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Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson – Review by Amanda Meady

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson

This book is an account of what any African American family may have, and likely did, face through the years. Through the use of family letters, the reader has a brief understanding of how things have changed and improved from generations ago. The book was impactful but also a quick read because I didn’t want to put it down. I felt like I had a brief glimpse into a family’s personal history during troubling times. Ultimately this book shows the progress we’ve made, which does not negate what still needs to come.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Wendy Wary

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the way the author wove the stories of U.S. black history into personal journal entries through generations of a family. The book included historic moments and public figures, and offered several events I hadn’t previously learned about. The storytelling manner made the factual information easier to digest and feel less like a history lesson. I found it interesting to read about the events from the perspective of both children and adults, which helped really weave an intricate tapestry full of emotion. Having read gruesome accounts of slavery, I appreciated gaining a bit more knowledge of modern black history and how the weight of the past has been carried through generations.

Reviewed by @wendywary

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Melissa Collins

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great story, revelant to our tone of the world. The story allowed me to see from a very raw perspective.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Cora Ryan

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an amazing retelling of important moments in American history from a personal stand point. I felt my heart ache and pull as I was reading the realities of some of these people.
The grandiose these of slavery could not have been described in a better way than through these accounts/stories from each person.
It made one understand and feel their personal experiences that you just dont get from reading a history book.

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Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amari is a young Africa- American man dealing with the grief of losing his beloved grandmother two weeks before, he misses the stories of her life that she used to tell and now regrets that he didn’t listen to her more and pay more attention, he can still see her in his minds eye and misses her so much so that when he agrees to help to pack his grandmothers belongings up, he is dreading it, but he goes anyway and as he is folding her clothes, he hears someone shout that they found a box of letters, some of them are really old and some of them are more modern. It turns out that these letters are stories, passed down from generation to generation, stories of times past told by the person who lived them, they are the stories which his grandma told them, so when he asks to keep them, everyone readily agrees and Amari cannot wait to read them and learn more.

The first letter is from a woman called Sallie who was a slave on a plantation in Tennessee in the 1860’s, it tells of her first memories and the experiences she went through as a slave, as well as the transition between that and becoming citizens when slavery is abolished. The next story and from is her daughter Isabelle who talks about life in Chicago in the 1920’s where segregation between the races still exists and the troubles it caused between them, as well as the societal upheaval as people fought for equality. Lisa is the next generation of this family to speak and she continues with the fight against segregation and inequality in New York, specifically focussing on school life from the point of view of a child of 5 years old and the rise of Martin Luther King and how his speeches inspired those who lived at the time. Jessica is next with her experiences at college in Atlanta 1990 and how multicultural and interesting life was talking to people from around the world and learning about their lives at the same time as experiencing the changes in her own and finally it is the turn of Amari and their feelings around the events of modern day America.

This collection of stories tells the story of African-Americans from their point of view, not those of the history books, it is emotional, compelling and interesting throughout and inspires you to think about life and how much it has both changed and remained the same, it is thought provoking and well worth a read.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson -Review by Kerry Carr

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really beautifully written book about one person’s family  history. I love how the history was written in letters given down the generations.

It follows a family’s history from being slaves to white people to the first black president. The story is interesting and really opens your eyes to what people had to go through in the past when things were all against them just because of the colour of their skin.
It was a captivating read that I really enjoyed.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Rachel Moss

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams was a really good read! However, this book was a little difficult to read as a white woman. There were snippets of history sprinkled throughout this short novel that I never learned about at school. Reading this book really made me realize all of the privilege I actually have. I highly encourage everyone (especially non people of color) to read this, to maybe gain some insight into the struggles people of color have faced and continue to face everyday. My only complaint was the flow. I feel like the letters could have flowed and segued better throughout. But this was a very interesting and informing read. I’m glad I picked this one up and learned from it.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Amanda Glaspie

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson was a short but impactful read. In 46 short pages I felt sorrow, joy, fear, happiness and so much more. Dr. Johnson shared journal entries from her family that began in the 1860s. In their stories, I was amazed by how much wasn’t taught in school and ended up finding myself looking up significant events that occurred. I hope to see more from her as I couldn’t put Manifested Dreams down.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Jenni Bishop

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Dr Yvonne Johnson is a wonderful complex story and one that will make your heart ache. It is stories of African-American history throughout generations. But it is not just storying it is an education. A lot of passion and heart and soul has gone into this book, and it shows in Yvonne’s writing. It is like leaving a legacy and a record of events to allow word to remain alive for others to keep long into the future. It is original and it is thought provoking that will take you on life’s journey. This inspiring story is short and quick, but it packs a punch. I wish it were longer.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Nakyshia Leger

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nothing teaches you REAL history like the stories passed down from REAL people. In this book, Dr. Yvonne Johnson compiles letters of real life experiences through generations of one family. It was eye opening and tugged deep down in my soul. There are still many problems in our country when it comes to racism, many problems that have existed for years on end. It’s heartbreaking to know that people still experience today some of what their ancestors experienced all those years ago. These stories also told of the bravery and triumphs of many over the years. This is definitely an eye opening book that everyone should take the time to read!

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Review by @nrl0522

 

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Kelli Harper

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Review: Manifested Dreams
Author: Yvonne Johnson
Four Stars
This is a very short book of letters written through the years from members of an African-American family. Describing their experiences with being persons of color and their treatment. It starts with a girl who was an owned slave then continues through the years up to present day when Barack Obama was elected president and their reactions and hopes when that came about.
Very interesting read. I did learn quite a bit about some of the experiences that were had by people of a different race and culture.
KLH

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Sunday Barnaby

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne L. Johnson
Four Stars

Manifested Dreams is a short story by Dr. Yvonne L. Johnson. This is the first book I have read by Dr. Johnson, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. This was an intriguing and interesting perspective of history, stories told through letters from the past and discussing current issues. These were thought provoking issues on slavery and racism, and the differences and similarities in generations past and present. It was something different for me to read, but I really enjoyed the different perspectives. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Review by @sunbarn

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Sarah Hammel

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While it is an extremely short story, it felt like it went much faster than I would have ever expected. Short stories are hard for me to get into because they do go by so fast but when I heard about this book I felt like I absolutely needed to read it. Amari loses her grandma, someone she was incredibly close to and has to come to terms with what that loss really means and how to overcome the loss. It is a fantastic way to find a new author to fall in absolute love with, and I highly recommend it. When it comes down to it, this is what I recommend most people to do; is to read a short story or collected short story of an author. I am really looking forward to more from Yvonne Johnson in the future and will be keeping an eye on them to scoop them up immediately.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Heather Bass

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I was blown away. I love a good historical book but she exceeded all my expectations. This is a small book but don’t be fooled. This book will leave a huge impact in your heart. I started to read this story and I was hooked from the first page. I had a lot of different emotions run through me while reading this book. I can’t wait to see what this author will write next.

Amari is so sad that her grandmother passed away. She misses all the stories she used to tell her about where her family came from. Amari was so happy when she received a box full of letters from her past. She started reading the letters right away and she couldn’t believe how hard her ancestors fought to be free. Amari finds out the hard and good times they went through. Will Amari get comfort from these stories and feel closer to her grandma or will she feel like she never knew her at all?
Review by @heatherbass

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Manifested Dreams by Dr Yvonne Johnson – review by Jules Herbert

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will be honest I am not usually a short story reader but this book was wonderful! I loved how the author presented the different perspectives and experiences of reach generation in an easy to read but very informative way. Everyone should read these stories to learn about and remember those in history who came before us and strived to make the world a better place.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars
Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson is an emotional short story about several generations of African American family members and all they went through. although this is a very short read I found myself lost in pages. I could feel the emotions that they were feeling. My heart broke for them. As sad as it is Racism is still very real and it seems its growing in every area and it breaks my heart. I highly recommend reading this story.I definitely learned a thing or two. I look forward to reading more from this Author.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Stephanie Colley

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every family has a storyteller.
Finding out how ones family pass down stories through the years is very interesting. Because how is one person suppose to remember all the happenings of the past without writing it down?
In Manifested Dreams it talks about the aftermath of one families grandmother that has passed. While cleaning out the house they find the stash of all past stories hidden away!
Listening to the stories of the past told from their first hand point of view was inspiring.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book truly is a journey. I loved how that Author has this story with different character’s POV via letters that are found by Amari when his grandmother passes away. You go through a history of slavery, Red Summer of 1919, Martin Luther King Jr march and his assassination, Rodney King and 44th President of the United State, Barack Obama. Each generation has a story to tell in these letters of these different historical events. I really embraced every word of this book and it is truly a great read. My Favorite line in the book that I loved was “We all have a little Dr. King in us, even you.” Well Done Author Yvonne Johnson!!!

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This original story by Dr. Yvonne Johnson is a fascinating, emotional and thought provoking novel. ‘Manifested Dreams’ “chronicles the history of an African-American family through several generations living in a radically divisive America”. The story is told via letters which Amari is reading, the box of letters was found in his beloved grandma’s belongings after she had died. Amari loved listening to his grandma tell him stories from their past and when he discovers these letters he realises it is where the stories come from. Each letter is written by a different person in a different generation and explores the world around them and how they live at that time. Sallie who was born as a slave to slave parents on the Davies Plantation in Tennessee writes about how it was like to live as an African-American in the 1860s. The next letter is from her daughter Isabelle who talks about what life was like in the 1920s. The following letters explore the lives of Lisa, Jessica, and lastly Amari, who is reading the letters. As a whole the letters and the stories in them “presents the life of African-Americans throughout history” and looks at how each generation has dealt with racial inequities.

The storyline is unique and had me gripped from the start, however I did find the story a bit slow to start with and hard to get into. It took me a while to get used to the authors style of writing and the story being told via letters, but once I did I was hooked. I definitely recommend sticking with the book although it’s not an easy read. The author obviously is very knowledgeable and at times the history facts do get in the way of the natural flow of the story however, her descriptive narrative really brings the settings and characters to life. It is the characters and their individual stories that kept me turning the pages eager to learn about their lives. I like how the story ends as it begins with Amari talking about his memories of his grandma. A historical note from the author would have been interesting at the end maybe. This engaging and touching novel took me on a journey along with Amari and his ancestors and it also took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Although not an epic in pages it is an epic in storytelling and I recommend that everyone read it and learn about African-American history.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Chrissy Spulak

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson is a book I recommend to EVERYONE. It is a quick read; it is not even 50 pages in length and took me less than an hour to devour.
I am intrigued by American History and appreciate all the historical connections that each character’s letters entailed. I found myself taking notes to further educate myself on each and every event that was mentioned. If I was still teaching American Literature, I would definitely be seeking the author’s permission to use this book as a supplemental tool alongside works such as To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Each letter is from a first person perspective that pulls the reader directly into the characters’ heads, making these stories an experience, rather than lecture. Having these specific personal accounts makes the past come alive and points out how racism and inequality is ABSOLUTELY still an issue in this country, even if it is swept under the rug and denied. Manifested Dreams follows an American family’s journey from the Civil War era to the present. As a fan of Alex Haley’s Roots, I practically inhaled this short book and was left wanting so much more. I have a profound appreciation and respect for this author and will be purchasing more copies for others. I highly recommend this book with 5 stars.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Kerry Baker

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson is an emotional book about family and their views of what it is like to live in this world. I thought it was so easy to connect with these different people. You could feel the different emotions and experiences with each new letter.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book but I was moved by each of the journeys. This is a new author to me and I am so glad that I have found her work. This was well written and beautiful to read end I am really looking forward to discovering more by this author.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Piper Foster

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very slow and bit enough story for me to actually get it uforutunely. However I do think it has potential if expanded upon. I do think some of this is sad and unfair in how some race are treated differently than others which should not be done.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Kayla Bullock

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams tells the family story from the 1800’s until present. The story is presented through a series of letters, each written by a different generation. Focusing on an African-American family that started in slavery, the story progresses through Emancipation, the civil rights movement, and more.

I enjoyed this book. It makes the reader think long and hard about their life and their role in preventing discrimination. It was definitely an interesting look at the lives of African-Americans in this county. It left me wanting more–I wanted to know more about the characters and their lives. Great book that I would recommend to everyone!

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Donna Dawkin

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is the generational stories that keep the spirit alive and truly tell the tale of how history affected real people. In this short story by Dr Yvonne Johnson, we hear young voices tell the story of several generations of an African-American family. Through their combined history, told through the from the point of view of daughters who become mothers, we feel their both their frustration and elation.
With a good balance of historical fact and familial history, we see the dreams of a people manifest within the lineage of one family. The only thing I wished it had more of was pages!! Looking forward to this authors next work.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Erica Shoebridge

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an interesting book. It is presented as a compilation of stories passed down through a family, in which one storyteller in each generation tells about the important events of their life. There were some great moments in black history recalled, and how that event was important to them, or changed their lives. The story moved quickly, and there were lots of interesting details in each person’s telling. I loved the character of Amari’s grandmother; it was easy to picture her twinkling eyes and crown of braids. I would have liked to see more differentiation in the narrator; the voices all sounded as if coming from the same person. A little more individuality in the speaker would have made this better for me. Despite that, I really enjoyed reading this work, learned some new things, and it made me question the role of history and storytelling in my own life.

Reviewed by @ericalorraine
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Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson Reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson is the first book that i have read by this Author. This short read was really good This family’s story of several generations of African-Americans and what they delt with. I read this book all in a hour and i wanted to read more, i did not want this book to end. This read will put you in your feels. I look forward to reading more books by Yvonne Johnson. Thank you for this wonderful short read.

 

 

 

@stephaniedulac25

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Karen Pearman

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a new author for me, but I can’t wait to read what other stories that she has. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I will be recommending this book to my friends and even gifting it to family for the holidays this year because I believe this should be read and enjoyed by everyone. I love how she wrote the book from the perspectives of the individuals from each generation represented. This was something I don’t believe I have ever read before, but it was PHENOMENAL! This book was not quite what I expected it to be, but I was captivated from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. I didn’t want to put it down. In fact, I didn’t want it to end. I loved how she provided a history lesson through the eyes of these characters. Please pick this book up and read it. I promise you will not be disappointed in it.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Tausha Treadway

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson. I have never read anything by this author but this was a very interesting read. It’s a very emotional read and it will keep you turning pages until you are done. Its written almost in a journal form but it really keeps your interest. Its basically the story of a family’s journey from slavery to freedom and more. Its during the Post Civil War, Martin Luther King and even to seeing Obama become the 1st African American President. It tells of how the South even to this day still has racism, not nearly as bad but it is still there. The story also tells us that it isn’t just in the South that there is racism but everywhere in all walks of life! This is a super short read but it holds a lot of information and its very emotional as well. Do yourself a favor and read this awesome book.

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Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me and I can’t wait to see what is next for her. This is a great collection of stories that are about family and going back in generations with some of them. I enjoyed how this author wrote with a lot of heart and you can feel that with each story. They are stories of an African American family and will show you that racism is real and it happens all over the world and not just in your area. The characters will pull at your heart strings and felt as if you were right there with them. They are connectable and strong to go through what some of them have. I really enjoyed this book and how it brought the issue of racism to life. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Manifested Dreams by Dr. Yvonne Johnson—-Reviewed by Jerricka Brown

Manifested DreamsManifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing. I was truly educated more after finishing it. While I was entertained at the same time. I enjoyed all the different perspectives of the characters. I feel like a better person. I will use what I have read in this book in some of my everyday life. I am definitely going to read more from this amazing author.

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