Book Review: Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen's Rise to Fame by Tami Charles

Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen's Rise To Fame by Tami Charles is a children’s nonfiction book that explores how Debbie Allen became a dancer during the Civil Rights Movement and rose to fame through talent, perseverance, and determination. 

I received an Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book for free from NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for my honest review. I grew up watching Fame, so I’ve always known who Debbie Allen was, but I realized I didn’t know much about her life beyond her connection to her sister, Phylicia Rashad. I also remember seeing her appear on an episode or two of the reality dance show Dance Moms, which made me even more curious about her journey and legacy in the dance world.

This children's picture book gives kids a look into Debbie Allen's life in a friendly, easy to understand format. Additionally, the story teaches children about the Civil Rights Movement since that is part of the dancers story. It's extremely well written, and the illustrations are phenomenal. Both parents and children will enjoy this read.

One of the most powerful things I learned from this book as an adult is that Debbie Allen faced serious obstacles on her path to success. She was denied admission to a dance school because of the color of her skin, experienced her parents’ divorce, and later moved to Mexico with her mother and sister so she could continue her dance training and pursue her passion.

I gave Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame by Tami Charles five out of five stars because it is beautifully written, engaging, and inspiring. I highly recommend this children’s biography to families with young readers, especially those who love dance or enjoy stories about perseverance, creativity, and achieving dreams.

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