The illustrations, timeline of Juneteenth and the biography of Opal Lee combine to make this an unforgettable graphic novel. I would recommend it for libraries, those who are interested in American history, women's history, Black American history and more.

After learning about this graphic novel, I searched my public library network for "Opal Lee" and all that came back were children's books. As a public librarian, I feel as if this book fills an important hole in the collection. The book is informative, well-written, with detailed and nuanced illustrations. I think the opening remark "To the reader" is a nice way to preface the story. I learned a lot and I think the story is structured in a way that balances struggle with celebration, which carried me through. Some historical nonfiction graphics can be grim, but this one feels uplifting.

What a beautiful story! I knew some of the history of Juneteenth, but not Opal Lee's part in making the holiday happen. The book did a great job of alternating between Opal Lee's childhood and more current times with the juxtaposition of how she is treated that would be shocking to many current-day readers. I think this book is a great way to show that change doesn't just happen but has to be championed by those who are persistent and dedicated and never give up, like Opal Lee. The illustrations capture the feelings and information of events and bring history to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher (and Opal Lee!) for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Freedom succeeds as a powerful, accessible portrait of a woman who refused to let America forget its own history. It is a graphic novel that invites reflection without losing its momentum — a fitting tribute to Opal Lee’s quiet, steady insistence that freedom must be remembered, taught, and lived.

First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth is both beautifully written and richly illustrated, tracing the long arc from the Emancipation Proclamation to its long-delayed enforcement—two and a half years later—across every state. Woven through this history is the remarkable life of Opal Lee, whose own experiences move alongside the Civil Rights movement, desegregation, the election of the first African American president, and the eventual recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

The book is powerful and deeply moving, never flinching from the hard truths or the hard work. It stands as a testament to struggle, to hope, to determination, and to the unending effort required to bend the world toward justice. It invites readers not just to witness history, but to carry the work forward.

First Freedom is a biographical graphic novel that highlights the life of the grandmother of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal Lee and history of Juneteenth. Alternating between Opal Lee's childhood and present day, Tracing the long arc from the Emancipation Proclamation to its long-delayed enforcement . This is richly illustrated, deeply moving, uplifting and beautifully written. It invites readers to carry the work forward. This graphic novel is a portrait of a woman who refused to let America forget its own history. I recommend this graphic novel for people who are interested in Black American History. I enjoy the illustrations and historical information. Juneteenth is an important part of our history that shouldn't be forgotten.

A moving tribute to a woman who spent a lot of time and energy throughout her life fighting for the recognition of others through the celebration of Juneteenth.

Providing a life's overview in graphic novel biographical form, it skips around in time though it does place you in the date and location whenever the move happens to give you a dose of what Lee's early life looked like (lots of moving, discrimination, and her family's attempt at upward mobility even in the face of blatant hatred) and her perseverance in marching and talking to others about the importance of history. I do think it moved back and forth a little too much for my taste, however the breadth of Lee's life (including her own education, career, and family) are wonderfully thorough.

There are quite a few events that are referenced including the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (and the earlier, not often discussed fact about being stabbed with a letter opener at a book signing event) but also the election of the first Black president and referendums past and present.

a bright colourful bio graphic story of Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth, the path and history behind the holiday starting with her birth in 1926 we follow Opals 99 years of hard work, dedication and living what is modern history
the premise is opal speaking with a young student struggling with the concept of slavery and segregation being so recent despite depictions by media and text books
having lived through a segregated america, witnessing and experiencing first hand the dangers, opal incorporates her story in a beautiful, touching, poetically told way
timeline goes from 1860 to present, as it covers opals ancestors (grandparents and parents)
has historic facts, references, notes and so much more

This important graphic memoir for all ages tells the story of Opal Lee’s peaceful fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday. I really enjoyed learning about Opal’s family struggles, her childhood, and her early years as a student as she reached for her dreams while navigating segregation and rejection. The book highlights Opal’s extraordinary life as an educator and activist, showing her bravery, persistence, and compassion. Her 1,400-mile walk to Washington, D.C., at 90 years old was especially impressive and deeply inspiring. I felt some parts were a bit confusing, lacking seriousness or importance. For example, the part where a conversation about politics arises during a Christmas party.

In general, it’s a powerful book. Perfect for encouraging us to think about the importance of understanding historical events and holidays and remembering the people who struggled to create equal opportunities for future generations. Loved the vibrant colors and the simple execution. A must read!

First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth is a graphic novel that shares the life of Opal Lee and her advocacy to making Juneteenth a national holiday. This book is written more as an overview instead of an annotated biography, making this is an approachable biography to hopefully guide further conversation and reading about Ms. Opal Lee and Juneteenth.

This is brilliant. It is colourful, inspirational and engaging.

Not being American, I never really understood what Juneteenth was about, but this graphic novel tells the story of the struggles that took place to make sure the emancipation was real emancipation.

When the story sinks in the reader can allow themselves to marvel at the courage of the enslaved to make their freedom a reality. The reader can also allow themselves to be shocked at the racism and discrimination that is still alive and well in our world today. But best of all we can be inspired by Opal Lee. By her life, courage and testimony and by the way she allowed her faith to shape all of her life and move her into love, compassion and action.

This is an amazing book in the way it tells her story and the story of Juneteenth with glorious graphics and colour. I feel inspired and emboldened to live my own life in such a way and with such courage and grace.

This is also a book for our time as attacks against equality continue in various different ways.

An inspiring graphic novel for all ages.

Every cause needs a Granddear to shepherd it to completion and my world is richer for understanding the story (so far) of Ms. Opal Lee, and for her unceasing emphasis on the power of community. The other workers on the movement to make Juneteenth a national holiday in the US are also featured and acknowledged, but Ms. Lee's steadfast and innovative stewardship are at the heart of the story. The richness of Ms. Lee's life creates a strong central core and Ms. Roche's art draws the reader through, even if it sticks to relatively similar designs. I look forward to sharing this story with others.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!

A beautifully told and deeply inspiring picture‑book biography that highlights Opal Lee’s determination to see Juneteenth recognised nationally. It balances the weight of history with an accessible, hopeful tone that works well for younger readers while still giving adults plenty to appreciate. The storytelling captures both the injustice she faced and the extraordinary persistence that defined her decades‑long activism, with the illustrations artfully bringing her journey to life with warmth and dignity. It’s a powerful introduction to Juneteenth and a moving tribute to a woman whose quiet, steady courage helped change the course of American history.

A very cool, quick read about the history of Juneteenth and the woman who helped bring the day to national attention. I knew only a surface-level amount about the holiday, and almost nothing about Opal Lee or her role in its journey to becoming a federal holiday. This graphic novel goes deeper into both.

The format makes the history engaging and easy to follow. The scenes flow well, and the artwork helps ground the timeline in something tangible and human. There are a few artistic liberties in the storytelling to keep things moving, but it never feels distracting.

A thoughtful, accessible way to learn the history behind Juneteenth. A great read for Black History Month.

I am really glad that a book like this exists. Learning about Opal Lee through this graphic novel made her story feel immediate and personal, not distant or purely historical. I appreciated how the book moved through different stages of her life, from her childhood to her work as an educator and activist, and showed how long and persistent her fight for Juneteenth truly was. Seeing her journey laid out visually helped the history feel grounded in lived experience rather than abstract dates and facts.
What stood out to me most was how informative the book was while still being genuinely engaging to read. The combination of artwork and storytelling made the history of Juneteenth easier to understand and more emotionally resonant. I also liked the inclusion of back matter that added more context and depth once the story ended. By the time I finished, I felt like I had learned something meaningful and important, and I was grateful for the chance to spend time with Ms. Opal’s story and legacy.

This story is mostly chronological, but with some present day moments of Opal Lee before returning to her story. I loved this book. So grateful for it and the history it tells.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel is about the life of Opal Lee and the importance of Juneteenth. Personally, I hadn't known much of Opal Lee since she's not taught about or even mentioned much in history which is a shame because she is such a remarkable woman. Not only how amazing she is, but the true meaning of Juneteenth. It wasn't just a random day that slaves were free, but a day that marked generational pain, grief, and heartache. One fact that I didn't know was that Texas was a state that didn't even tell the slaves and that slave owners were trying to "escape" to Texas so they could keep their slaves.
I feel-as a Native born Texan- it was only fitting that Opal Lee was from Texas herself. She created a legacy and with this book, everyone will know of her and the importance of Juneteenth.

First Freedom is a graphic novel about the life of Opal Lee and her determination for Juneteenth to be recognised as a federal holiday. It starts with a lovely preface from the author about how the book came about, and her research and conversations with Opal Lee.

I knew a little about Juneteenth going into this, but only what I've learnt myself through other stories and news. It's not a holiday that we celebrate over in the UK and there wasn't much taught about slavery in the US when I was at school either, so I went into this one hoping to learn a little more and it certainly achieved that. The book gave a good overview of the events leading up to Juneteenth, the freedom (and delay of freedom) of slaves in Texas, and it touched on segregation, discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr, Obama becoming the first black President and other key events along the timeline. The novel also followed Opal Lee, her life, and her determination in ensuring Juneteenth became officially recognised.

Overall, this was a great starting point for learning more about Juneteenth. It gave a good overview, and I was able to use it as a jumping off point to take away and learn more independently. The illustration was simple but lovely and complimented the story and information the author wanted to portray really well. I also think this would be appropriate for a lot of age ranges to read, enjoy and learn from.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoy a graphic-novel that blends biography with broader cultural history, and I’m continuing to gravitate towards Black experiences. I’m also looking for more socially conscious, identity focused narratives. First Freedom focuses on Opal Lee’s civil rights activism and the fight for systemic change. This deep dive into activist history is something I enjoy, and this book delivers.

Opal Lee was like many African Americans, suffering discrimination left and right, all while attempting upward mobility. She was an activist all her life. One of the things that I really liked about this graphic biography is that not only does it show Opal Lee’s life, but it also shows moments in the civil rights movement. I was today years old when I found out that Martin Luther King was stabbed with a letter opener in 1958!

This is the type of book that teachers and librarians will love.