Middle-grade tale that blends time-travel superpowers with a short, direct introduction to the Tulsa Race Massacre and a present-day call to spread love to counter racial hatred.
Glow Power is a middle-grade book (ages 9+) that uses a time-traveling superhero avatar to introduce readers to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and connect that history to contemporary issues of racial hatred.
Protagonist Jake transforms into a cardinal-avatar with time-travel abilities, uses his powers to revive a friend and attempts to prevent violence by fostering love and understanding among perpetrators.
Glow Power is a middle-grade story aimed at readers about nine and older. It combines friendship, family, and superpowers with historical content: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The publisher is Jay Books Press (2026), with Jacqueline López and Joy Peyton credited as authors and Cheyenne Lewis as illustrator.
Jake discovers he has superpowers and can become an avatar known as Jake the Cardinal Bird. In that form he can travel back in time. He first uses the ability to bring his friend Teyanna back to life and then travels further back to Tulsa in 1921, the year a violent white mob and colluding police destroyed the thriving Black community known as Black Wall Street.
Rather than depict the massacre as only an irreparable tragedy, Jake attempts to stop future violence by traveling to moments before it occurs to spread love and understanding in the hearts of the shooters. The narrative asks whether changing people's hearts could prevent violence and models kindness, acceptance, and activism as central responses to racial hatred.
The story is described as inspirational and accessible. Artwork is vibrant and digital, intended to help readers imagine themselves alongside the characters in 1921 Tulsa and to center people of color visually. The book balances superhero action with "good old-fashioned values" such as love and acceptance.
Historical framing and educational value
Glow Power includes historical facts about the Tulsa Race Massacre and deliberately connects that past to present-day problems caused by racial hatred. The final page offers a call to action encouraging readers to continue spreading hope and love as a means to combat hatred and violence.
Recommended for ages nine and up. The review suggests that younger readers can engage with the book if they have adult guidance, given the historical violence discussed and the book's activist message.
About the author and review context
Practical takeaway for readers and caregivers
Glow Power can serve as an introduction for middle-grade readers to a difficult historical episode while offering a model of empathy-driven action. Expect a mix of speculative fiction devices (time travel, avatars) and a clear activist message inviting readers to consider how love and understanding relate to preventing violence.
Place Glow Power alongside other historically minded middle-grade fiction that uses speculative elements to make past events approachable for young readers and that aims to open conversations about race, justice, and personal responsibility.
Blending philosophy, physics, and adventure, this middle grade novel encourages readers to search for the joy and light they carry within themselves. The post Martin & The Lightbeams of Amalius | Dedicated Review first appeared on The Children's Book Review .
Uplifting and joyful, Miya's Mooncakes is perfect for readers who wonder how they can be good neighbors in our increasingly diverse and divided society. The post Miya’s Mooncakes | Dedicated Review first appeared on The Children's Book Review .
For any reader who has ever wondered if there is a place in STEM for them, this is the perfect picture book to welcome them in. The post Charlie’s Space Adventures: Mission to the Moon | Dedicated Review first appeared on The Children's Book Review .
Positive and empowering, The Boy and His Higher Self is a great tool for helping younger readers recognize their own agency in life. The post The Boy and His Higher Self | Dedicated Review first appeared on The Children's Book Review .
In this wacky, imaginative picture book, readers can step inside a world where giraffes zip-line, moles operate stealth drones, monkeys mountain bike, and more! The post Itch and the Critter Patrol | Dedicated Review first appeared on The Children's Book Review .
Middle school has never been easy, but today’s culture pushes kids out of childhood faster than ever. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson explores this pivotal season with the late Dr. Brenda Hunter and her daughter, Kristen Blair, authors of From Santa to Sexting. They discuss cyberbullying, media satu
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.