School Library Journal awards Carole Boston Weatherford's Becoming Billie Holiday with a starred review in its October 2008 issue:

“Weatherford’s language is straightforward and accessible–almost conversational. She captures the woman’s jazzy, candid voice so adroitly that at times the poems seem like they could have been lifted wholesale from Holiday’s autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. ... This captivating title places readers solidly into Holiday’s world, and is suitable for independent reading as well as a variety of classroom uses."