re coded with a range of ages and interests, but all show remarkable, blinding joy. Each auntie covers different types of development. They guide through competition and athleticism, academia, environmentalism, historical significance, etc. Regardless of what they’re teaching, it’s presented in a beautifully nurturing way. It’s not about forcing opinion. It’s about seeing individual potential and letting it bloom in safety. The book also points out the generational throughline of inspirational aunties. Goodluck highlights this in her final author’s note, shouting out her own fierce aunties and talking about where readers can find their own auntie figures.