What is the author's tone in the nonfiction book, Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre?

Both the illustrations and the written story must be taken into account when one considers the tone of the story. For instance, the tone of the written story is very factual. There is some joy in the tone as the narrator describes how the women “strutted in style up and down Greenwood Avenue” (9) after they had their hair fixed at the beauty shop. The tone becomes serious when the narrator describes the alleged assault and the violence that took place as a result.

The illustrations also convey a good deal of emotion. For instance, the illustration on Page 4 shows a loving family. In the foreground, a Black girl looks at the reader as she stands with an arm protectively around her little sister. In the background, their parents move things from their car into their new house. The smaller girl has a corn husk doll, demonstrating poverty. The girl's family is coming to Tulsa looking for a better life. The illustration on Page 14 conveys a sense of panic, fear, and helplessness. The background is dusty orange with smoke billows, depicting the violence. In the foreground, Blacks hurry away. They are all running. One appears to be carrying a paper bag full of belongings. Another is putting on his coat as he runs. A wife clings to her husband as they try to escape.