Women's History Month: Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility

   The theme for National Women's History Month, March 2004, is "Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility." (Visit www.nwhp.org) to learn more about activities, events, and books honoring women. To join in this celebration, Children's Literature is highlighting recent reviews of books featuring women in all venues. Also see our related features:
   Women of Note
   Women in Space

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Reviews

Alice Walker: African-American Author and Activist
Lucia Raatma
   When Alice Walker was eight years old her self-image was altered by a shot from a BB gun. It damaged her eye and left a large white scar on her eye. She experienced teasing, which led her to withdraw and feel lonely. She buried herself in books and began to feel comfort in literature. When she was fourteen, her brother found a doctor who could change the white scar so that it was not so noticeable. She regained her self-confidence, went on to become an outstanding student and graduated at the top of her class. Spelman College in Atlanta offered her a scholarship which she accepted. Eventually, she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she was encouraged to pursue writing as a career by two of her professors. Later she received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "The Color Purple." Although she was criticized for her negative portrayal of African American men, she vowed that she would speak her mind. The author portrays Ms. Walker as a civil rights activist and feminist as well as a celebrated author. She participated in numerous civil rights activities including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 23, 1968, voter registration and work in Mississippi. One of her outstanding contributions was to develop a women's literature course on African American women writers at Wellesley College in Massachusetts where she was teaching. During the preparation of this course she discovered the works of Zora Neale Hurston , a forgotten writer from the Harlem Renaissance. At one point she edited some of her works and when she learned that she was buried in an unmarked grave, she searched for, found her grave and had a headstone placed there. Alice Walker will continue to contribute to the world of literature and women's rights. Watch for future activities. The book is part of the "Journey to Freedom, The African American Library Series." Each book in the series has a timeline of events and a glossary. 2004, The Child's World, $28.50. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5676-6512-8

Amazing Flights--The Golden Age
Ole Steen Hansen
   "The Story of Flight" series celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight and presents the history of aviation. Full-color illustrations and photographs show aviation's greatest moments, famous pilots, and numerous aircraft. This entry deals with the many triumphs of airplanes and their pilots, such as barnstormers (with a vignette of American Bessie Coleman), Lindberg's first transatlantic flight, the mail planes of the desert, going over the poles, a famous plane race from Mindenhall, England, to Melbourne, Australia, flying over Mt. Everest, and the first around-the-world flights. Three famous women fliers are profiled, Amy Johnson, Jean Batten, and Amelia Earhart. Numerous small pictures with accompanying text break up the pages and encourage browsing and scanning. Each volume ends with a spotters' guide showing a series of relevant planes and listing their specs, such as country of origin, description, length, wingspan, and speed that invites readers to compare planes and their usage. An index and glossary, but no Web sites, are included. This series is bound to appeal to boy readers and its format encourages less able readers to dip in, as well. For those interested in barnstorming, don't miss Nikki Grimes' Talkin'about Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman (Orchard, 2003). 2003, Crabtree Publishing Company, $8.95 and $17.94. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7787-1202-8
ISBN: 0-7787-1218-4

Amelia Earhart
Lola M. Schaefer
   With only about one to three sentences per page, this small size biography, one of the series "First Biographies," tells the story of the famed flyer's life. Amelia Earhart was born in 1897, at just the right time to participate in the pioneering days of airplane flight. This book does not do quite as good a job as the "Rookie Biography" version of Earhart's life at capturing her determination and courageousness. The facts of her life are reported rather dryly, and without an enthusiasm that might spark further interest by young readers. Each double page spread includes a full page black and white photograph, useful to convey additional information in such a low reading level book. A nice feature is a timeline along the bottom of the pages that places events in Earhart's life into an easy to understand order. The book also includes a bibliography, glossary, index, and a list of up to date Internet sites for additional research. In spite of the somewhat flat nature of the writing, this book would be a welcome addition to the growing collection of biographies aimed at beginning readers. 2003, Capstone Press, $14.60. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Leslie Rounds (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7368-1433-7

Amelia Earhart: Legend of Flight
Lynda Pflueger
   Many books about Amelia Earhart deal with her mysterious disappearance in 1937. This biography focuses on much more than that. It begins in 1932, when Earhart became the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. From there, Pflueger goes back to the time before Earhart was born, describing how her parents (Amy Otis and Edwin Earhart) met and what they were like, since understanding their backgrounds and their relationship is key to understanding the free-spirited young daughter they would have. Pflueger takes the reader through every step of Amelia Earhart's childhood and teenage years, when her father was an alcoholic and moved the family around quite a bit, then details how Amelia developed her love for flying. Black-and-white photos, maps, charts, a timeline, and Amelia's own words help give a well-rounded view of this famous woman who loved her family and flying and inspired women everywhere to take chances and follow their dreams. An excellent resource for the classroom and an interesting read for those who enjoy biographies and history. Part of the "Historical American Biographies" series. 2003, Enslow Publishers, $20.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Suzanne Lieurance (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004 ; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
ISBN: 0-7660-1976-4

Amelia Earhart: More than a Flyer
Patricia Lakin
Illustrated by Alan and Leah Daniel
   In a colorfully illustrated forty-eight pages, Patricia Lakin shows Amelia Earhart as a person, and not only as the first female aviator to fly solo. The five chapters are short, beginning with Amelia's early life in Atchison, Kansas. Even at a young age, Amelia was an independent child who wanted the same opportunities as boys. Lakin shows the daring Amelia, whizzing down steep slopes on her sled or playing sports with the boys. Chapter two talks about Amelia's family problems that included moves to different places and very little money to support the family. One day, an older Amelia sought out pilots flying their planes, and became so fascinated that she wanted to do the same thing. She began flying lessons and worked hard to save money for her own plane, a yellow plane she named Canary. In addition to being a pilot, Amelia was a social worker. Amelia's dream was to fly solo across the Atlantic just like Charles Lindbergh had done, which she achieved in 1932. When Amelia was almost forty years old, she wanted to fly around the world. Fred Noonan, her navigator, and Amelia left on their trip on June 1, 1937 and were never seen again. While no one knows what happened to them, the book ends on a positive note, stating that Amelia followed her dreams and was always true to herself. 2003, Aladdin Paperbacks, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689-85575-3
ISBN: 0-689-85576-1

Amelia Earhart: Free in the Skies
Robert Burleigh
Illustrated by Bill Wylie
   This is another telling of Amelia Earhart's life. This book, however, is different from others in that it is illustrated like an old comic book. It tells about Amelia as a young child. She performed many acts as a child, yet she was never afraid--even if others were. People called her "Lady Lindy" for her resemblance to Charles Lindberg. On May 20, 1932, exactly five years to the day of Lindberg's flight, Amelia flew across the Atlantic. Her flight took approximately 14 hours. In 1937, accompanied by her navigator, she attempted to fly around the world following in the path of the equator. The plane went done and was never found. Students might follow this story more easily and understand it more by reading it in comic book form. (American Heroes). Nonfiction (629.13 or biography). Grades 3-5. 2003, Silver Whistle, Ages 8 to 11, $??. Reviewer: Janie Barron (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 2))
ISBN: 0-15-202498-0

American Spies and Traitors
Vincent Buranelli
   Featuring famous and infamous spies from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II eras, this book helps readers understand the circumstances that labeled these people as either patriots or traitors. Beginning with Nathan Hale, who spied for George Washington, and ending with Moe Berg who used his position as a professional baseball player to acquire information for the State Department while playing ball in Japan, this is an eclectic collection of interesting people. Benedict Arnold's transformation from a patriot to a traitor is succinctly summarized. Women spies are well represented with Patience Wright who gathered information in London during the Revolutionary War; Rose Greenhow, a Confederate spy in Washington; Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union spy in Richmond; and Belle Boyd who gave information to Stonewall Jackson. Allan Pinkerton established a network of espionage for Abraham Lincoln and Mark Clark provided information vital to the Allied invasion of North Africa to Dwight Eisenhower. Basic biographical information and most memorable achievements are included for each person. Black and white photographs aid in understanding. Chapter notes, a bibliography, internet addresses, and an index contribute to the value for research. This book is part of the "Collective Biographies" series. 2004, Enslow, Ages 9 to 13, $20.95.
Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer
ISBN: 0-7660-2006-1

Beachmont Letters
Cathleen Twomey
   Eleanor Driscoll's once happy life is totally changed. In a terrible fire, Eleanor lost both her father and her pretty face. She is now scarred in body and heart, missing her father and their old life. Mrs. Driscoll, a widow with two children to support, struggles to make ends meet. Eleanor begins to take small and sometimes stumbling steps to regain her life. Overcoming her fear of being stared and talked about, Eleanor gets a job, determined to help her mother out by bringing in some much needed money. Bit by bit she comes of out her shell, making a few friends, gaining confidence. One of Eleanor's biggest joys is to read letters from and write letters to a young man, a soldier about to go to war. Robert becomes more and more important to her and it isn't long before Eleanor has fallen a little in love with the stranger. Eleanor tells Robert everything about her life--the people she meets, her family and what happened to her beloved father. Robert becomes Eleanor's confidant and friend, the one person she can 'talk' to about everything--except about her poor 'melted' face. Only when it's too late does she have the courage to tell Robert about her scars. The author has created a moving and heart-wrenching tale about a young woman trying to reconcile herself with loss and grief. Eleanor has to learn to live with her disfigurement and accept that people will always stare and make comments. She also has to learn how to trust, and to open up to the kind and loving people who see past the scars and love the Eleanor underneath. 'Watching' this brave and lovable girl struggle with life is enriching, and we celebrate with her when she takes the small steps towards recovery and hopefully, happiness. 2003, Boyds Mills Press, $16.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5907-8050-7

Bessie Smith
Alexandria Manera
   Undoubtedly the greatest blues singer of all times, Bessie Smith was born about 1894 in Chattanooga and grew up in poverty. She was orphaned by the age of nine. She and her brother Andrew, as children, earned money as street musicians. At age 18 Bessie joined a minstrel show company and later toured with vaudeville troupes, attracting more and more fans with her powerful singing. Her songs reflected the hard times she had endured, as well as the joys and pains of love. In 1923 she won a recording contract with Columbia. Continuing to tour cities in both the North and South and make records, Smith became the highest paid African American entertainer of the era. When the Depression hit, however, and people no longer wanted to hear the blues, her career began to slip. She changed to pop and jazz music, but just as she was recovering her popularity, she was fatally injured in an automobile accident in 1937. In addition to the biographical material on Bessie Smith, the author comments on segregation, the Civil War and slavery, Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance, Louis Armstrong and jazz, and Smith's legacy to singers Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. A glossary, timeline, list of sources of further information, and index are included. The illustrations are vintage black and white photographs. The series is "African-American Biographies." 2003, Raintree, $28.56. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Patricia Dole (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7398-6875-6

Betsy Ross
Helen Frost
   Many biographies are written for older readers who are at an independent level. The "Famous Americans" series is an unusual alternative because it was created to accommodate very young readers. The titles in the series cover a variety of Americans who have influenced history. Betsy Ross is introduced as a simple girl from a very large family who became a sewing shop apprentice at age twelve. She eventually owned her own sewing shop. It is believed that she contributed to the design of the first United States flag. Each book in the series is the perfect size for small hands (seven inches by six inches). The text is leveled for young readers and features a few sentences per page. Illustrations and photographs support the text well. Appendices include a glossary, index, and further references. An interesting Internet link sends readers to the ISBN for the book, and a "Fact Hound" will provide more links. Whether used as read-alouds or independent readers, these biographies will serve as a valuable addition to the history curriculum in a primary classroom. 2003, Pebble Books, $14.60. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carol E. Lynch (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7368-1641-0

Bicycle Madness
Jane Kurtz
Illustrations by Beth Peck
   A spelling bee isn't the first thing that comes to a child's mind when the teacher says, with bated breath, "I have a surprise for you!" Unfortunately for Lillie (who, in the previous years' spelling bee was the first student to leave the stage after misspelling a word), this is exactly what happens. Things have gone from bad to worse for Lillie as of late, from her mother's death to her father's emotional distance to the physical distance of moving out of her neighborhood and away from her best friend (who doesn't seem to be her best friend anymore). The situation brightens considerably when Lillie becomes friends with her new neighbor Miss Frances, who is learning to ride a bicycle. Miss Frances is very forward-thinking about a lot of other things for a woman living in the late 1800s, and readers will learn about her struggle for a woman's right to vote, the fight against child labor and poor working conditions and prohibition. They will also witness Lillie's maturation. Black-and-white illustrations are included. The author has written numerous books for young readers, including everything from picture books through fiction for young adults. She and her family live in Hesston, Kansas. 2003, Henry Holt and Company, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cindy L. Carolan (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8050-6981-X

Christina Aguilera
Wendy Tokunaga
   With her father in the U.S. Army, Christina Aguilera used singing to cope with the loneliness and disruption caused by his transfers to various military bases. Following her parents' divorce when she was seven, the young singer began performing at talent shows, eventually landing a part on The All New Mickey Mouse Club when she was twelve. After the show's cancellation, Aguilera refocused on her singing career, having her first hit song by the age of eighteen. Included in the book are a handful of quotes by Aguilera, commenting on how she coped with envious peers and an alleged rivalry between herself and fellow Mouseketeer and pop star, Britney Spears. Although it is mentioned in the closing pages, the book ends before the release of Aguilera's most recent album, and so does not discuss the singer's controversial attempts to shed her earlier, all-American girl image. There is nothing new in this thin compilation of recycled photographs and information based on previously published articles and interviews. An Aguilera fan looking for an information fix would be better off buying the latest teen magazine. Part of the "Famous People" series. 2003, KidHaven Press, $23.70. Ages 12 to 16. Reviewer: Linda Ruble (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7377-1385-2

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Very Special First Lady
Barbara Silberdick Feinberg
   There is no doubt that Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most extraordinary first ladies to grace the White House. She was also a lady who was very much ahead of her time. What is really most surprising of all is that Eleanor's childhood and early adulthood years were very hard ones. She was a sensitive and lonely person whose self confidence had been badly damaged. It was only later, after her marriage was threatened by her husband's infidelity, that she decided that she would try to build a life for herself. No longer would she try to live through others alone. Eleanor was able to rise above the unhappiness she had suffered as a child and later as a young woman. Although this book covers all the major events in Eleanor's life well and is clearly very well researched, it is somewhat dry in the way the material is presented. We do not get a real sense of what Eleanor was like on the inside. She was a very passionate person, putting herself on the line for causes and the people she believed in. She also was a very brave person. There was no doubt that she knew that there many people in the country who felt that she was interfering in matters that should not concern her. Eleanor took the abuse and the criticism stoically. It is hard to imagine how her famous husband would have managed without the woman who became his "eyes and ears." At the back of the book the reader will find a timeline, a bibliography, a list of suggest books for further reading, an index and a list of Internet sites about Eleanor Roosevelt. This book is in the "Gateway Biography" series. 2003, Millbrook Press, $23.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7613-2623-5

Escape from Botany Bay: The True Story of Mary Bryant
Gerald & Loretta Hausman
   Written during a volatile time in history, this is the true story of a nineteen-year-old girl who is put on a prison ship just hours before being hung for stealing a lady's bonnet. At first, Mary believes this reprieve is one to be celebrated, but soon learns that there are worse things than death. Unspeakable hardships, loneliness, and hunger are survived only by her strong resolve to be free. This is a great book to use in history classes, as it is an unusual biography that is written in first person narrative and offers facts, emotions, and a real person with whom the reader can identify. It is well written, full of excitement and adventure, and offers a story that readers will think about long after the book is finished. Those who knew Mary called her a heroine; those who can only read about her will call her a heroine and a role model. 2003, Orchard Books, $16.95. Ages 12 to 16. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-439-40327-8

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia
Barbara O'Connor
   Bird's two goals are to get noticed in this town and to go to Disney World. She is ignored and somewhat mistreated by the kids at school and confides in Miss Delphine. Much of Bird's feelings and character comes out through those conversations. Harlem Tate comes to town and has similar problems. Bird tries to partner with him for the spelling bee when she finds out how good he is at spelling. This is a difficult relationship, but it turns out well for both, even though they do not win the spelling bee. Miss Delphine befriends Harlem, his father and the owner of the tattoo parlor over which Harlem and his father live. Family and friends become very important and life starts to look good for Bird and Harlem. This is both a funny and sad story with a happy ending. No doubt many children will read and relate to some of the experiences. 2003, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Naomi Butler (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
ISBN: 0-3743-2258-9

Fight On!: Mary Church Terrell's Battle for Integration
Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin
   Inspiration, motivation and education are, at the very least, things that a person will take with them upon the conclusion of this book about the early civil rights leader who lived from 1863 to 1954, two months shy of her 91st birthday. Ms. Terrell's (Mollie, as her family called her) achievements covered the better part of sixty years; from being the first African woman appointed to the Board of Education in Washington, D.C. to helping establish the NAACP. Unflagging in her determination to end segregation and at the age of almost ninety, she waged a campaign that ultimately ended segregationist laws in the U.S. The black-and-white photographs and newspaper articles found throughout the book add immensely to the tenor of the book. A marvelous biography of a true leader; it would be a spectacular resource in a prominent women or African American unit. The authors, who live in Evanston, Illinois, have collaborated on two other books: the multi award winning Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement and Bound for the North Star: True Stories of Fugitive Slaves. 2003, Clarion Books, $17.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Cindy L. Carolan (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004 American Library Association-SRRT; United States
   Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-618-13349-6

Flying South
Laura Malone Elliott
   The Civil Rights Act may have passed in 1964, but by 1968, in the state of Virginia, some things are only beginning to change, and eleven-year-old Alice has a front-row seat. Her mother, a widow, is looking for a new husband and spends more time with friends at the country club than she does with Alice. Although Alice tries to devise ways to capture her mother's attention, she usually spends most of her time with Edna, their black cook, who also raised Alice's mother, and with Doc, their ancient, cranky gardener. Doc believes that life is made up of a series of tests designed to develop a person's character, and he shares his views on racial tolerance with Alice while she helps him prune his prize-winning roses. He believes that Alice's mother is failing her tests, and he wants Alice to do better. When her mother's new boyfriend, Mr. Barker, arranges for Alice to socialize with his niece, Bridget, Alice faces a number of tests in which she must decide the meaning of real loyalty, how silence can be mistaken for agreement, and ultimately, what she truly believes. The story occasionally bogs down under some heavy-handed moralizing and forced political dialogue, but Flying South is an interesting tale that proves that it takes more than legislation to change attitudes. 2003, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer:Linda Ruble (Children's Literature)

   In the year 1968, America is undergoing a civil re-birth. And just as America struggles to define its place in a new social order, so does ten-year-old Alice struggle to understand her place in her own life. With her father dead, Alice longs all the more for a close relationship with her mother, who is unfortunately preoccupied with finding a "good" husband. Meanwhile, Alice's awakening ethics rebel against the racial intolerance and social snobbery she encounters in her upper-crust Virginia world. It is through her offbeat but loving relationship with the family's aging gardener, Doc, that Alice learns the importance of having principles and sticking to them. Speaking of Virginia's relatively isolated and protected society, Alice says, "Change is going to come whether they like it or not." The only protection is a clear conscience. Ultimately, it is Alice's brave stance against her mother's weakness that provides the catalyst that draws the two closer together. Alice's two main relationships--the one she has with Doc and the one she wants with her mother--are skillfully juxtaposed in this sensitively written novel of individual discovery. It also shows how national movements, though they may seem distant today, were very real--and very personal--to the people who lived through them. 2003, HarperCollins Children's Books/HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Diane Frook (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-06-001214-5
ISBN: 0-06-001215-3

For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
   Suzanne is 13 years old when she and a friend witness a bomb drop in their hometown of Cherbourg, France. Based on a true WWII story, it unfolds from the time Suzanne is 13 until the end of the war when she is just 18 years old. Suzanne's family was not Jewish so this is not a book of the Holocaust. Instead, it is a story of what war does to a country and how deep pride in one's nation can run. It is also about standing up for what is right and being willing to risk your life for the cause. Suzanne is a fledgling opera singer whose mobility makes her useful to the French Resistance. Suzanne becomes a spy and risks her life delivering messages that ultimately culminate in the D-Day invasion. The story is a wonderful, true-life adventure that features a smart and very brave young girl. It is a nice addition to WWII literature and a marvelous read. 2003, Delacorte Press, $15.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
   Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2003 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
ISBN: 0-385-72961-8
ISBN: 0-385-90087-2

Four Pictures by Emily Carr
Nicolas Debon
   At the turn of the century, a great many changes were taking place in the world. Machines were chugging and puffing their way into more and more aspects of people's lives. The class system was being stretched to such a degree that it threatened to snap explosively. Women were less and less willing to tolerate their unequal status in society. In the art world the old-fashioned, realistic form of painting was being challenged by the "New Art." This is the story of the young Canadian painter, Emily Carr, who tried to find her way in the art world during these times. It was a struggle that taxed her health and her spirit almost to a breaking point. Her adventures in looking for inspiration and a chance to learn more about painting took her, among other places, to a remote native village in Vancouver and to that famous powerhouse of the artistic world, Paris. The book is divided into four sections, each represented by one of Carr's paintings and describing a part of the painter's life. Illustrated in the style of the comic books Tintin and Asterix, this is a delightful, refreshing and fascinating look at a time when conventions were under great stress and when many artistic young people were at a loss as to where they belonged with their talent. An absorbing book for readers of all ages, which raises questions about art and society. 2003, Groundwood Books, $15.95. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-88899-532-6

Georgia O'Keeffe
Ruth Thomson
   O'Keeffe, an innovative American artist, comes vigorously alive in this absorbing, well-written biography. Born to a farm family in Wisconsin in 1887, she began her art studies at age eleven. After training at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Students League, and the University of Virginia, and then teaching art in schools and colleges, she began working independently. The photographer Alfred Stieglitz, whom she married eventually, exhibited her early drawings in his gallery and continued to support and encourage her until his death in 1946. A section of the book features his photographs. O'Keeffe was fascinated by nature. Her dramatic close-ups of flowers and her spare Southwestern landscapes are among her best-known works. When her eyesight failed, she took up pottery, and lived to be 98. The illustrations include both black and white and color photographs, maps, and excellent reproductions of her paintings on a variety of subjects. Timelines, personal quotations, a list of museums and galleries showing her works, a glossary, and an index are included. Part of the "Artists in Their Time" series. 2003, Franklin Watts, $22.00. Ages 9 to 12. Patricia Dole (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-531-12227-1

Gilbert And Sullivan Set Me Free
Kathleen Karr
Libby feels humiliated beyond anything she thought was possible. They have taken away her beautiful clothes and her lovely hat, and they have deloused her as if she were a dog or cat taken off the street. Now she has to spend her days working in a laundry next to a woman who murdered her husband and her nights in a tiny cell. Life could not possibly get worse. What Libby discovers is that it can get better, something she never even considered. Hope comes in the form of a new chaplain, a Mrs. Wilkinson. This extraordinary lady believes in trying to improve the lot of women prisoners, and the way she thinks this can be done is through the power of music. Thus begins an incredible journey of renewal, friendship and discovery, for Libby and the other women who are involved in the musical performances at the Sherborn women's prison. In the process we learn what these women have done to end up in the prison, including Libby's own terrible story of abuse and misery. Hers is a truly horrifying tale, which will set teeth on edge and support that old cliché that "life is not fair." Kathleen Karr has created an extraordinary book that is very hard to put down at almost every point in the story. First we wonder why Libby hides the nature of her crime to herself so possessively. Did this quiet and genteel young woman do something truly monstrous? Then we wonder if she is going to survive in this harsh prison environment. So many obstacles are placed in her way, and even worse, old fears resurface. Without a doubt this is a thought-provoking, heart-felt, and fascinating picture of a time and place that we never hear about when we read our history books or historical fiction. Kathleen Karr has added a very interesting section at the back of the book to explain where she got a lot of her ideas and material. Although Libby herself is a fictional character, many of the other characters in the book were real people, and many of the events, including the 1914 performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance," were real. 2003, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
   Children's Literature Choice 2004; Children's Literature; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-1916-2

The Girl on the High-Diving Horse
Linda Oatman High
Illustrated by Ted Lewin
   Young Ivy Cordelia takes us back to the summer of 1936, which she and her father spend at Atlantic City. He is a photographer, while she is along to enjoy the beach and the sights along the boardwalk. She is excited the most by the diving horses. With a young girl riding, the horse dives from a high platform into a tank of water. Her father photographs the two sisters who do the dives. Before she has to go sadly back to Philadelphia at the end of the summer, Ivy Cordelia has the thrill of riding behind one of the sisters on a dive. Ten years later, she herself is doing the diving. Lewin replicates the look of the colored postcards of that time, as he paints the details of the attractions on the boardwalk, the beach and hotels, and of course many action shots of horse and riders. The brief text supplies names, dates, and our heroine's wishful thinking, but it's Rand's tinted photos that tell the full, engaging story. Notes by both author and illustrator fill in both additional facts and personal notes about the story. 2003, Philomel Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-399-23649-X

The Girls' Book of Success: Winning Wisdom, Tales of Triumph, Celebrity Advice, and More
Edited by Catherine Dee
   In an age that encourages young girls to act older than their years and demeans women in popular videos, how wonderful it is to find a book that celebrates women in such a way that will reach young ears. The overall theme is apparent in the title: success. This little book is filled with gorgeous gems. It combines quotes, stories, biographies, research and factoids to make a mini-guidebook for teens. The authors of the quotes and stories are both adults and teens, famous and not so famous. It adds a little poetry in the form of "pride poems." It even has a resource page for readers who are looking for more. The book is good for all ages, but readers who are struggling may find some of the passages difficult. This is a good book for a teacher who is looking for inspiration to give to students or a parent looking for good advice to give a daughter. 2003, Little Brown and Company, $9.99. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Heather Robertson (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-316-73454-3

Gloria Steinem
Jacqueline Laks Gorman
   When Gloria Steinem was growing up, women's places were in their homes. If they aspired to a career they could consider becoming a teacher, a nurse, a secretary, until they got married. Little else was open. The book begins by describing those times, then tells about the beginnings of the women's movement in the late 1960s. After setting the stage it tells of the unconventional and difficult childhood that molded Gloria Steinem into a woman with courage and strong beliefs, as well as the people and events who awakened her to the needs for change. It documents her achievements, including her part in Ms. magazine, and shows the changes that came about as she and others led the way. The book talks of the men she has lived with and unblinkingly deals with the influence of her abortion on her life. In a biographical author's note, Ms. Gorman, an editor and writer for more than 20 years, mentions she still owns her copy of the preview issue of Ms. that she bought in 1972. Her interest in the subject gives her insight into the significance of the women's movement and her professionalism provides a balanced outlook. This book, like others in the publisher's series "Trailblazers of the Modern World" includes a time line, historical photos, fact boxes with background information that complements the text, sources of further information in print and online, a glossary, and an index. 2004, World Almanac Library, Ages 10 to Adult, $21.95. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley
ISBN: 0-8368-5093-9

Good Sports
Richard Merchant
   Looking at the picture of Serena and Venus Williams on the cover, hugging with big smiles, gives a good clue as to the content of this book. These players have dominated women's tennis for the last several years and frequently play each other, but remain good friends. They, like other athletes, achieved their success by hard work and with strong family support. Other good sports are the Jamaican bobsled team which started as a joke and now has become quite reputable. They even beat out the two U.S. entries in the 1994 Olympic Games. Once again determination and practice prove that you can accomplish the seemly impossible. The other athletes featured include Manon Rheaume, the first woman to play professional hockey; Picabo Street, a female Olympic skiing star; and Lance Armstrong, winner of the Tour de France. All of theses athletes overcame obstacles to become the best in their field and they can serve as role models and inspire young readers to also do their best. The "Discovery Links" series offer young readers well-written and informative books covering topics that are interesting. They are attractive with full-color illustrations and covers, maps, graphs and other illustrative material as appropriate. Each book has a table of contents, glossary which defines the bolded words found in the text and an index as well as references to web sites. Interestingly, there is no bibliography or books for further reading but that should not deter parents and educators from the series. 2003, Newbridge, Ages 7 to 9, $7.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-4007-3679-X

Green Angel
Alice Hoffman
   What happens when your whole family, including your little sister who brings joy to each moment, is destroyed? What happens when you sullenly don't say good-bye when, unknowingly, they leave you for the last time? Green, the gardener of the family, isolates herself in self-mutilation. Finally, a boy whose face was half-destroyed in the incident that immolated her family, becomes her friend. Green begins to pay attention to the other people in her community. She befriends a neighbor, feeds a girl who has become addicted to drugs and forgetfulness, and begins to recognize the life force in herself. This poetic novella discovers the roots of despair and the stirrings of hope in one young girl who has too much to bear but discovers that her connection with nature can lead her to new life. As her heart opens and her tattoos turn green with life and red with love, she finds the courage to tell her story. A beautifully designed book. 2003, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-439-44384-9

Harriet Tubman: Riding the Freedom Train
Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden
   It is hard to think about the liberation of the slaves and the Underground Railroad and not think about Harriet Tubman. This indomitable, brave and remarkable woman is certainly the most famous of the 'conductors' of this strange railway. Harriet risked her life many times over to get slaves away from their masters and to places where they could live as free people. What this book unfortunately touches on only briefly is the work that Harriet did during the civil war. During these turbulent and frightening times, Harriet acted as a guide, nurse and spy. It would be interesting to learn what she did in these capacities and how she managed to do it all without getting caught. What the author does show us very well is the sheer determination that this little woman had. Harriet was not a strong person, being prone to seizures and illness in general, and yet she never stopped trying to help black people in any way that she could. Throughout the book the reader will find color and black and white photographs, illustrations and maps. In the back of the book there is a timeline of Harriet Tubman's life, a bibliography, a "Further Information" section, and an index. This is one of the "Gateway Biography" books. 2003, Millbrook Press, $23.00. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7613-2571-9

Harriet Tubman and the Freedom Train
Sharon Gayle
Illustrated by Felicia Marshall
   A glimpse into the extraordinary life of Harriet Tubman awaits young readers of this chapter book. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery, worked as a slave in homes and in the fields, was beaten by evil slave masters, and always, always longed to be free. Separated from her family while a young child, Harriet Tubman never lost track of her parents and siblings. In fact, after she escaped to the free state of Pennsylvania, she educated herself about the Underground Railroad and returned to the South to help her parents, brothers and sisters, and other slaves escape to the North. Harriet Tubman's remarkable spirit is captured in the text and pictures of this story. Tubman's life is an inspiration to all Americans. Despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, she became a leader in the fight to end the abhorrent institution of slavery. This title is one in the publisher's "Ready-To-Read" series. It also is part of a series featuring the "Stories of Famous Americans." 2003, Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689854-80-3
ISBN: 0-689854-81-1

Heroes of the Revolution
David A. Adler
Illustrated by Don Smith
   A dozen men and women whose courage and determination to seek freedom changed history are depicted in this quick overview. Adler has condensed information, salient facts, and memorable quotes in a three-to-five paragraph pocket biography of well-known figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, Ethan Allan, Nathan Hale, Molly Pitcher, John Paul Jones, and Crispus Attucks. He also includes Haym Salomon, a noted financier who bailed out the struggling revolution by loaning money to pay soldiers; Deborah Sampson who, disguised as a man, fought in the war until wounded; and Lydia Darragh, a servant who spied for the patriots. Each person's dates of birth and death are given along with the paragraphs. Smith's unconvincing and wooden depictions of these heroes get the job done, in the manner of textbook illustrations, but add little interest. Endnotes include a fascinating fact or two about each hero which children will enjoy adding to their overview. Important dates from 1760 to 1783 give an overview of the Revolution and source notes are included. Because Adler includes scholarly source notes, he had to feature these references in his selected bibliography, sources of interest to adults only. But he thus missed a chance to guide his readers to further reading, such as books by Jim Giblin, Jean Fritz, or even Adler's previous "Picture Book Biography" series. And Adler's tantalizing glimpses of these heroes will provoke many to search out further information. 2003, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8234-1471-X

Hilary Duff
Jill C. Wheeler
   Born in 1987 in Houston, Texas, Hilary Duff was dancing and acting by the time she was six. So was her older sister Haylie. Soon there were auditions, commercials, small TV shows, big TV shows and finally--movies and stardom, at least for Hilary. There is very little discussion of Hilary's relationship with her sister, especially since the older sister has not made it quite as big as the little sister. But the biography is fresh and informative, punctuated on every page with full color photos of Hilary on and off the screen. She is tutored and homeschooled, so she admits "I don't really go through some of the problems Lizzie goes through," referring to her starring role in the Disney series Lizzie McGuire. Otherwise, Hilary seems like quite a normal and vivacious young person--sure to inspire other girls to believe they too can be famous. There is almost a wholesomeness about Duff that is appealing in a day of self-centered, bare-it-all young stars. She does note that fame has its drawbacks, especially when she dated young singer Aaron Carter: "It was weird having a relationship with someone whom everybody knew." The short biography includes a glossary, index and websites. The "Young Profiles" series introduces early readers to popular rising stars, including Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Leonardo DiCaprio, Britney Spears, Will Smith and Prince William. 2004, Abdo, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5919-7407-0

The Hunting of the Last Dragon
Sherryl Jordan
   Jude, lived happily enough in his 1356 English village until it was burned to the ground by a dragon. He wants revenge, but is alone, homeless, and afraid. When he is taken in by folks from a roving circus, he makes friends with its centerpiece, a figure "half lost within folds of scarlet silk, teetering like a child on feet so small they looked to be cloven." This "strange brown elf-child," called Lizzie Little-feet by those who cage her, is really Jing-wei, a young Chinese noble woman with bound feet. Jing-wei is small in stature, but her courage, resourcefulness and wisdom are unlimited. She stoically bears the unbinding of her feet, understands Jude's success will put his disquiet to rest, and her knowledge of gunpowder and kites lead to their eventual success. Jordan's language is rich and evocative. Her descriptions reach all senses and we easily understand Jude's terror as the pair travels through scorched lands where "the air smelled foul, our eyes stung constantly, and dead birds and insects lay all about on the parched ground." This is a book of brilliant pairings--there are two unlikely heroes, a medieval history and fantasy mesh, and culture clashes and blends as East meets West. Jordan combines all these elements into one captivating book. 2003, Eos, $5.99. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-447231-0

In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Authors Tell Stories About Their Grandmothers
Edited and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
   The idea for this book grew from a writers' conference Ms. Christensen attended. Suddenly a discussion became a storytelling competition about grandmothers where everyone eagerly shared a story or two. She was so enchanted by the stories and the intense interest they evoked that she began to think of compiling such stories in a book. Of course there are some sweet, loving memories here, but the book offers so much more. Joan Abelove in the author's note following her chapter says she started to write about Grandma Sophie who was fun and warm and full of life. But she chose instead to write about her Grandma Leah who was not warm, not fun, and had led an uneventful, boring life but Ms. Abelove's story about her is in no way boring. One of the most moving chapters is "Rhizomes" by Mingfong Ho, who grew up in Bangkok. She remembers her grandmother, An Po, speaking to spirits of dead loved ones. Within her story of different times and cultures, closeness and separation, love and spirituality she speaks to An Po as An Po addressed her ancestors. Chapters written by award-winning children's authors including Beverly Cleary, Jean Craighead George, Gail Carson Levine and nine others are followed by an author's note about its story. The book concludes with biographies of the twelve authors who have generously shared worthy memories. The publisher says the book is for ages 8 to 12. I was dubious about how much a child would enjoy it. So I asked a 10-year-old friend to read any one chapter then tell me if he felt he would like to read more. He said he liked the chapter, but he didn't ask to keep the book any longer. This book will appeal to many adults. It could be a thoughtful gift for a mother, a grandmother, or actually, anyone who ever had a grandmother. 2003, Harper Collins Publishers, $18.99. Ages 8 to Adult. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley (Children's Literature)

   Beverley Cleary, Diane Stanley, Gail Carson Levine, Jean Craighead George, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Minfong Ho, Pat Cummings and other award-winning children's and young adult authors share reflections about their grandmothers. Some are tributes to their difficult lives, many talents, and/or unconditional love. Others are revelations to the writer, like Smith's realization that her grandmother was a sexy lady! Some of the authors have chosen to share painful memories, like Naidoo's tale of her gambling, mentally ill grandmother, and Abelove's recounting of her maternal grandmother's detachment and fetish about cleanliness. Christensen's dry-point illustrations were inspired by photographs from each contributor and lend a face to each piece. Grandmothers are universal, yet often taken for granted, especially by the young. These stories provide the authors and readers the opportunity to examine their roots and the lives of their forebearers who lived in very different times. Such reflective pieces work more for adults than children. Several of the stories are very touching, but the intended audience most likely will not be drawn in to these quietly moving ruminations. 2003, HarperCollins, $18.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-029109-5
ISBN: 0-06-029110-9

It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly: A Reporter's Race Around the World
Nancy Butcher
Illustrated by Jen Singh
   It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly! by Nancy Butcher is the adventurous, true story of a courageous woman's famous journey in 1889 that took her all the way around the world in record time. Bly was a newspaper writer for the New Tork World in the late nineteenth century. But instead of writing about proper "ladylike" subjects like tea parties and charity balls, Nellie wrote about the social problems of her day: poor job conditions, dilapidated housing and dishonest politicians. Many people objected to the things she wrote about, but Nellie was unstoppable. If someone told her "It can't be done," she went right ahead and did it anyway, proving them wrong. When Nellie read Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," she was inspired to circle the globe even faster herself. Has the plucky young reporter gone too far this time? Young readers age seven to 10 will cheer for Nellie as she embarks on her exciting 22,000-mile trip equipped only with one sturdy dress and a small suitcase...and a pet monkey she picks up in Singapore. Traveling by ship, train, and foot, she has all kinds of incredible experiences, from surviving a monsoon at sea to visiting a leper colony in China. A wonderful true story tale sure to inspire readers to tackle their own unique challenges. Peachtree Publishers, 96 pages, $12.95. Reviewer: Vicki Arkoff (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, November 2003)

   Nellie Bly was not the type of person to take "No!" for an answer. Even when her editors at her newspaper in New York City said that a woman could not possibly go on a trip around the world, she bided her time and waited them out. Sure enough the editors finally decided that they did want someone to make the journey. Nellie made sure that she was that someone. It all began when Nellie got the idea of breaking the famous, fictional record of Phileas Fogg, the character invented by the novelist Jules Verne. In his book "Around the World in Eighty Days" Jules Verne has Fogg travel around the world in a mere eighty days, which at that time seemed to be a feat that could not possibly be achieved. Nellie's editors felt that a woman could not make such a journey alone, especially as she would have an enormous amount of luggage as befitted a "lady." Nellie however broke all the rules. She decided to travel without a chaperone and furthermore she left New York with only one small bag and managed to make the entire trip with just one dress which she had especially made. These were not the only rules she broke. On board the Augusta Victoria Nellie found herself feeling horribly seasick. Instead of feeling miserable and sorry for herself, Nellie continued to be determined that she would be going around the world seasick or not and her determination won over her queasy stomach. It wasn't long before her will was the winner and the battle was won. Nellie didn't have any real problems with seasickness again. Nellie's tale is one of trying to beat the clock and trying to make the schedule work. It also is one of meeting interesting people, overcoming all sorts of setbacks and difficulties, trying to outrun a rival from Cosmopolitan Magazine, and always having to get around the restrictions placed upon her because she was a woman. It is especially interesting to read about Nellie's meeting Jules Verne during her trip around the world. It clearly meant a great deal to Nellie and it had a great significance to the adventure as a whole. After all, without Jules Verne there would have been no Phileas Fogg and no "Around the World in Eighty Days." Verne was eager for Nellie to beat Fogg's record and drew her route on a map which already had Fogg's route plotted out on it. It was a great honor for Nellie. Jules Verne did not think that Nellie would be able to beat Fogg's record by much. One wonders what he thought when he heard that Nellie arrived in New York City seventy-two days after she began her epic journey. He must have been astonished! In a cheery and easy-going style, Nancy Butcher brings the indomitable spirit of Nellie Bly to life once more. Humorous anecdotes show us how Nellie never let the very much male-dominated world of her times get her down. The author uses the little details to show us how brave, funny, and true to herself Nellie was. Refreshing and lively, this is a wonderful description of a great adventure story. At the back of the book the reader will find further information about how Nellie got her name, the story of Phileas Fogg, and a description of what happened to Nellie's rival Elizabeth Bisland. 2003, Peachtree Books, Ages 7 to 9, $12.95. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
ISBN: 1-5614-5289-0

J.K. Rowling
P.M. Boekhoff and Stuart A. Kallen
   Nearly everyone has heard the name "Harry Potter," and his creator, J. K. Rowling, is equally as famous. In fact, J. K. Rowling is now one of the most famous authors in the world. But what else is known about the woman who writes stories about a heroic young wizard named Harry Potter? Who are the characters in her books modeled after? What qualities does she personally share with Harry? Where does she get her ideas? What was her childhood like? What is her advice to future young authors? These and many other questions are answered in this informative and inspiring biography. Many young readers will undoubtedly relate to Rowling's personal experiences, especially as she was growing up. Her great success as a writer will certainly provide motivation and encouragement for every young person that reads this book. There are many color photographs scattered throughout the book, though most are pensive shots of Rowling. Nonetheless, this is an interesting story as well as a great selection for students studying a famous author or researching biographies. It is part of the "Inventors and Creators" series. 2003, KidHaven Press/Gale Group, $23.70. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Denise Daley (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7377-1368-2

Jennifer Lopez
Jill C. Wheeler
   Jennifer Lopez came from humble beginnings in the Bronx and was raised to value hard work. From an early age, Lopez displayed a keen talent for singing and dancing. She began her acting career at the age of 16 and knew then that she wanted to be in showbiz. She took several bit parts in movies and on a few TV shows, but didn't hit it big until she stared in the movie Selena in 1995. Although she lip-synched songs in the movie, she realized that she wanted to pursue a singing career as well as an acting career. The Latin-American music scene exploded in 1999 when Ricky Martin became internationally famous with his album, and Lopez was able to ride the wave of his success to the top of the music chart. Lopez' multi-talented career has made her a wealthy woman, and her numerous marriages and personal relationships has made her controversial as well, but she remains popular among America's youth. Fully illustrated with color photos, the text includes a glossary, an index, and a Web site for additional information. Part of the "A&D Biographies: Star Tracks" series. 2003, ABDO Publishing Company, $24.21. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5776-5770-5

Julia Roberts
Terri Dougherty
   This biography is part of the series "People in the News." Although its copyright date is 2003, it is already out of date. No mention is made of Roberts' second marriage. The source notes for this biography are excellent, and the source of each quote is identified in the endnotes. Photo credits are listed, as are works consulted. The end-matter also includes a list for further reading, important dates in Julia Roberts' life, and an index. Numerous black-and-white photos are included. Sidebars expand upon some of Roberts' films and famous friends. The intent of this series is to portray subjects in a "realistic, unsentimental light." After reading the biography, however, one is no closer to knowing Julia Roberts as a person. The biography merely repeats what has been written Roberts in various entertainment magazines. The biographer is unable to clarify any rumors, therefore, speculation is simply repeated. 2003, Lucent Books/Gale, $4.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Renée Englot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5901-8139-5

The Letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Woman Homesteader
Ruth Ashby
   In 1909, Elinore Stewart agreed to be a housekeeper for a cattle rancher in Wyoming. This slim but information packed book is a record of the letters Elinore wrote to a friend in Denver over the next few years. Beginning with an introduction, young readers meet the gritty and determined Elinore. They will learn about her background and about her hard life as a homesteader. Beautiful color illustrations are found throughout and enhance the text. Elinore's letters describe the beauty of the new land she had come to from Colorado. "It seemed as if we were driving through a golden haze. The violet shadows creeping up the hills, while the snow-capped peaks were catching the last rays." The filing of a claim for land, building a log house, the coming of a new baby and snowstorms that leave ten to fifteen feet of snow are described in Elinore's letters. The letters also reveal to the reader that in spite of great hardships, holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas are celebrated with great feasting and joy. A variety of pages throughout the text offer background information on a variety of subjects such as: frontier medicine, children in the West, Wyoming, and where the buffalo roam. The narrative is clear and written with details that will appeal to the readers senses. End notes include a glossary, resources to learn more about ranching and homesteading, websites about women in the west and an index. This is a good resource for the home, classroom or school library. 2003, Benchmark Books, Ages 9 to 12, $18.95. Reviewer: Sue Reichard
ISBN: 0-7614-1645-5

Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen
As told to Michelle R. McCann by Luba Tryszynska-Frederick
Illustrated by Ann Marshall
   "I have found that inside every human being there is a hero waiting to emerge." These are the words of Luba, the woman who was to become known as the Angel of Bergen-Belsen. In 1944, Luba had no idea what destiny had in store for her. In fact she was wondering, "Why was I spared?" Her husband and little son had been taken from her by Nazi soldiers and their fate was unknown. She was lying on a hard bunk in a cold shed in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, ill-fed, and lost in spirit and sick at heart. Then Luba heard something. She heard a child's cry outside, somewhere in the cold night. When she went out and looked for the source of the cry, Luba found fifty-four miserable children. They were of all ages, including several infants. It was as if she was being given the answer to her question; this was why she had been spared. Here was her reason for living. Luba took it upon herself to take care of the children. Somehow she found food and clothing for them all. She begged and bartered for whatever she could and the children survived. Most remarkable of all was the fact that Luba managed to keep their presence a secret. If the camp authorities had found out what was going on, the children and Luba would have been killed. Simply written, but with the attention to detail that could only come from first hand stories, Luba's story is incredibly powerful and moving. Bold oil paintings cleverly accented and textured with collage give the text great warmth and humanity. In addition to the story itself there is an author's note that explains who the children in the story were and how they came to be at Bergen-Belsen. This is followed by a Prologue, which neatly explains the basic outline of World War II and how the concentration camps came into being. At the end of the book an Epilogue tells us what happened once Bergen-Belsen was liberated by the Allied troops and what Luba did with her life following the end of the war. This is followed by an excellent section entitled "World War II and the Holocaust" and a Bibliography. This is a book about a truly remarkable woman, whose courage and determination not only saved the lives of those five-four Dutch children, but also teaches us all something about the power of loving children and caring for others. 2003, Tricycle Press, $16.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5824-6098-1

Laura Bush
Wil Mara
   These short "Rookie Biographies" are perfect for emergent readers. They feature people in the news as well as famous men and women of the past. Laura Bush was born and grew up in Texas. Being an only child led her to reading and eventually she became a teacher and a librarian. (The definition of librarian as someone who helps you find books in a library really gives the profession short shrift.) She met and married George W. Bush and became part of a political family. Along with his fame she grew famous in her own right. Her focus has been education and reading. She helped create the Texas Book festival. The book does not mention the National Book festival that also carries her name. The biography is sufficient for its intended audience, and it is filled with appropriate pictures although some are blurry. There is a pictorial words to know section at the end of the text, an index and a brief blurb about the author. 2003, Children's Press, $19.00. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-516-22854-4

Laura Ingalls Wilder
Wil Mara
   These short "Rookie Biographies" are perfect for emergent readers. They feature people in the news as well as famous men and women of the past. I read the Little House Books when I was growing up and kids are still reading them today. This brief biography tells about the life of one of America's favorite authors. She grew up on a farm at a time when there was no television or radio or computers or videos. She traveled in a covered wagon and life on the prairies was hard. Laura became a teacher, married and had a daughter named Rose. It was her daughter who suggested that she write down some of the stories about her early years and thus the series began. Laura believed in hard work and never let her fame change her outlook. She lived to be 90. The book is filled with vintage photographs and drawings to show young readers what people looked like nearly 100 years ago and what Laura herself looked like as both a young and older woman. There is a pictorial words to know section at the end of the text, an index and a brief blurb about the author. 2003, Children's Press, $19.00. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-516-22855-2

Madonna
Andy Koopmans
   Andy Koopmans has written a detailed portrait of Madonna, the famous pop singer. He begins with an introduction briefly outlining who she is, her achievements and why she is so popular. The following six chapters deal with her early childhood, her teen years and her struggle to become a successful pop artist, her later years, and where she is today in her career. Exploring all areas of Madonna's life, the book is an honest and open picture of a talented young woman who was intent on becoming a singer in her own way. One interesting fact is that Madonna wanted to be a dancer first. She dropped out of college and went to New York to seek a career as a dancer. Eventually she became a back-up singer and then joined a band. She began to write songs and played the drums. In 1981, she went solo and in 1982, her first song was published and became number one on the music billboards. By the 1990s, Madonna was one of the richest women in the music industry. She also starred in movies although her movie career never measured up to her singing career. In 1996, Madonna gave birth to a baby girl. In 2000, she had another child with Guy Ritchie, who she later married. Today, Madonna appears settled in her career and in her personal life. There are many sidebars throughout the book and black-and-white photographs. Andy Koopmans has done a good job describing Madonna's life. 2003, Lucent Books, $27.45. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5901-8138-7

Mae Jemison
Nancy Polette
Consultant, Jeanne Clidas
   These short "Rookie Biographies" are perfect for emergent readers. They feature people in the news as well as famous men and women of the past. Mae Jemison, featured in full color on the cover, is the first African-American woman astronaut. Mae was inspired to reach for the stars and to achieve that goal she excelled in school. At sixteen she finished high school and then studied to become a chemical engineer. If that wasn't enough, Mae then went to medical school and became a doctor. She served in the Peace Corps and returned to apply for the astronaut training program. During the training program Mae learned to fly a jet plane and studied survival techniques. Her mission included experiments to help prevent space sickness and how to reduce bone loss. After leaving NASA, Mae formed her own company "to teach people in poor countries how medicine and technology could make their lives better." There is a pictorial words to know section at the end of the text, an index and a brief blurb about the author. The phonetic spelling of certain words is embedded in the text which may or may not turn off new readers. 2003, Children's Press, $19.00. Ages 5 to 7. Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-516-22856-0

Manya's Dream: A Story of Marie Curie
Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Jacques Lamontage
   When Tonia, a modern day Polish girl, is teased at school for being different, her mother tells her the story of another Polish girl who faced challenges. Her mother tells her about the life of Manya Sklodowska, later know as Marie Curie, the famous scientist. This picture book biography highlights Marie's childhood and her struggle to attend school because she was a woman. It also details her scientific career and work with her husband, Pierre Curie. Together they discovered radium, won the Nobel Prize, and spent many years studying together. After Pierre's death, Marie taught science at the university level, brought X-ray equipment to the World War I battlefield, and received a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This book describes the entire life of Marie Curie, and while it gives much useful information, it is a lengthy picture book. Marie Curie's important accomplishments are told in brevity in the beginning, and a timeline of important events is presented at the end. 2003, Maple Tree Press/Firefly Books, $6.95. Ages 8 to 10. Marcie Flinchum Atkins (Children's Literature)
1-894379-53-5
1-894379-54-3

Mary McLeod Bethune: Educator and Activist
Andrea Broadwater
   Enslow Publishers has given young people a valuable series of "African-American Biographies," of which this volume is a part. Offering a wealth of detail, the author takes her readers from this inspiring woman's birth in late 19th-century South Carolina through her early school successes, her marriage, the birth of her son, and her beloved Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, Florida), which she started with $1.50 and a few crates. The college now has an endowment of over $25 million. Mary McLeod Bethune had an overwhelming desire to see the advancement of her race in both education and government. Thus she used her leverage as president of the National Association of Colored Women and as a friend of Eleanor Roosevelt's to make changes. Because of her courage, thousands of blacks benefited, as testified by the bronze statue of her erected in Lincoln Park, Washington, D. C.-- a first for either a woman or an African American in our nation's capital. The biography is fact-filled and spare at the same time, meaning that an enormous amount of information has been distilled into 100 pages. Students of Black History and Women's History will find their appetites whetted and will be eager to search out the "Further Reading" and "Internet Addresses" given as an addendum. The photos are well chosen, and the inclusion of a table-of-contents and index make this book an easy source to use for specific research questions. An essential reference for both school and public libraries. 2003, Enslow Publishers, $20.95. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Earlene Viano (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7660-1771-0

Maya Angelou Patricia Kirkpatrick
   "I believe all things are possible for a human being, and I don't think there's anything in the world that I can't do." These words truly express the philosophy of one of America's most remarkable public people. Despite much hardship and oppression in her own life, Maya Angelou has been able to help African Americans and people of all races through her poetry, her writing, and her other work to believe that anything is indeed possible if one tries hard enough. Born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928, Maya Angelou lived with her grandmother for some years. Living in Stamp, Arkansas during the Depression under the laws of segregation was a true hardship and yet it also had its bright moments, and it gave Maya Angelou a rich tapestry of stories to write about. Later, Angelou and her brother went to live with their mother. Traumatized by a tragic event, Angelou did not speak for five years, but she did continue to read and to do her schoolwork. Angelou got pregnant while still a teenager in school; undaunted she finished her education and got work. She then went to New York to become a dancer and her performing career began. It was because of her work in the performing world that she became interested in writing and thence, in writing poetry. With excerpts from her prose writings as well as her poems, we are given a wonderful picture of events in Maya Angelou's life. Angelou describes a time when the cotton is ready to be picked and she is in her grandmother's store; we are taken to the place and time when Angelou worked for the SCLC and when she met Martin Luther King; we are there when she and her son arrive in Africa. It is clear that the author has a deep and abiding respect and admiration for Maya Angelou and that she wants to share the gifts and achievements of this extraordinary woman with us. This the author does, and we are left with a strong urge to go and read one of Angelou's books. Throughout author Kirkpatrick's book there are photographs of the poet, her family, and places of significance to her story. Illustrations in pencil and in color accompany the poems and the excerpts from Angelou's books. In the back of the book the reader will find a list of the poems and the prose used in the book, the dates they were written and an index. This book is one of nine books in the "Voices of Poetry" series. 2004, Creative Education, $24.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5834-1281-6

The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sabrina Crewe and Frank Walsh
   On December 1, 1955 a young African-American woman by the name of Rosa Parks took a step that was to have far-reaching implications. On that day Ms. Parks sat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. When the bus driver asked Rosa Parks to give up her seat so that a white passenger could be seated she refused. In an age when segregationist acts were not only common but also legal, Ms. Parks stood a good chance of both being put off the bus and arrested. However, despite the risk, Rosa Parks not only defied the law but also set the stage for a yearlong boycott of bus service in Montgomery. In the end, the actions of Rosa Parks and thousands of other civil rights protestors resulted in the destruction of the legal segregation system of the South. This stirring tale is the subject of this volume in the "Events That Shaped America" series. Combining a concise yet thoughtful text, numerous illustrations, and valuable informational inserts this is a good starting place for youngsters interested in the Civil Rights Movement. Readers with an interest in a slightly more in depth approach should turn their attention to a book with the same title written by Frank Walsh as part of World Almanac Library's "Landmark Events in American History" series. In either case, the story of both Rosa Parks and the spill over results of her brave actions are capably presented. 2003, Gareth Stevens, $22.60. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8368-3394-5

My Brothers' Flying Machine
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Jim Burke
   In this beautifully illustrated, sturdy picture book, the well-known story of the Wright Brothers and their flying machine is told through the eyes of their little sister, Katharine. The book opens at the moment the idea seeds itself in Wilbur and Orville's minds, when their father brings home a small flying toy powered by a twisted rubber band. Katharine tells young readers many fascinating details of the fraternal collaboration that begins that day, culminating in the successful flight at Kitty Hawk. The reader also learns about the important contributions Katharine made to her brothers' team effort over the years. The accompanying full-color oil paintings illustrate the story stunningly, with well-selected period details, and rendered in warm, early-1900s hues. Although most of the book concerns the support Katharine gave her famous brothers in her teens and adulthood, Burke's cover art features a full-color portrait of a Katharine as a very young girl, which could easily mislead readers as to the nature of the story between the covers. Yolen's prose varies within the text from lyrical to informational, but the stylistic unevenness doesn't seem to hinder the clarity of her storytelling...and it's a great story she tells. 2003, Little Brown and Company, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer Dianne Ochiltree (Children's Literature)
   Katharine Wright, Wilbur and Orville's sister, provided continual support and was an emotional anchor after their mother died. She nursed Orville after a crash and packed a surprise jar of jam in Wilbur's bag. That was the only thing he ate on a rough two-day boat trip to Kitty Hawk. It makes sense for Jane Yolen to use Katharine as her viewpoint character in My Brothers' Flying Machine. Yolen's book is written in short verse-like lines. These hint at the poetic form her story takes. There are lots of facts and specific quotations woven into her telling, but it is the emotional quality, sensory details and effective rhythms that make this book special. You get a sense of hawk-faced, messy Will who sends away for Smithsonian books to better understand flight and the neat, red-mustached Orv who makes Katharine believe flight is possible. Kitty Hawk, Yolen writes, is a "two-hundred-mile strip of sand with the ocean at its face and North Carolina at its back" where mosquitoes leave "lumps like hen's eggs" and a blustering winter freezes washbasins solid. 2003, Little Brown, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-316-97159-6

National Velvet
Enid Bagnold
   Fourteen-year-old Velvet has a winning personality. She is passionate about horses. Her sister, Mally, is passionate about birds. Older sister Edwina is passionate about her boyfriend. Her mother made the newspaper once for swimming across the English Channel. The father is a butcher, with a wry sense of humor. Velvet's family is a bit eccentric (there is another sister and young brother), but their affection for each other is palpable. The Browns are a lovely family and it is absolutely impossible not to fall in love with Velvet especially. She is a young girl with spirit and determination who wills her dream to come true. The story is lovely also, but readers unfamiliar with British terminology may have rough going at times. The author has written in a very authentic way; she showcases the language of sisters, who know each other well and often use shorthand in their speech. When readers persevere, they will be rewarded. They may need to consult other sources to interpret passages such as the following: "At home it was steak and kidney pudding for dinner and Mr. Brown poured in the boiling water through a hole in the suet." This reviewer lived in England for a time and, so, was familiar with many terms that American readers would not understand. That said, the story is a jewel for readers willing to take on a bit of a challenge. When Mr. Brown tells his daughters that their faces are their fortunes, he sells them short by a long shot. Velvet and her sisters are strong women with lively personalities. They are delightful companions for any reader. 2002 (orig.1935), HarperFestival/HarperCollins, Ages 9 up, $6.99. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati
ISBN: 0-694-01579-2

Nellie Bly-A Name to Be Reckoned With
Stephen Krensky
Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
   Elizabeth Cochran was having a hard time. She was not pleased with her life. She was also frustrated because she had so few choices. Why was it that women were given so few choices and men were given so many? Men thought that women should be happy to stay at home, get married and have children. Well, here was one girl who wanted more from life. So, Elizabeth, or "Pink" as her family called her, had written an angry letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch in response to a series of editorials that attacked women and girls who were not satisfied with being housewives and mothers. As a result of her letter she had ended up, much to her astonishment, being offered a job at the paper. As Elizabeth had defended women who decide to work, the editor told her to write about these women and that is what she did, she took it upon herself to write about the women who worked in all sorts of jobs and who often had a terrible time of it. Elizabeth also took on a pen name, Nellie Bly, after a popular song of the times. Nellie Bly began to show the readers of the Dispatch what it was like to work in a factory for hour after hour without a break. Nellie even tried it herself and she saw how dreadful the work conditions were for hundreds and hundreds of factory workers and sweat shop girls. For many people, they were hearing the stories of the poor for the first time. After a six month sojourn in Mexico, Nellie decided to move to New York City. It was time for a change and Nellie was determined to work for the New York World. As was typical of her she got her way, but she had to earn it by taking on a project which would probably have scared off almost every other person. The owner of the New York World, Joseph Pulitzer, wanted to find out what was happening inside New York's insane asylums. Nellie had "a desire to be convinced that the most helpless of God's creatures, the insane, were cared for kindly and properly." There were rumors that the conditions in these institutions were quite the opposite but nothing could be proved. Nellie then set about acting out the part of an insane person and getting herself committed to the infamous Blackwell's Insane Asylum on the East River. Conditions inside the institution were appalling and Nellie was horrified at the way the patients were treated. Once released she wrote a series of articles about what she saw in the asylum during her ten days 'imprisonment.' Nellie also was a key witness at an investigation of the asylums that followed, and because of her testimony conditions did improve. Now a staff reporter, Nellie went on to do various other undercover articles. Nellie took on all sorts of different stories but perhaps her most famous exploit was one that she took on when she felt in need of a break, a rest from her usual sort of writing. Nellie decided that she would take a trip around the world; however she would make it exciting by announcing that she would achieve this trip in "eighty days or less." Phileas Fogg, the fictional character from the book "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne, had achieved the record in eighty days. Nellie would beat that record. What followed was a wonderful adventure on ships and trains, with monsoons and humorous companions. Nellie's victorious arrival back in New York 72 days and 6 hours after her departure made her famous throughout the world. Stephen Krensky shows us very clearly throughout this book that Nellie Bly never stopped caring about the people who needed a voice to speak for them and never stopped daring to speak the truth no matter what that truth was. A wonderful storyteller, he brings Nellie and her times to life and he also shows us that Nellie had a charm and a sense of humor which must have made her a joy to be with. 2003, Aladdin, Ages 7 to 9, $3.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-689-85573-7

A Northern Light
Jennifer Donnelly
   There were certain expectations for young women in rural upstate New York in early twentieth century. Contrary to these expectations, sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey, who has helped her father run the household and has taken care of her siblings since her mother died, still aspires to attend college. Her teacher encourages her to apply for a scholarship. Mattie gets a job at the Glenmore, a hotel on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack Mountains, NY. One of the guests, a young woman named Grace, gives Mattie some letters to dispose of. When Grace drowns in the lake and the young man she was with is missing, Mattie reluctantly reads the letters and begins to realize this was not an accident. In the meantime, Royal Loomis begins to court Mattie. Smitten with the idea of having a beau, she begins to think that she would be better off marrying Royal and giving up her dream of going to college. A number of events come together that make Mattie take a stand for herself and what she believes is the right thing for her to do. The Chester Gillette/Grace Brown murder case of 1906 was a sensational event, and forms a dramatic backdrop for this coming-of-age novel. Donnelly captures the difficulties women faced at that time because of their lack of legal and domestic rights. For Mattie, who loves to write, the device of a new word a day seems to be appropriate, but at certain points in the story, bogs it down. There are many interesting characters that could be the focus of discussion, such as her friend, Minnie and her teacher, Miss Wilcox. Donnelly offers a number of sources and suggested readings at the end of her novel. 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature)

   Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light is a layered historical novel with an involving story and lyrical writing. The author opens, "When summer comes to the North Woods, time slows down. And some days it stops altogether." Readers will suspend time as they become lost in the engaging 1906 rural Adirondack world of heroine, Mattie Gokey. Mattie loves words as much as Donnelly. The story begins with Mattie upset about a young drowned woman and she searches for a word to calm herself. "What is the word for that feeling? For knowledge and fear and loss all mixed together? Frisdom? Drednaciousness? Malbominance?" While Mattie often escapes in word whimsy, she's also an astute and witty recorder of what she sees. She describes, for example, the burn of whiskey, or as her Pa calls it, "poor man's vacation." She comments, "I'd never had a vacation, but if that's what one was like, I'd just as soon stay home." Besides glorious writing, the story line is a tangle of compelling conflicts. Mattie's love of words isolates her from others. She has been accepted to Barnard, but Mattie's mother has recently died and on her deathbed asked Mattie to care for the family. Mattie's father is stretched thin and not supportive. Then there is this hunk of a farm boy who wants to marry her and his kisses confuse her. Besides the fabulous writing and admirable heroine, Donnelly has a huge cast of characters, each one so well rounded you can sympathize with even the worst of them. Donnelly sent Harcourt thirty pages and an outline of this book and scored a "significant six-figure" sum in a bidding war. She deserves every penny! 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 11 up. Reviewer Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)

   Taking her cue from Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, Jennifer Donnelly returns to the infamous 1906 Chester Gillette/Grace Brown murder in the Adirondacks. Donnelly's take on the event, though, centers around the life and hopes of Mattie Gokey. Mattie, a soon to be seventeen-year-old, is a local girl living in the hardscrabble farming country that only comes alive with the summer tourist season. The story evolves in flashbacks between Mattie's waitress job at one of the lake resorts and her home life with a tough widowed father forcing her into the role of mother to her younger siblings. Buried within this environment, it's a wonder Mattie has time to even think, no less harbor dreams of college implanted by her radical feminist teacher, Miss Wilcox (she smokes!) Add to this mix a gratuitous, intelligent black kid angry decades before his time and a redneck suitor--not to mention Grace Brown's bestowal of her love letters upon Mattie before her murder--and one ends up with an attempted microcosm of the era. Donnelly pushes this a bit too hard, but one still roots for Mattie. Will she pull it all together as easily as she plays with words and escape in time? 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature)

   A Northern Light is a rousing and original first novel set in Adirondacks lake country in 1906. The infamous Gillette murder case (subject of Dreiser's An American Tragedy and the film, A Place in the Sun) provides the historical background. Mattie Gokey longs to escape backbreaking farm work and accept a state scholarship to Barnard College in New York City, but her motherless siblings need her, her father thinks education is foolish, and a handsome and ambitious farm boy comes courting. There are many issues here--murder, mystery, romance, discrimination, rights of women, the value of the intellectual life--and the author handles them all deftly. She uses the murdered girl's real-life letters to good advantage to advance the story. Details of daily farm life are specific and unusual. Many characters contribute to the rich broth but are easy to keep separate; Mattie herself is most appealing. This is smooth yet unpretentious writing with moments of real beauty and filled with literary allusions. An exciting and satisfying book. 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Beth Guldseth (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
   Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   Capital Choices , 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
   Children's Literature Choice 2004, Children's Literature; United States
   Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 3, 2003; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal: Best Books, 2003; Cahners; United States
   Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2003 Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Top 10 Youth First Novels, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book 2004 United States
ISBN: 0-15-216705-6

Phillis Wheatley
Kathryn Lasky
Illustrated by Paul Lee
   Kidnapped from her African family and sold as a slave in Boston in 1760, Phillis (named for the ship bringing her to America) is purchased by the slave-owning Wheatleys. Mrs. Wheatley senses Phillis' intelligence and begins to teach her to read and write as an experiment to see if Africans could. Phillis learned not just English but several other languages as well and began to write poems as a preteen. While single poems by her were printed in American newspapers, American publishers refused to publish her poems as a book. A determined Susannah Wheatley sent Phillis to England, where the book was published. Lasky ties Phillis' story to the events unfolding around her regarding the American Revolution. Indeed, the theme of many of the poems is a love of freedom or feelings about oppression. Unfortunately, Lasky's episodic telling is filled with fictionalized thoughts and feelings, as Lasky imagines they would have been. There is a very brief mention of Phillis' adult life and early death. No sources are mentioned and there is no bibliography, not even books or websites where readers may read Phillis' poems for themselves. Lee's large acrylic paintings convey an accurate sense of the period, but Phillis herself seems unchanged through the years. Lasky's and Lee's end notes make it clear that Wheatley's courage, intelligence, determination and love of freedom led them to this work. Although this is a sentimental, imaginative biography, it has relevance for young people today as an introduction to a remarkable woman. 2003, Candlewick Press, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7636-0252-3

A Picture Book of Harriet Beecher Stowe
David A. Adler
Illustrated by Colin Bootman
   Beginning with the famous meeting between Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln, Adler carefully states that it was "reported" that Lincoln said the famous words "so this is the lady who made this big war." The author then goes back to explore Harriet's early years with a particular emphasis on the family's move to Ohio. This brought Harriet into direct contact with slavery for the first time, and she was thoroughly appalled. The impact this had on her led directly to her writing of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The plot is well summarized, and the significance of her book aptly described: "People who had perhaps hardly thought about the injustices of slavery now hated it." Adler does include in his author's notes the fact Tom is not a role model, and that some people consider the book racist. This addition to Adler's series of biographies for young readers is successful in discussing difficult issues. The text strikes a good balance between not being condescending yet not overwhelming the young reader. Illustrations convey a strong sense of the time period. In addition to the notes, Adler includes a list of important dates, selected bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and Web sites for the curious reader to pursue further. 2003, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Micki S. Nevett (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8234-1646-1

Pictures for Miss Josie
Sandra Belton
Pictures by Benny Andrews
   In a tribute to Josephine Carroll Smith, a much loved teacher, principal, and finally Director of Elementary Education in the District of Columbia, the author and illustrator have fashioned a book that seeks to commemorate a formidable and generous woman. Miss Josie allowed a boy to live in her house while he finished his education, and that boy, who is now a man, takes his son to visit overnight. The boy is a little scared and begins to wonder, as he will into his adult years, about what might happen. But he draws for Miss Josie, enjoys her hospitality, and then tries to avoid visiting her in later years because she looms so large in his memory. Finally, when the now-grown boy achieves his education and marries, he stops this "wondering" and takes his son to meet Miss Josie. There they celebrate the "proud times" they've had together, but the reader may not feel the same resonance given the time skips, three generations of men, and the fragmentary nature of the recollections. The distinctive paintings feature elongated figures rendered in vibrant colors with folk art depictions of trees and flowers. They also include little-man-like boys disproportionate to surroundings, a picture of a church interior scene in which the action is open to misinterpretation, and very little movement in the pictures or variety in point of view, all of which makes these pictures more paintings than compelling illustrations. The subtle message of another adult's influence in a child's growing up and the pride one adult feels in being a part of the chain of caring as he shows his son to a beloved mentor, will be lost on many child readers. While the picture book, with the flavor of biography, achieves its goal stated in the African folktale, "People are alive as long as we remember them," this one may have trouble finding an audience among the intended age group. 2003, Greenwillow/Amistad, $16.99. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)

   This tribute to the real "Miss Josie," Josephine Carroll Smith, is told from the point of view of one of the young black men she helped to succeed. A young boy, son of a man she had welcomed into her home in the past, stays overnight with her and is encouraged in his love of art. He is still apprehensive about, perhaps intimidated by her years later. When he becomes a college student in Washington, she is head of the city schools. She invites him home and continues to encourage him to continue both his studies and his art. She is there for his graduation, his wedding, and to meet his son, for all the "proud times." Andrews's full-page collage and oil paintings are a strangely satisfying combination of monumental figures, almost surrealistic settings, and occasion highly decorative details of flowers or wallpaper. They create a stillness, almost like a silent movie, in which the human drama takes place. There is just enough detail to set each stage, as Miss Josie's story is told visually with great respect for her strength of character. A final note fills in the facts about Smith's life. A child of slaves, she lived to be 103 and filled her inspiring life with service. 2003, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 17, 2003; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-688-17480-9
ISBN: 0-688-17481-7

Players in Pigtails
Shana Corey
Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
   The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) existed from 1943-1954. It was established when men's baseball ceased due to the number of players fighting in World War II. The AAGPBL consisted of young women around the United States with a life-long passion for the game and a talent to match. The author was inspired to write about this unique time in sports' history after seeing the movie "A League of Their Own" and discovering that the famous song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was actually written about a baseball-loving girl. The main character of this book is that girl, Katie Casey. Katie feels awkward at all of the "expected" feminine activities and most comfortable at an unexpected one-- baseball. When the opportunity to play on a professional girl's team materializes, Katie jumps at the chance. The reader travels with her throughout her journey to realize a dream and learns all about the AAGPBL. It is a perfect mix of fact and fiction, making it a delightful historical fiction piece for children. The illustrations are bright and lively, just like the main character, and depict the 1940's style of "women on the move." 2003, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Andrea Sears Andrews (Children's Literature)

   Spring leads our thoughts to baseball, and this picture book about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) is more about the formation and history of the AAGPBL than David Adler's Mama Played Baseball. The main character is Katie Casey, named after the baseball-crazy girl who is the main character in the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." I didn't know that song was about a girl, and that's why I love children's books; I learn so much. By following Katie we learn about what was happening in our country and what it was like to be a baseball-playing gal among family, friends and countrymen who said, "What good is baseball to a girl?" The book is well done and includes two pages of copious author's notes about the AAGPBL. Now here is my one issue. On one page the text reads, "All over the country, girls were playing ball. And they were playing just as good as boys." Women from various states are shown playing ball--in Texas, California, Louisiana, and so forth. The woman from Louisiana is African-American and this page is technically correct--there were African-American women playing ball around the country, in casual play. There were even African-American women playing professional baseball in the 1940s, but not in the AAGPBL, ever! The book does not say directly they played in the AAGPLB, however, it gives the impression that the AAGPBL was integrated, and the author's notes do not address the issue that in its 11 years of existence, the AAGPBL did not allow African-American women to try out, let alone compete. In fact, at least three African-American women played professional baseball alongside men in the 1940s, a fact that I learned from the wonderful book, A Strong Right Arm, the Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. I addressed my concerns to the publisher and received a very prompt and respectful reply from the author saying they will make the correction in the author's notes. I still recommend this book--it tells a great story about a very interesting time in women's sports and makes for fun reading and interesting discussion. 2003, Scholastic, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Sharon Levin (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Amelia Bloomer Project, 2004; American Library Association-SRRT; United States
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 17, 2003; Cahners; United States
   Top 10 Youth Sports Books, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
ISBN: 0-439-18305-7

Pocahontas
Nancy Polette
   These short "Rookie Biographies" are perfect for emergent readers. They feature people in the news as well as famous men and women of the past. Pocahontas was a real person who was an Indian princess. She was an active child who spent time around the settlers in Jamestown. She learned English from Captain John Smith and she convinced her father, the chief of the Powhatan to provide food to keep the people in Jamestown alive. When John Smith was captured by the Native Americans, she is reported to have saved his life. Later as hostilities grew between the Native Americans and the English settlers Pocahontas was kidnapped. She was set free and later married John Rolfe and there was peace among the peoples. She even traveled to England and met the Queen. Unfortunately, Pocahontas took ill and died in England. A perpetuation of the story which is fairly well known, but one that kids will enjoy reading. Since there were no photographs at that time, the book is illustrated with reproductions of engravings and paintings and some original artwork. There is a pictorial words to know section at the end of the text, an index and a brief blurb about the author. 2003, Children's Press, $19.00. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-516-22859-5

A Poem of Her Own: Voices of American Women Yesterday and Today
Edited by Catherine Clinton
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
   Clinton has pulled together examples of poems from twenty-five American women poets. Many of the poems and poets will be familiar -- although some are fairly new and the book even includes four new works by contemporary women poets. The introduction is somewhat long, but it will be of great value to any one interest in the topic and it is decorated with little colorful insets by Alcorn. I found the chronology and facts about women poets fascinating and the brief biographies appearing at the end of the book equally illuminating and interesting. While this book may never be one for casual reading, it will provide a wealth of information for students and their teachers. The choice of poets is interesting -- several are African American, and other ethnic groups are represented by Naomi Shihab Nye, Sandra Cisneros and Cathy Song. The most difficult poem for readers will probably be "The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet (1678)--without any introductory and biographical information and due to the changes in language over time, it is difficult to understand what the poem is about. Some readers will be amazed to learn that "The Battle-Hymn of the Republic" was a poem written by Julia Ward Howe, that the familiar Thanksgiving song that begins "Over the river , and through the wood,..." was written by Lydia Maria Child, and that the famous words ("Give me your tired, your poor,/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,...") etched in the base of the Statue of Liberty were written by Emma Lazarus. The wonderful paintings by Alcorn are big, bright and bold. The full page illustration that accompanies "Homage to My Hips" written by Lucille Clifton is perfect as are the more delicate insets that decorate the poem "Lost Sister" by Cathy Song. This is a book highly recommended for any library collection and a personal purchase for anyone who enjoys poetry. 2003, Abrams, $17.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8109-4240-2

Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson
   As a young child walking outdoors with her mother, Rachel learned the names of insects, birds and plants and developed a profound love for nature. Rachel's love for nature and writing offered her the better of two worlds and as she furthered her education, she was able to write about what she learned. She was the author of many books, all dealing with the mysteries of nature, and later used the power of print to enlighten people of the need for wilderness sanctuaries. Her determination to make a difference certainly came true, as her book Silent Spring is credited with beginning today's environmental movement. The illustrations that accompany this biography are absolutely beautiful and add much richness for the reader. Written with each page as a separate event and part of a timeline, this is a very easy read for children, and it is an interesting way to cover many facts of a person's life in just 28 pages, with over half of them being illustrations. Readers will look at Rachel's story and refer to it many times, and will keep it in a prominent place in their personal library. Teachers will put this at the top of their list for introducing biographies. 2003, Harcourt Inc, $16.00. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-15-216227-5

Rising Tide
Jean Thesman
   It is 1908 in San Francisco, and two young women share a similar dream: to pool their meager resources together in order to open up a small shop. Both Kate Keely and Ellen Flannery almost let their feelings for men get in the way of their ambitions. For Ellen, the object of her misguided affections is a well-dressed man of a famous family. Ellen is blind to his cavalier attitude, awed by her potential entry into the high society life that she craves. Kate's romantic interest is more mysterious. She begins having impossible feelings for the author of a journal that she came across quite by accident on a train trip. San Francisco is a bustling, rebuilding city at this time, reassembling itself after the devastating earthquake and subsequent fire that occurred two years earlier. The women are able to realize their dream, although not without the requisite missteps and heartache along the way. Richly drawn characters and a distinct sense of time and place make this an appealing read for students interested in the development of women's rights in American history. 2003, Viking/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Christopher Moning (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-670-03656-0

Rosa Parks
Don McLeese
   Rosa Parks, who is famous as the "mother of the civil rights movement," was born in 1913 in Alabama. Her mother was a teacher and her father a carpenter. She was fond of reading and attended teacher's college. After marrying in 1932, she and her husband joined the NAACP and began to work toward changing the segregation laws in the South, which mandated separation of blacks and whites in areas such as schools, restaurants, and public transportation. In 1955, Mrs. Parks was riding home from work on a Montgomery city bus and refused to give up her seat to white passengers. She was arrested for breaking the law. Subsequently, African American citizens of Montgomery, encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., boycotted the bus system until they were allowed to sit anywhere. Mrs. Parks became a heroine and founded an institute to help young people. President Clinton awarded her the Medal of Freedom in 1996. The biography is written in straightforward, simple language and illustrated with full-page black and white photographs. It includes an index, reading list, time line, glossary, and Web sites and is part of the "Equal Rights Leaders" series. 2003, Rourke, $19.27. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Patricia Dole (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5895-2287-7

Runaway Girl: The Artist Louise Bourgeois
Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
   As they did so brilliantly for the architect in Frank R. Gehry: Outside In and Chuck Close Up Close, the authors examine the career of a still-producing sculptor, Louise Bourgeois, and help readers understand the art, the artist, and the times in which she worked. Most readers are not familiar with Louise Bourgeois's work although it appears in over thirty U.S. museums in sixteen states. Known for her standing wood pole shapes, installations, surprising arrangements of found objects, non-representational or symbolic mounted collections, Bourgeois also includes representational body parts throughout her work. The product of a well-to-do, tapestry-repairing French family, an authoritarian father, and an acquiescing mother, Bourgeois attributes her need for art to working out early childhood anger over many things, including her father's hiring of a tutor who was also his mistress with her mother's full knowledge. Full of archival pictures from the artist's family, the book also includes many photographs of her work that show the variety of her creations well enough. However, readers may have trouble responding to some of the titled works, such as lumpy body suits, feet under glass, or a house with a guillotine suspended above it, either because they are so enigmatic or so obvious. But the text, based on interviews with the opinionated artist and those who know her, shows how a person can grow and change with a talent. Extensive backmatter is a researcher's or report-writer's dream: a well-done timeline of important dates; Bourgeois's advice for looking at a sculpture; sources for viewing her installations; a glossary; a bibliography; chapter notes and sources; a chronology of artwork; and an index. It is a fine tribute to a perhaps misunderstood artist and a vibrant introduction to a powerful woman. 2003, Abrams, $19.95. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
   Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2003; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
   Children's Literature Choice 2004, Children's Literature; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2003; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal: Best Books, 2003; Cahners; United States
   Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2003 Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Top 10 Biographies for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
ISBN: 0-8109-4237-2

Safely to Shore: America's Lighthouses
Iris Van Rynbach
   Lighthouses of all sizes and shapes dot the shores of the United States, and stories of daring rescues and lonely vigils add to the fascination so many readers have with the history of these structures. The author-illustrator tells the stories of twenty-two individual lighthouses and also provides information chronicling the technical development of lighthouses and how the lights themselves have been improved over the years. Sandy Hook Light in New Jersey was built in the 1760s and is the oldest original lighthouse in the United States. While there are still hundreds of working lighthouses, many have been preserved and are popular with sightseers and tourists. Stories of individual lighthouse tenders and their families, such as the adventures of a young girl named Abbie Burgess who in 1856 was left in charge of the Matinicus Rock Lighthouse when her father left to buy provisions, will interest young students. A storm blew in, isolating Abbie, her sick mother and three younger sisters for weeks. Abbie cared for her family and kept the light burning throughout the storm. She later married a lighthouse keeper, and a model of a lighthouse serves as her gravestone. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations are a delightful addition to these stories. 2003, Charlesbridge, $16.95. Ages 6 to 11. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5709-1434-6
ISBN: 1-5709-1435-4

Sandra Day O'Connor: Supreme Court Justice
Lisa McElroy
   In lively prose, McElroy relates significant moments in Sandra Day O'Connor's life. On almost every page, there is a photo or a sidebar featuring additional information. Children will be drawn into her life because the author has included so many items of interest to them, such as how she loved to ride horses or the loneliness of life on an Arizona ranch. The difficulty that she first had getting a job as a lawyer is told with humor and compassion. Children will be able to appreciate the changes that have been effected over the past decades. The author describes Sandra's approach to justice and fairness, citing instances where, even though her personal feelings were different, she upheld what she knew to be fair. Now that Sandra is in her seventies, there is talk that she will retire or become chief justice, but she wants to concentrate on what she knows is most important-being the best justice she can. McElroy makes Sandra come alive as a person, helping young people to realize, first of all, that important people have many of the same characteristics as ordinary people. Secondly, she portrays an older woman in a very positive light, creating a role model for young girls and boys alike. 2003, Millbrook Press, Ages 9 to 12, $23.90. Reviewer: Kathy Egner
ISBN: 0-7613-2502-6

Scholastic Book of Outstanding Americans
Sheila Keenan
   Keenan has compiled brief biographies of almost five hundred men and women who have shaped the history and culture of the United States. The people included are politicians, scientists, artists, athletes, activists, entrepreneurs, and entertainers who have in some way impacted our nation. Some are heroes and some are infamous; they are considered outstanding because they "stood out" in some way. The people included were chosen to reflect the diversity of the American experience over the last five hundred years. Each entry includes a photograph or picture of the person, birth and death dates, and a brief essay describing why that person is notable. The essays are clear and easy to read and often include information that is unusual in some way. The entries are organized alphabetically for easy reference. Each two-page spread includes a quote from one of the Americans detailed on those pages. The photographs and pictures assist in telling the story of each outstanding American. A glossary and complete index are included as well. This book is an excellent resource for any home or classroom. 2003, Scholastic Inc, $19.95. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Maureen Boyle (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-439-28358-2

Society's Sisters
Catherine Gourley
   At first glance, this seems a somber book with its black-and-white illustrations and its dull blue endpapers. The text looks a little forbidding, too, although it's broken visually by rectangular photos, vignettes, and blue boxes containing quotations, but for a young researcher who plunges in, this story of feminine activism in America since the Civil War is sure to become fascinating. Starting with a survey of appalling social conditions at mid-nineteenth century, the author continues by discussing the restlessness of newly college-educated women who were denied the use of their talents in the male-dominated society. From the widespread formation of women's clubs, spirited women moved on to test their wings in many spheres, such as forming settlement houses, crusading for judicial reform, and battling the deadly diseases that plagued the slums. Most passionate were the agitators, first for temperance and then for a woman's right to vote and speak out politically. Young readers of today may not know about the scorn, ridicule, and physical abuse heaped on these dedicated women or realize that women couldn't vote until 1920. Details of the careers of activists like Jane Addams, Alice Hamilton, Ida B. Wells, Carry Nation, and Mary Church Terrell point the way to further research about the brave women who persisted until changes were made in laws and attitudes. Included are source notes, an index, and a bibliography which, unfortunately, contains many books and articles of an age and obscurity that may make them difficult for teen researchers to locate. 2003, Twenty-First Century/Millbrook, Ages 12 up, $25.90. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 0-7613-2865-3

Sojourner Truth
Kathleen Kudlinski
   Once you finish this book you sit back and marvel at how a woman who, as a brutally abused slave, rose to fill her life and the life of others with hope, faith and paths to justice. This woman who could not read or write learned how to use the legal system to force people to follow the law. At an early age she was separated from her parents, as most slaves were, and she quickly learned that she could be beaten for no reason. When you think of slavery and brutal treatment you think of the southern states, but Belle, who later changed her name to Sojourner Truth, lived and was a slave in New York State. Much of her hope stemmed from her belief in Jesus. As a child her parents told her Bible stories and they frequently recited the Lord's prayer at night before sleeping. After she was freed she went to church. Her association with the church and a Holy Club led her to discover that she had a talent for preaching. Quakers that she knew encouraged her to preach. Over time she traveled widely, preaching to crowds that were often unfriendly. Eventually she became interested in women's rights. She felt, based on her experiences with the wives of her masters, that their wives were almost like slaves. She spoke at conferences about women's rights and became involved with women such as Lucretia Mott. William Lloyd Garrison, the abolitionist, put up money for the publication of her life story, Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave. During her eighty-six years of life, she accomplished a great deal using her skills and talents--a marvelous model for young people. The book is part of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series. 2003, Aladdin Paperbacks, $4.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689-85274-6

Sojourner Truth
Helen Frost
   Many biographies are written for older readers who are at an independent level. The "Famous Americans" series is an unusual alternative because it was created to accommodate very young readers. The titles in the series cover a variety of Americans who have influenced history. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797. Her given name was Isabella. She was sold to new owners several times early in her life. She married another slave and had five children, one of whom was sold when he was five years old. Because her home state of New York had outlawed slavery in 1817, Isabella knew this sale was illegal. She went to court and won her son back. This was the first victory of a Black woman over a White man in court. After this, Isabella changed her name to Sojourner Truth and became a crusader against slavery. She advocated equal rights and fair laws for all. Each book in the series is the perfect size for small hands (seven inches by six inches). The text is leveled for young readers and features a few sentences per page. Illustrations and photographs support the text well. Appendices include a glossary, index, and further references. An interesting Internet link sends readers to the ISBN for the book, and a "Fact Hound" will provide more links. Whether used as read-alouds or independent readers, these biographies will serve as a valuable addition to the history curriculum in a primary classroom. 2003, Pebble Books, $14.60. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carol E. Lynch (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7368-1640-2

Stick to It: The Story of Wilma Rudolph
David Conrad
   Wilma Rudolph deserves a better book than this. She was beautiful, nice, courageous, and an effective goodwill ambassador for her country. She was also one of the greatest athletes in history. As a child in a big family (20th of her father's 22 children), Wilma had scarlet fever, double pneumonia, whooping cough, measles, chicken pox and, at the age of 6, polio. It cost her the use of her left leg. Disability, however, was not a part of young Wilma's plan and whenever she could, she sneaked the brace off. Then her brothers and sisters would massage the leg while she worked to regain control of it. The effort was successful. By the age of 9, (the book says 12) the brace was history and by 11, basketball was just about the only thing she thought about. She was good at it, too. An all state basketball player in high school, she once scored 49 points in a game. Of course, none of that made her famous. Her fame rested on her career as a sprinter, her role promoting American goodwill in a world dominated by the cold war, her resolute pursuit of civil rights for all Americans, her foundation for young athletes, and her early death due to brain cancer. Under the circumstances, one wonders why this biography devotes only 12 of its 24 pages to Wilma Rudolph and tells next to nothing about her. The overriding concern seems to have been to deliver "age appropriate" vocabulary and syntax. The trouble is that no matter how easy a book is to read, unless there is a compelling story, no kid will bother to read it. 2002, Compass Point Books, $18.60. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Michael Chabin (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7565-0384-1

Through the Tempests Dark and Wild: A Story of Mary Shelley, Creator of Frankenstein
Sharon Darrow
Illustrated by Angela Barrett
   Mary Shelley's famous mother, feminist theorist Mary Wollstonecraft, died eleven days after her daughter's birth; her famous father, radical philosopher William Godwin, sent Mary away to Scotland when she was fourteen, unhappy about tensions between Mary and his much more conservative second wife. Here, in large-size picture-book format, Sharon Darrow gives a brief, evocative glimpse of Mary's healing time in Scotland with the Baxter family, whose children, Robert and Isabel, shared Mary's love of scary stories and of the brooding landscape by the North Sea. Darrow hints that Frankenstein may have had its origins there: "Some people in Scotland say she began her story in the pine grove near The Cottage on the Firth of Tay." Darrow's account of Mary's years in Scotland, framed by a preface and extended afterword, is perfectly and hauntingly illustrated by Barrett's beautiful paintings of London's stiff interiors contrasted with Scotland's shimmering seas. The book should appeal to thoughtful children interested in Mary Shelley's creative process, or simply able to identify with any misunderstood, lonely, creative child. But the book has greatest fascination for those already familiar with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in its literary rather than Hollywood version, and such readers may not find their way to a picture book ostensibly targeted toward elementary-school-aged children. 2003, Candlewick, $16.99. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Claudia Mills (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7636-0835-1

Uncommon Faith
Trudy Krisher
   Faith Common, the spunky red-haired daughter of a missionary preacher and a stalwart community volunteer, faces questions of equality and human rights in her small New England town in the late 1830's. An active questioner by nature, she keeps a private notebook of problems to consider, such as why the shopkeeper can cheat the craftswomen of her town and why did God make the mind of a girl if it were not to be used. Taught to be obedient to the word of the Bible, she questions the restrictions placed on individuals in her community and learns to argue with the very references her father quotes to her. Learning when it's best to be silent, she still provokes change; when the schoolteacher refuses to teach the girls geometry, she eavesdrops on the lessons and teaches the girls through quilting blocks. However, when the slave catchers come to town, it's her brother John who steps into his own quiet courage. Told in the many voices of Faith's community, male and female, white and black, young and old, this rich densely textured novel will reward the reader interested in history and moral questions. Readers will cheer for Faith as she heads off to the newly founded Mount Holyoke college with close friend Celia Tanner and three blacks, slave and free, hidden in their beds. 2003, Holiday House, Ages 12 up, $17.95. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg
ISBN: 0-8234-1791-3

Victory or Death!: Eight Stories of the American Revolution
Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero
Illustrated by Greg Call
   The exploits of eight heroes of the American Revolution, some famous, others unknown, are told in story form and, while the authors acknowledge fictionalizing some details, they have depended heavily upon historical research. The book is broken down in chapters and includes George Washington's crossing of the Delaware as well as the plea by Abigail Adams in one of her many letters to her husband, that as they write the new laws, they "Remember the Ladies" and "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." The story of Grace Growden Galloway, who refused to abandon her home and lose the inheritance she wished to leave to her daughter, is fascinating as is that of James Armistead, a slave who acted as a spy for the colonists. Lists of important happenings, detailed acknowledgments and sources, along with suggestions for further study are offered for young students. 2003, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-029515-5
ISBN: 0-06-029516-3

Wings and Rockets: The Story of Women in Air and Space
Jeannine Atkins
Pictures by Duésan Petriéciéc
   This is a story about female pioneers in air and space. It would have been easy to make this book a straight forward telling with dates and facts about the first women pilot (Blanche Stuart Scott), up to the first female commander of a spacecraft (Eileen Collins), but Atkins weaves their stories together seamlessly. She shows how these women felt and supported one another, allowing readers to come to view them not as isolated individuals, but as colleagues and friends. Atkins' narration is characterized by a restraint that allows the characters of these women to shine through. The book is informative and Petricic's illustrations enrich the writing, but the most impressive aspect of the story is the author's ability to convey the loneliness as well as the obvious bravery of women who made and broke records in the male-dominated field of aviation. While the lives and accomplishments of all the women covered in the book are interesting, the chapter at the beginning that introduces Katherine Wright is outstanding. She was the sister of the famous Wright brothers who created the first manned and mechanically powered plane. The nuanced portrayal of Katherine Wright's sacrifices, which made her brother's work possible, sets the tone for the rest of the book. Enjoy the ride! 2003, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.00. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Rihoko Ueno (Children's Literature)
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Social Studies Grades 7-12 United States
ISBN: 0-374-38450-9

When the War is Over
Martha Attema
    This is an historical fiction account of World War II--occupied Holland, to be exact. With the current trend to study this era in greater depth and what seems to be at an earlier age, this novel about a courier, Janke, and the underground resistance movement is one worth considering. Though sluggish at times, female readers will identify with the universal emotions of a 16-year-old girl, war or no war. All readers will be touched by the hardships endured, the lost sense of community support and the camaraderie of another age--which seems ancient to today's students. While her father and brother are secretly involved with the resistance, Janke feels compelled to take on a more daring role--that of a courier for the anti-Nazi movement. Secrecy, espionage, romance, gossip--this book has it all. The characters are clearly defined, as well as their relationships with each other, except for a few secrets that won't be divulged here. 2003 (orig. 2002), Orca Book Publishers, $7.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5514-3240-4

With Courage: Seven Women Who Changed America
Lynea Bowdish
   Some you will recognize instantly; a few you will know by name if not by picture; a few you have never heard of. The seven women are biologist Rachel Carson who first alerted the world to the dangers of DDT in Silent Spring; Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham; Mexican migrant worker organizer Dolores Heurta; the first woman Cherokee chief Wilma Mankiller; designer of the Vietnam War Memorial Maya Lin; National Security Advisor Condoleeze Rice; and Kathleen McGrath, the first American woman to command a warship. Each chapter includes several photos, a short, easily understood text which focuses on the odds each woman had to overcome and the qualities it took to overcome them: Condoleeza Rice "was brought up to respect herself. She was brought up to believe she could do anything. She was taught to work hard." This is an interesting and eclectic selection of women. Their areas of interest are sufficiently diverse to appeal to all kinds of boys and girls. The small book is an excellent choice for casual reading of living American history or biographical research. 2004, Mondo Publishing, Ages 8 to 14, $6.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 1-59336-280-3

Women of the Middle East
Sheila Rivera
   Facts almost overwhelm the reader in this book. Unfortunately, some information is not correct. For example, it states in the section on Saudi Arabia, "They (women) are not allowed to work in fields related to engineering, law, or journalism." Saudi Aramco, the oil company, employs female Saudi engineers in Dhahran and elsewhere and the three major Saudi newspapers all employ female Saudi journalists. Expatriate women have worked as lawyers in Saudi Arabia. The issue of women in the Middle East is important, so important that several books could find a place on the library shelf, but this book needs to be checked against more accurate sources. The "facts" contributed would also benefit from being placed in context with discussions of the present condition of women being related to religious belief, history, and social change. This book seems to have been written by someone with no personal knowledge of the Middle East and no real interest in understanding this complex area of the world. 2004, ABDO, Ages 10 to 14, $17.95. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg
ISBN: 1-59197-415-1

Women Writers of the West: Five Chroniclers of the American Frontier
Julie Danneberg
   Toward the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s, America's imagination was fired with exploration, gold discovery and conquering of the West--by men. Danneberg writes about five remarkable women, who, as the author puts it, succeeded when female ambition was considered a flaw, not an asset. Jessie Benton Freemont married beneath her social station when she wed John Charles Fremont. When Congress appointed him to explore the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, Jessie wrote his reports, making them something that can be read with pleasure today. Louise Clappe lived with her physician husband in the gold mining area of Colorado and frontier San Francisco. Her letters home eventually became the Dame Shirley Letters, still in print. Mary Hallock Foote, woodcut artist and friends of famous writer/poets such as Longfellow, married her engineer husband with the condition that marriage would not interfere with her career. While her husband designed the layout of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, she illustrated then wrote about her experiences in California. Hellen Hunt Jackson traveled alone to Colorado for her health, met her husband who also promised to enable her writing career, then became a champion of Native Americans who were being cruelly resettled. Her Ramona has stood the test of time. Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, a Sioux, lived life torn between her Indian roots and White Man's world. She wrote Old Indian Legends for children, then turned her considerable writing talent to advocate Indian rights. Danneberg writes each biography as creative nonfiction, presenting snippets from many viewpoints to form a complete--and pleasurable--read about each woman. Part of the "Notable Western Women" series, this important book should be handed to young adult readers for pleasure or school curriculum. Danneberg makes history come alive. 2003, Fulcrum Publishing, $12.95. Ages 12 to Adult. Reviewer: Judy Crowder (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-55591-464-0

The Wright Sister
Richard Maurer
   Katharine Wright, sister of Orville and Wilbur, might have remained a forgotten side-note to history, were it not for Richard Maurer's fascinating new biography. The only member of the family to have gone to college, Katharine was a complex, energetic woman who contributed a great deal to Orville and Wilbur's success. In fact, because of her command of Greek and Latin, the European press and public were convinced that she must have been the real brains behind the "aeroplane." Like so many accomplished women of her generation, she placed her family before herself, giving up her own teaching career to help her brothers promote their invention. In Europe, where the brothers found the greatest initial interest in their flyer, Katharine was the family's chief spokesman, entertaining heads of state, making it her business to learn French, and managing all the social details for her suddenly famous, but shy and somewhat diffident brothers. Back at home, she continued her duties, hosting the explorers, scientists, tycoons and politicians who were soon making regular pilgrimages to the Wright home. Maurer's writing flows easily. His language is vivid and descriptive, bringing events and people to life. Drawing extensively on family letters, he leaves us feeling that we know Katharine Wright--that we've been drawn into her wide circle of friends. It's too bad, in a way, that this book is being marketed for children--so many adults will miss out on the chance to meet Katharine Wright. 2003, Roaring Brook Press/The Millbrook Press, $18.95 and $25.90. Ages 11 up. Barbara Carroll Roberts (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
    Children's Literature Choice List 2004, Children's Literature, United States
ISBN: 0-7613-1546-2
ISBN: 0-7613-2564-6

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