logo

68 pages 2 hours read

Nathan McCall

Makes Me Wanna Holler

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1994

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Makes Me Wanna Holler by Nathan McCall details his life growing up in a working-class Black neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia during the 1960s and 1970s, his descent into crime due to systemic racism and lack of opportunity, his incarceration, and eventual self-improvement through education and resolve, leading to a career in journalism despite enduring persistent racial challenges. The book discusses topics such as crime, incarceration, and racial discrimination.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Nathan McCall's Makes Me Wanna Holler receives praise for its raw and powerful storytelling, reflecting on the systemic challenges and personal growth of an African American man. Critics commend its authentic voice and social relevance but note the graphic content and harsh realities depicted may be unsettling for some readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Makes Me Wanna Holler?

Readers who would enjoy Nathan McCall’s Makes Me Wanna Holler are likely drawn to deeply personal and socially reflective memoirs. Fans of Richard Wright’s Black Boy or Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me would appreciate McCall’s raw narrative on race, redemption, and resilience in America.

Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Portsmouth, Virginia • 1960s-1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

950L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.