Curve & Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams
by Andrea J. Loney ; illus. by Keith Mallett
Primary     Knopf    48 pp.         g
9/22     978-0-593-42907-5     $18.99
Library ed.  978-0-593-42908-2    $21.99
e-book ed.  978-0-593-42909-9    $11.99

Paul R. Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894; his parents died when he was five, and his brother was sent to a different foster home. Despite this early tragedy, Paul flourished creatively, demonstrating a talent for drawing that blossomed into a career as an architect. By 1921, facing discrimination and prejudice at every turn, he had become the first Black certified architect west of the Mississippi River. Southern California was becoming a cultural mecca, and Williams took advantage of that to put his iconic stamp on many prominent buildings. He didn’t stop there, though. He also got into the banking industry to help African Americans overcome the predatory, discriminatory practice of redlining. In 1948, the Supreme Court struck down laws upholding restrictive housing covenants, and Paul was finally free to build his dream house in his desired neighborhood. If “curve and flow” represents elements of Williams’s design style, the motto also signifies how he dealt with the obstacles and opportunities he faced in life. Alongside the generally optimistic text, the illustrations reinforce this theme of overcoming adversity. They convey grace, warmth, and dignity with a color palette dominated by purple, gold, blue, brown, and burgundy, and expressive figures who fairly shine and glow. An author’s note, sources, photos, and a timeline are appended.

From the September/October 2022 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.