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The 1970s from Watergate to Disco
Stephen Feinstein
Author Feinstein has written a sixty-four page picture book about the 70s, from Watergate to Disco. It is an interesting blend of lifestyles, fashion and fads, entertainment, sports, politics, science and medicine, and environmental issues. It is a look back in time for young readers. One of the most important events happening in the late sixties and seventies was the Vietnam War and the counter hippie culture. It was also a time to voice Native American Issues, women’s struggles for equal rights, and the need to end discrimination. In sports, Billie Jean King defeated the male tennis champion Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” An African American named Arthur Ashe won the Wimbledon trophy after defeating Jimmy Connors on July 5, 1975. That year also saw the end of the Vietnam War. In 1974, President Nixon resigned from the presidency after the Watergate cover up, and an environmental disaster in an area called Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York, prompted more protection for the environment. The 1970s were remarkable years, and this book offers information to readers who may be curious about the years their parents may have experienced. Color and black-and-white photographs illustrate the text. Back matter includes a time line, further reading, and Internet addresses. 2006, Enslow Publishers, $27.93. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7660-2637-X
The 19th Amendment
Michael Burgan
Just as the title states, this book focuses solely on how the 19th amendment came about. Burgan gives background on the deep roots of women’s suffrage. He explains why women had to fight for their right to vote by tracing back to Genesis and Adam and Eve, and illustrating how women were not seen as equals but as people who should be obedient. Burgan then discusses the ideas of abolition and equality, and notes that many abolitionists were Quakers who believed that all races of people were equal. Brief biographies of women who played key roles in this movement are offered such as Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Harriot Stanton Blatch. Nearly every page displays a historical photograph, illustration, or map, making the idea at hand easier for the reader to visualize. There are even pictures of some old posters and a copy of the document that made the 19th amendment official. Burgan writes in a clear, concise tone that is appropriate for his audience, which makes this complex topic easy to understand. At the conclusion of all the books in the “We The People” series, there is a glossary of terms that is relevant to the topic, a “Did You Know?” list of historical facts, a timeline, and, perhaps best of all, a listing of additional resources such as books and websites. Overall this is a great tool for a child researching the amendments and a great addition to any history book collection. 2006, Compass Point Books, $23.93. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth Sulock (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-1260-3
ISBN: 978-0-7565-1260-6
Adeline's Dream
Linda Aksomitis
Adeline's Dream tells the story of the German immigrant Adeline Mueller as she and her family struggle to find a home in the unfamiliar land of Qu'Appelle in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1910. The family's lives have been dramatically changed, but Adeline, who once dreamed of becoming a great opera singer, fears she can no longer follow this dream. Her family must overcome many hardships: fire, tornados, prohibition, and financial difficulty, while 12 year-old Adeline struggles with the new language, prejudice, and making friends. Aksomitis has created a heart-warming story about learning to adapt and maintaining hope during a time of change. Some German words are sprinkled throughout the text, but they are easy to decipher due to the context or a direct translation. This historical novel is not the typical page-turner that many young readers are accustomed to, but rather it is a throwback to the writing style of L.M. Montgomery, for each chapter tells a mini story much like Anne of Green Gables. 2006, Coteau Books, $7.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth Sulock (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-5505-0323-5
Adventurous Women: Eight True Stories about Women Who Made a Difference
Penny Colman
The eight women featured in this book are all women who are willing to take risks under dire circumstances. Among them there are those who could not read or write, those who dropped out of school, and one who became an advisor to a president. Their station in life did not seem to prevent them from following their dream. Many of these women lived in a time when girls were not allowed to get an education or, because of their family situation, were unable to get an education. Juana Briones, the mother of eleven children, and who could not read or write became an enterprising woman buying property, was known for her healing capabilities, and was an astute business woman. Other women covered include: Louise Boyd, an Arctic Explorer; Mary Gibson Henry, a Plant Hunter; and Biddy Mason, a slave who walked to Utah and California behind a wagon train and won her freedom through the court once she arrived there. The author has given us a glimpse into the resolve of some remarkable women. Also included are references, a brief chronology of each woman, and places to visit that exhibit information on each woman. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, $18.95. Ages 13 to 17. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7744-5
ISBN: 0-8050-7744-8
African Americans During Reconstruction
Richard Worth
Over the years, the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War has been portrayed as an era of mistakes, misjudgments, and error. In reality, the twelve years that made up the Reconstruction era (1865-1877) represented a time of great opportunity and amelioration of the terrible ills bred by the longstanding existence of slavery in the antebellum South. During the Reconstruction era, African-American men were given the right to vote, serve on juries, and actively participate in all levels of government. In the Reconstruction period a system of public education that included African-American children was begun in the South. Economic opportunities never before available to African Americans existed and many black men and women took advantage of them. Nevertheless, the forces of racism and white supremacy gradually seeped back into the very fabric of civil life and, by 1877, virtually all of those advances for southern African Americans were suppressed. In African Americans During Reconstruction, Richard Worth charts the course of progress and regression during that pivotal period of American history. In relating this ultimately unsuccessful age of reform, Richard Worth does an excellent job of capturing the events, keynote personalities, and spirit of those bygone years. Here, in this fine historical work, readers will encounter Klansmen, black reformers, white idealists, scallywags, and carpetbaggers. This chapter of the illustrated "Slavery in the Americas" series is an excellent resource and, perhaps, the finest book in a strong set. 2006, Facts on File/Chelsea House, $35.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8160-6139-4
Aftershocks
William Lavender
This tale of historical fiction is loosely based upon the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, California. Financially well off fourteen-year-old Jessie dreams of becoming a medical doctor like her father, during a period when the only hope for a woman in the medical profession was to become a nurse. Her parents pooh-pooh the idea as nonsense but fail to realize just how serious Jessie is about attaining this goal. Meanwhile, a scandal within her well-appointed home arises and Jessie is compelled to do what she believes to be the right thing without harming the people she loves, just as the earthquakes shakes up the tangible aspects of her world. This novel touches upon cultural barriers, racial and gender discrimination, economic class differences, infidelity, fierce friendships, familial loyalty, young love, and much more. The story wanders a bit at the end and may appear to never come to a resolution (the one that is ultimately reached may be less than satisfactory as well). However, it will be enjoyed by those who identify with a strong heroine and a background rich in details. All in all, it is historical fiction that is highly recommended. 2006, Harcourt Children’s Books, $17.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Cindy L. Carolan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-205882-6
Airplane
Harold Faber
The last part of the nineteenth century was truly a prolific age of invention. The telephone, electric lights, the phonograph, typewriters, the gas powered car, electric motors, the camera, the zipper and, of course, powered human flight were all invented during this time period. Topics covered in this “Great Inventions” series range from vaccines to gunpowder and weaponry. This book deals with aviation history. Chapters include the early days of human flight; the Wright brothers and their experiments in powered aviation; how World War I impacted the aviation community; the life of the “Lone Eagle,” Charles A. Lindbergh; the development of commercial aviation; the great contribution of aviation in World War II; the jet age; the space age; and the future of aviation. In an attempt to cover the great wealth of aviation history, sky blue boxes of additional information are scattered throughout the book. Information about zeppelins, the internal combustion engine, women aviators, notable transatlantic flights, aviation stamps, the first flight attendants, the first pilot’s license issued in the United States, the use of the atomic bomb, breaking the sound barrier, the fastest airplane, general aviation, and helicopters is touched upon in these blue boxes. The back matter contains a glossary, a time line of major aviation events, a list of pioneers in aviation and each one’s significance, a bibliography, a list of web sites, and a lengthy index. This series includes the titles The Airplane, The Automobile, Clocks, The Cotton Gin, Electricity and the Lightbulb, Gunpowder and Weaponry, The Printing Press, The Steam Engine, The Telephone, and Vaccines. 2006, Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark, $37.07. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7614-1876-8
Anne Hutchinson: Puritan Protester
Darlene R. Stille
This biography of a Puritan woman is interestingly written and has helpful explanations of the times. In England Anne learned to protest teachings of the church from her minister father. When her father died, Anne married and soon gave birth to the first of fifteen children. When the Church of England tried to stamp out Puritanism, Anne moved with her husband and children to the Puritan colony in Boston, Massachusetts. From studying the Bible she firmly believed that people are saved by grace and not by works. She held meetings in her home; her teachings stirred up controversy and irritated the governor and some ministers. In 1637, Anne was tried for heresy. Seeking freedom of belief, she moved with her family to Rhode Island. After the death of her husband, Anne moved her children to a Dutch settlement to escape harassment from the Puritans. Unfortunately the Dutch had angered the Indians; Anne did not realize the danger and was scalped along with six of her children. The text is broken up with sidebars, maps, and illustrations from the time period. A time line of her life that shows other world events, a bibliography, glossary, index, and lists for further study are included. This is one of the "Signature Lives" series on Colonial America. Children will find this reference material easy to understand and enjoyable. 2006, Compass Point Books, $30.60. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-1577-7
Berenice Abbott, Photographer: an Independent Vision
George Sullivan
Berenice Abbott (1898-1991) came from a broken Midwestern family, and spent the rest of her life rebelling--mostly from the Midwest and its conservative attitudes. Escaping first to New York City, she joined the bohemian set of Greenwich Village; then she followed the young Turks of the art world, Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray, when they took off for post-WWI Paris. Abbott found her place in art as the photographic assistant to Man Ray, but was booted out to create her own portrait studio when she gave him too much competition. While in Paris she discovered the eloquent photographs of Eugène Atget, and would spend much of the rest of her life championing his cause. Her ill-timed return to New York coincided with the beginning of the Great Depression, and the rest of her story is one of fighting to have her realistic photos accepted within the art world. Her views were intransigent, but her pictures were clear, crisp, luminescent, and lovely. George Sullivan, an old hand with quality nonfiction, approaches his prickly subject with ease. The book--as always with Clarion nonfiction--is handsomely mounted, with great care taken in the reproduction of Abbott’s images. The end result is a welcome look at the work and life one of the twentieth-century’s great artistic nonconformists. 2006, Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, $20.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, Jun. 1, 2006; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, April 15, 2006; United States
ISBN: 0-618-44026-7
ISBN: 978-0-618-44026-9
Calamity Jane
Sara Gilbert
There are few women that fit the mold of Wild West characters, but one of the best known is Calamity Jane. Little is known about the woman and her penchant for embellishing her life history makes it even more difficult to find accurate information on that life. What is known for certain is that Calamity Jane led an adventurous life in a time when women were expected to stay home and raise a family. The author presents Calamity Jane with all of her faults as well as in her glory, detailing her addiction to alcohol and her inability to establish a stable life for herself. Black-and-white illustrations of her era and area where Calamity Jane lived appear throughout, as well as images of other Wild West personalities that Calamity Jane met. Brief asides appear throughout the text and provide information about the places that Calamity Jane visited and the famous people with whom she interacted. The author mentions several times throughout the text that Calamity Jane--and others--greatly embellished her life story, but the legend of Calamity Jane is a fascinating look at the settlement of the western United States and one of the few women who earned a place beside the famous men of the “Wild West.” This title is part of the “Legends of the West” series. 2006, Creative Education, $31.35. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-5834-1337-5
Central American Immigrants to the United States: Refugees from Unrest
Eric Schwartz
Central America has been the site of extreme political oppression, savage violence, and dire poverty. Needless to say, these conditions have encouraged a large-scale wave of migration. Many Central American immigrants end up in the United States. These people come to the US in search of a better life, one that will not be marked by the seemingly random violence of their homelands. This title presents some of the history of Central America as well as the pathways that many immigrants from this region follow to establish themselves in the United States of America. This illustrated book is part of a broader series titled “Hispanic Heritage.” Much of the power of this fine book comes from the author’s use of first-hand reports to highlight the lives of specific Central Americans. Readers will meet men, women, and children who chose to uproot their lives and head north. These compelling stories underscore the efforts made by these immigrants and the risks that they have taken. This is a thoughtful book, one that will aid students to better understand the reasons behind immigration from Central America to the USA. 2006, Mason Crest Publishers, $22.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-59084-929-9
ISBN: 1-59084-924-8
Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield
Allison Lassieur
Illustrated by Brian Bascle
The basic facts of Clara Barton’s life are clearly laid out and enlivened by the comic book-style illustrations--complete with word balloons. While the cartoon dialogue is made up, the occasional letter or diary entry allows the historic personages to speak in their own words. This book captures Barton’s acute feelings of depression, but also her persistence, and passion for the common man. It also sets her within the context of history as a woman who chose to succeed, work gainfully, and implement her ideals in social action. The back matter includes a password for www.facthound.com, a website which supplements the text of Capstone nonfiction books; a glossary and suggestions for additional reading about Barton and the American Red Cross. 2006, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-4632-8
Daily Life During the American Revolution
Dale Anderson
Living in a state that was involved in what amounted to a revolutionary civil war had great precariousness built into it. In this title in the “World Almanac Library of the American Revolution” series author Anderson traces some of the central themes involved in civilian life during that historic struggle. Anderson addresses several topics in this illustrated book including women in the war, African-American contributions and experiences, the fate of Native Americans, the Loyalist movement, and rural and urban life. This is a steady book that incorporates a combination of adequate text, fine illustrations, and text box insertions that highlight points or people of interest. For example, while discussing the ways in which the war affected women’s conceptualizations of happiness, the author quotes a New York doctor as he described to his daughter her wifely role in life, “You have been a dutiful child to your parents. Your natural disposition will in like manner incline you to be dutiful and affectionate to your husband and his parents…Let your dress, your conversation, and the whole business of your life be to please your husband and to make him happy and you need not fail of being so yourself.” It is this type of insight into the daily lives of colonial people that carries the greatest impact in this book. Thus, while the overall writing is adequate, these historical flourishes make this an acceptable look at the social history of the American Revolution. 2006, World Almanac Library, $30.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8368-5930-8
ISBN: 0-8368-5939-1
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Medieval Queen
Kerrily Sapet
The drama of a royal family makes for good reading, no matter what the century. Eleanor lived in an era when a woman was meant to know her place, but this “headstrong girl” was not content to play a supporting role. Eleanor’s father saw that she was educated in a wide range of subjects and knowledgeable about politics. At fourteen she was married to the future king of France, and according to this biography she was a more capable leader. However, Eleanor had to work behind the scenes, many times correcting the mismanagement and poor decisions of Louis VIII. Her life included a crusade to the Holy Land, two husbands, nine children, and sixteen years of imprisonment in her later life. Well-written, with color pictures throughout, this book would make a good resource for a student researching medieval queens. Her story is so interesting, readers looking for specific information may find themselves reading the book cover to cover. Includes the usual nonfiction addendums: a time line, sources, a bibliography, related web sites, and an index. 2006, Morgan Reynolds, $26.95. Ages 12 to 16. Reviewer: Mary Loftus (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-931798-90-7
ISBN: 1-931798-90-7
Eleanor of Aquitaine and the High Middle Ages
Nancy Plain
This title in the “Rulers and Their Times” series treats Eleanor as an amazing woman, married to two kings, one of France and one of England, mother of future rulers of the Plantagenet dynasty, and a social and political force that transformed her society. Living on the cusp of the Middle Ages as feudal fiefdoms, ruling by “might makes right,” and turned toward the beginning of nationhood, Eleanor both participated in the innovations of her time and shaped them. Although she helped to establish the concept of “courtly love” and the form of troubadour poetry, she also traveled to Jerusalem with the French King Louis on the Second Crusade and contributed to the transformation of England to a rule of Justice and Law with her second husband, Henry II of England. Along the way she got divorced (a most unusual step) after fifteen years of marriage, complaining “I thought to have married a king, but find I have married a monk.” She took the beautiful lands of Aquitaine with her to England as a marriage portion, and lived a bit too long--long enough to see eight of her ten children die, some in rebellion against Henry, and others in the struggle against the French Kings. Having abandoned Louis of France through divorce, when she turned against Henry and supported her sons in their rebellion against their father, she re-allied herself with Louis as her overlord. When Henry regained his power, Eleanor went to prison for sixteen years, only released by her son Richard the Lionheart, who then faced problems of his own--crusades, imprisonment by the Holy Roman Emperor, release, and death from an arrow wound. Eleanor’s line continued in the Plantagenets, who ruled England for 250 years and became Kings of France with the ascent of her great-grandson to the throne. Excellent reproductions of art from museums in the United States and Europe, a section on contemporary writing that uses examples from troubadour poetry (some written by Richard the Lionheart!), letters, and chronicles, and the chapters on daily life which firmly place Eleanor against the contemporary background enhance the story of Eleanor’s amazing life. A useful glossary and list of further resources, including websites, museums, and films, make up the back matter. 2006, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, $20.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7614-1834-2
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kem Knapp Sawyer
Profusely illustrated and containing a comprehensive bibliography and an index, this biography of one of the century’s most influential women is both a useful reference source and an enjoyable reading experience. Born into a family of wealth and prestige, Eleanor attended schools in England and France before she made her debut in New York. There one of her friends was a distant cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Their friendship was culminated in marriage and he was elected governor of New York. The couple lived in Albany until Franklin’s inauguration as president of the United States. In Washington, D.C., Eleanor plunged enthusiastically into the role of First Lady, using her position not only to attend social functions and entertain diplomats, but also to promote programs to improve housing and benefits for low income groups. When Franklin died in 1945 Eleanor served for six years as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, working on the Human Rights Commission. After resigning from the U.N. she traveled widely, writing and reporting, and she continued her writing after she returned home until her health deteriorated. She died from a rare form of tuberculosis on November 7, 1962, and is buried next to her husband in the rose garden at Hyde Park. 2006, DK Publishing, $14.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Mildred Hart (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-756614961
ISBN: 0-756614953
ISBN: 978-0-756614959
Eleanor Roosevelt: An Inspiring Life
Elizabeth MacLeod
It is easy to be inspired by the indomitable Mrs. R (as readers learn Eleanor Roosevelt’s friends called her). This book, brimming with photographs and short blocks of text, is perfect for middle readers turned off by text-heavy traditional biographies. In 32 pages, it manages to tell the basic narrative of Roosevelt’s life, to convey her contributions to American history and to the progress of women in the nation’s life, and to impart fascinating nuggets of information. Readers learn of Roosevelt’s privileged yet precarious childhood (both her parents died before she was a teenager), of her social insecurity, and of her tremendous energy, much of which was channeled into efforts to make her country, and the world, a better place. Roosevelt’s relationship with her husband, thirty-second president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is presented sensitively, without whitewashing the couple’s marital difficulties. The author makes good use of quotations from Roosevelt’s writings and talks. “Learn from the mistakes of others,” she said; “You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” Photographs are dynamic and revealing, as befits this addition to the publisher’s “Snapshots” series of biographies. 2006, Kids Can Press, $14.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Debbie Levy (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55337-778-8
ISBN: 1-55337-811-3
Elizabeth I: Queen of Tudor England
Myra Weatherly
Queen Elizabeth I who reigned for forty-five years during the “Golden Age” of England is a monarch much studied and written about, and for good reason. As this book points out, Elizabeth “personified the Renaissance era and changed England forever.” The first chapter launches the reader into Elizabeth’s colorful life by beginning at the gripping point of her imprisonment in the Tower of London for treason. The rest of the book is written sequentially beginning with Elizabeth’s charmed birth to her death many years later as a much-loved queen. Though the details of Elizabeth’s life are often confusing and involved, the author of this book does a good job of paring those details down enough to be understandable to middle grade readers. The liberal illustrations include actual paintings and drawings of the era, and portraits of various key players help to bring the many personalities associated with Elizabeth into sharper focus. As a biography, the book not only tells a good story but also serves as a research aid for students. It has sidebars with interesting facts, such as the significance of Elizabeth’s name or a listing of the numerous men who wanted to marry her. Age-appropriate research tools include time lines, a glossary, print and internet bibliographies, and an index. A family tree of the House of Tudor is especially helpful. Classroom teachers or school librarians whose students are studying the Renaissance or British history will find this book an excellent resource as well as an enjoyable read. 2006, Compass Point Books, $30.60. Ages 9 to 15. Reviewer: Sheryl O’Sullivan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-0988-2
Ellen Ochoa: Pioneering Astronaut
Lissa Johnston
Consultant, James Gerard
As part of the “Fact Finders” series, this biography is well written and the format is reader-friendly. Historical photographs that add interest and support to the text accompany every page. The author also includes boxes on each page that contain either quotations or facts. Many people influenced Ellen, but she is later quoted as saying, “My mother influenced me the most…Her primary focus was the enjoyment of learning. That’s what I got from her example,” and a good example it was. Ellen’s mother started college when Ellen was a baby and graduated 22 years later. Once Ellen set her dreams on becoming an astronaut she never looked back. Readers will learn about her life working with NASA. Did you know that Ellen took her flute along with her on her first mission, or that she has traveled more than 16 million miles in space? Included at the end of the book are “Fast Facts,” a time line, a glossary, Internet sites, “Read More,” and an index. It amazes me how much information is given to the reader in just 32 pages. This book would be perfect in a classroom or school library. It also lends itself to the science and social studies classrooms. The author highlights all vocabulary words that can be found in the glossary. The book can be used as a resource for a research paper or for nonfiction reading. The quotations chosen for this book are great, but my favorite for children to read is, “Education is what allows you to stand out.” What a great writing prompt this would be! Both boys and girls will find this biography interesting. I highly recommend it. 2006, Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5438-2
ISBN: 0-7368-5438-X
Everybody's Revolution
Thomas Fleming
The author’s grandparents were born in Ireland and, since he did not have ancestors in the Revolutionary War, he as well as many of his childhood friends did not feel connected to the war. This is an odd concept, since the Revolutionary War provided the opportunity to found a country which became a beacon drawing those immigrants who came in later years. However, this aspect is explored somewhat in the afterword. Putting that aside, this book points out that it was not just Englishmen, loyalists, and colonists who joined in the revolution. There were participants from many backgrounds. By 1775, when the Revolution began, many immigrants had come from various countries in Europe. African Americans also took part, and there were at least nine black soldiers among the minutemen fighting at Lexington and Concord. The author also chronicles the contributions of women and American Indians. A listing of books and websites for further study is included. 2006, Byron Preiss Visual Publications/Scholastic, $19.99. Ages 9 to 11. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 13, 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-439-63404-0
Freedom Walkers: the Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Russell Freedman
Written by an acclaimed author of nonfiction for young readers, this well-researched account of the Montgomery bus boycott is a must-read for students in the upper elementary grades and middle school. The account sets the stage for the boycott by reviewing what life was like for blacks living in the South in the 1950s. The author uses personal accounts of various citizen participants as well as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., providing powerful words and experiences for readers. The numerous black-and-white photos make it seem like this event occurred long ago, but many teachers will have actually lived through this turbulent time and can relate to it. Students today need to be informed of the courage of others and the struggles overcome to appreciate the freedoms that they do have today. A bibliography and sources for the many quotes in the book are included. The eyewitness accounts bring this story to life. 2006, Holiday House, $18.95. Ages 10 to adult. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Books of the Year, 2006; School Library Journal; United States
Best Children's Books, 2006; Kirkus; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 15, 2006; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2006; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2031-5
ISBN: 0-8234-2031-0
Frida Kahlo: Painter of Strength
Lissa Johnston
This book illustrates the life and physical hardships faced by the painter Frida Kahlo. It does an excellent job informing the reader about the world of art and how this strong Hispanic woman was able to find power through it. Readers are introduced to surrealism and self-portraits, which made Kahlo famous. The book is also filled with brilliant pictures, including many examples of Frida Kahlo’s work. There are interesting facts sprinkled throughout that will engross young readers. It also gives some information about Diego Rivera, Kahlo’s husband and fellow painter. There is even a time line at the back of the book to help readers place the important dates from Kahlo’s life, a list of further readings, and a glossary. This enchanting picture book would be great to use to help readers understand Hispanic culture, as well as Mexican history, like the Mexican Revolution. It is also a great historical illustration of polio, a disease Kahlo suffered from at a young age. The theme of determination through hardship, particularly physical, will inspire readers. This book is part of the “Fact Finders” series. 2007, Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Traci Avalos (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6417-6
ISBN: 0-7368-6417-2
Gloria Estefan: Singing Sensation
Tim O'Shei
Gloria Estefan, a Cuban-born Latin singing sensation, was a major contributor to the popular music scene of the 1980s. This book, part of the “Fact Finders Biographies: Great Hispanics” series, provides an in-depth portrait of a talented female artist and woman of strength and courage. The young reader will learn about Gloria’s childhood, her move to the United States, emerging interests in music, her rise to fame, and her near fatal car accident. The reader will also get a snapshot of historical and scientific facts, as well as learn key words and concepts, such as the Pan American Games, Vietnam War, Fidel Castro, political involvement, multiple sclerosis, spine research, and advocacy for those in need. This series is written in an easily understood format with an interest level from second to fifth grade. With a readability level of the third to fourth grade, this text gives the struggling reader ample information without becoming excessively wordy. The text boxes within a photograph detail pertinent information and lend support and depth to the text. The last few pages promote the acquisition of new knowledge by providing “Fast Facts” for quick reference, a glossary, and a safe Internet search option. Also in the last few pages is a timeline of Gloria’s life that could easily be used prior to beginning a social studies lesson on writing personal biographies. 2006, Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Kimberly O’Meara (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5439-9
ISBN: 0-7368-5439-8
Gloria Steinem: Champion of Women's Rights
Nancy Garhan Attebury
The first chapter in this biography of a champion of women’s rights is called “A Bunny’s Tale,” as in Playboy bunny, and it is illustrated with a full-page photo of Gloria Steinem in her bunny costume. It is an opening certain to generate interest. Steinem did not have a change of heart--she became a bunny to write an article about their poor pay and mistreatment on the job. Throughout her life Steinem considered herself a journalist, even as she advocated for the rights of women, African Americans, migrant workers and others. Her story is told in an easy, interesting manner, with great attention to details that explain her motivations. Although her family struggled in many ways, she was close to her father who “respected her as an independent and capable person.” As Steinem’s life coincided with significant world events, there are boxes in the margins to describe the Great Depression, the history of Smith College which Steinem attended, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the Vietnam War. The tone of the biography is very pro-Steinem, but there is opportunity for discussion about whether she went too far or not far enough in her support of feminism, which is defined as a belief in the full social, political and economic equality of women. The time line at the end is brief but complete, enabling young readers to see the events of Steinem’s life right next to world historical events. There are numerous excellent photos as well as a glossary, footnotes, an index, and additional resources. Other biographies in this “Signature Lives” series include Langston Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover, Douglas MacArthur, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt and Wilma Mankiller. 2006, Compass Point Books, $30.60. Ages 10 to 16. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-1587-4
Great Women of Pioneer America
Sarah De Capua
This book is a real pleasure. It is a well-written book telling the tales of six impressive women, women whose accomplishments stand up to the test of time. There is Narcissa Whitman, the first missionary woman to live in the Pacific Northwest, and Caroline Quiner Ingalls, whose fortitude in the face of frontier hardships were so impressively detailed by her daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Also told are the stories of Bethenia Owens-Adair, who began medical school in 1870 and became the first female doctor in the Pacific Northwest, and Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American female doctor in the United States and the only person to treat every Omaha on her reservation at least once. And let's not forget the suffragettes of the New Terroritories; like their sisters to the East, they persevered against the attitudes of their time to bring the vote to their female colleagues. Esther Morris, who convinced Wyoming to be the first state in the Union to allow women the right to vote, and Abigail Scott Duniway, whose lobbying led Oregon to give women the vote a full eight years before the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, are also included. These women's stories are told convincingly and told well, giving readers an insight into the challenges unique to their day. The book includes a glossary, a time line, a bibliography, and a list of other great women who helped forge America's frontier. 2006, Compass Point Books/Capstone, $23.93. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Kris Sauer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-1269-7
ISBN: 978-0-7565-1269-9
Hypatia: Her Story
D. Anne Love
Illustrated by Pam Paparone
In the fourth century, in the sophisticated urban city of Alexandria, a young girl grows up at a time when most girls have few rights and little education. But Hypatia’s professor father is determined to educate her the same as he would a son. Along with sports like fishing, horseback riding, and rowing, she learns reading, writing, and speaking. She studies the sciences and is fascinated with mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. She becomes a famous lecturer and teacher, an inspiration to women “for centuries to come.” Paparone visualizes this unusual life in stylized acrylic paintings, which hit at the style of the time with emphasis on clarity and decoration. Scenes are frequently designed to suggest stage sets; sometimes vignettes are used to depict specific actions. The illustrations extend the text; “She read the works of great poets” is matched by a scene of her writing surrounded by pictures of Homer, Alcaeus, Sappho, and Virgil. There is more admiration than emotion in the simple text. There are two pages of additional notes, including one by the author, “More About Math,” and a bibliography. 2006, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8234-1621-6
Journalists at Risk: Reporting America's Wars
George Sullivan
This title is an excellent mix of the history of journalism and American history. Since the beginning of America, during and following important historical events, a constant has always been the coverage of the events by journalists eager to share information with those back at home. With the invention of the telegraph in the late 1830s, news could be reported back to the home office and be on the streets by the next day. The reporting on the Mexican-American War--1846-1848--was the first time journalists used the telegraph in their work. World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm and the War on Terrorism as news and the changes in the technology for reporting are included. With photos taken of, and by the journalists, this book provides an exciting portrait of the risks taken by these men and women. It also tells the story of women in the foreign press and in war zones and their battle to have the opportunity to take the risks. Biographical information about these amazing people allows the reader to understand what and how they felt about their work. Included with brief biographical information are some comments made by twenty-two journalists. “Source Notes,” a “Selected Bibliography,” a listing for “Further Reading and Websites,” and a list of “Places to Visit” precede the “Index” of this amazing book that will provide future journalists a basic history of the field. Teachers will find numerous ways to use the book--as American History, the history of journalism, women’s rights, and technology. This book is part of the “People’s History” series. 2006, Twenty-First Century Books, $27.90. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States
ISBN: 978-0-7613-2745-5
ISBN: 0-7613-2745-2
The Lowell Mill Girls
Alice K. Flanagan
Textiles offered unparalleled opportunities to nineteenth-century women. Readers learn about female mill workers employed at innovative mills located near Pawtucket Falls on the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts. Mill officials paid cash to laborers who supervised machines that converted cotton to cloth, performing such tasks as replacing full spindles and removing woven fabric. Women throughout New England realized they could earn more money working at mills than from other jobs available to females. Mill salaries enabled them to help their families achieve better quality lives. Living in company boardinghouses and following strict rules, the mill girls formed a vibrant community, benefiting from schools, libraries, and a hospital for workers. Lowell leaders boldly encouraged coeducation before that practice became acceptable in other places. Residents respected women’s ideas. Several mill girls created a magazine. Banding together to demand better working conditions, dispute wages, and protest long hours, they went on strike. Immigrant laborers also worked in the cotton mills, which continued operation until the 1930s. Many of the mill girls later attained significant achievements in various fields. Some wrote books chronicling their mill experiences. This history emphasizes their pioneering roles in improving rights for women and laborers. Illustrations include photographs of the mill girls’ 1846 petition for better hours. Supplementary information guides readers seeking more resources for papers, projects, and discussions. This title is part of the “We the People” series. 2006, Compass Point Books, $23.93. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth D. Schafer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-1262-X
ISBN: 978-0-7565-1262-0
Marie Curie
Philip Steele
Forgive me if I refer to Marie Curie as Madame Curie. When I was growing up, in school she was always referred to as Madame Curie, so I never referred to her as anything other then Madame Curie. In fact, I am not even sure that I knew her first name. All I knew was that she was a great scientist. Steele has given us highlights of her youth in Poland, her struggles to obtain an education, her accomplishments, and her contribution to science. I believe that every young girl who is interested in or has ability in the scientific area should read this book. The struggles that she had to overcome were monumental. In her time, girls generally did not attend universities and any work they produced was overlooked--or it was assumed that a man did most of the work. A remarkable book about a remarkable life. 2006, National Geographic Society, $17.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7922-5387-6
ISBN: 0-7922-5388-4
Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor
Emily Arnold McCully
If necessity is the mother of invention, Margaret E. Knight might be called the mother of American inventors. Caldecott medalist Emily Arnold McCully celebrates Knight’s intelligence, skill and persistence in Marvelous Mattie. This lively piece of historical fiction traces Knight’s interest in things considered boyish in the 19th century and beyond the scope of the female brain. With her sketchbook and father’s toolbox, Knight designed and built better jumping-jack toys, kites and sleds. When she went to work at age 12 in a Massachusetts textile mill, she invented a metal shuttle guard to help protect workers from injury. Even with 22 patents to her name, Knight is best remembered for her invention of a machine to make flat-bottomed paper bags. The latter part of the picture book focuses on a watershed moment in the career Knight forged for herself. When a man stole and patented her idea, Knight took him to court and proved her ownership with her sketchbook and a friend’s testimony as to her hard work late into the night for two years. Knight then started her own paper bag-making business and, as a professional inventor, was dubbed ‘the Lady Edison.” A marvelous book about an extraordinary woman. 2006, Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Mattie, who lived from 1838 to 1914, grew up in a family who did not have money, but she never felt poor. She inherited her father’s toolbox and filled her Maine home with inventions to make her family more comfortable. Mattie took her gift into the world at twelve when she created an improved shuttle after a terrible factory accident occurred at the textile mill where she worked. Probably her most well-known invention was the paper bag, an invention most of us take for granted. This picture book biography also provides an important window on the injustice of the era: Mattie fought to gain the rights to the patents she deserved, started a business to protect them, and came up with ninety original inventions and twenty-two patents to disprove the theory that women’s brains were inadequate. 2006, Farrar Strauss Giroux, $16.00. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
This is the story of a young girl gifted with an engineer's mind. From an early age, "Mattie" Knight begins sketching ideas into a notebook she labels "My Inventions." Her brothers call the sketches "brainstorms." For her brothers, Mattie makes toys with moving parts; for her mother, a poor widow, Mattie makes a foot warmer. Then she builds a kite so well designed that it soars high above the kites of the boys in town. They refuse to believe Mattie designed it, declaring, "A girl couldn't make that!" This is an echo Knight will hear throughout her career as an inventor. Knight's most famous invention is a machine that produces square-bottom paper grocery bags. This design is such a good idea, it is stolen! Though it takes all of her savings, Knight takes the thief to court. The thief declares, "Miss Knight could not possibly understand the mechanical complexities of the machine." But she proves him wrong, showing the judge the "brainstorms" she sketched in her notebook for two years. Winning the case, Knight becomes the first woman in U.S. history to obtain a patent. Readers will enjoy the conflict of this tale. The watercolor illustrations and design sketches nicely compliment the dialogue-filled text. 2006, Farrar Straus and Giroux, $16.00. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 9, 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-374-348103-0
ISBN: 978-0-374-34810-6
The Matchless Six: The Story of Canada's First Women's Olympic Team
Ron Hotchkiss
Canadian sports fans, Olympic historians, runners, and readers wanting to be inspired by women athletes will enjoy this historical review of Canada’s first women’s Olympic team. The book begins with an interesting discussion of how the Olympics finally came to accept female athletes after being such a male dominated sporting and viewing contest for so long. The well-researched book contains many quotes and numerous black-and-white photographs of the six young women as they climbed the ranks to become part of that first Olympic team to go to the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. Next, the book carries the reader to the Olympics and details the successes, challenges, and heartbreaks that the team went through. The team’s overall success was celebrated by reporters around the world. It was announced that these six women were able to win the world’s championship in track and field against much bigger track and field squads and therefore earned their nickname the “Matchless Six.” 2006, Tundra Books, $16.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8877-6738-9
Maya Angelou
Vicki Cox
Maya Angelou may be best known for her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which rocked the literary world in 1970. The depth of her contributions to the world may also be seen in her poetry, political activism, singing, and dancing. This deeply comprehensive profile of such an inspirational woman could be considered as much a history book as a biography. A chronology, suggestions for further reading, and selected works are also included. An interview with Ms. Angelou that took place in 2003 when she was seventy-five years old is an amazing part of the book, giving readers the opportunity to hear her words directly. Fact boxes dispersed throughout the book that contain quotes of Ms. Angelou’s are another way to listen to her first hand. Other fact boxes present historical summaries of pertinent events and people. This book would be a high quality addition to a public, school, or home library and would also make a fine gift. Part of the “Legacy Edition” series (which is based on the critically acclaimed “Black Americans of Achievement” series) that includes profiles of famous Black Americans such as Josephine Baker, Scott Joplin, and Oprah Winfrey. The author has twenty-five years of experience teaching in the public school system and at the present time teaches at Drury University in Missouri. Highly recommended. 2006, Chelsea House Publishers/Infobase Publishing, $30.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cindy L. Carolan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7910-9224-0
Mind the Light, Katie: The History of Thirty-Three Female Lighthouse Keepers
Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford
The Cliffords, mother and daughter, are a two-woman cheering squad for all things related to the history of lighthouses. Their latest effort is a condensed version for younger readers of their earlier, Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers. That book was fairly monumental in its inclusiveness, but the Cliffords have chosen well for the stories they excerpted to pique their new audience’s curiosity. Using a chronological approach, they begin with the tale of Hannah Thomas of Massachusetts, who kept the light while her husband went off to fight in the American Revolution. Succeeding women keepers who took over from fathers or husbands to finally secure the title and salary of a “Lighthouse Keeper” fill these pages. There are letters and logs; descriptions of amazing bravery while lifesaving; portraits of incredible pluck (pounding a warning bell with a hammer for twenty straight hours when a fog bell broke). And then there was Juliet Nichols holding down the light on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay in 1906, watching through field glasses as the Great Earthquake destroyed the city. Period photographs dot the pages of this no-nonsense book, and an excellent glossary is appended. But the marvelous true stories are what will enthrall any reader lucky enough to pick it up. 2006, Cypress Communications, $12.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-9636412-7-1
Molly Pitcher: Young American Patriot
Jason Glaser
Illustrated by Tod Smith, Bill Anderson, and Charles Barnett III
Although even historians disagree about the actual personage (often thought to be Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley) presented here, the history captured in this graphic novel format should not be trivialized or dismissed by thoughts of “cartoons.” While the format itself will actually draw readers from a wider range than a text-only presentation (even with occasional illustrations) may, it will also serve those more capable readers because of its facts and historical insights. During the late 18th century, the name Molly was used by shopkeepers as a form of respectful address. The author carefully explains this in the opening of the storyline but also reinforces (in the back matter) the information about how the ‘Molly Pitcher’ legend/story was very likely a compilation of many women who served/fought with the patriots during the American Revolutionary War. The history of the Battles at Brandywine Creek and Germantown in Pennsylvania is followed by the long and terrible winter the troops and many of their wives spent at Valley Forge. Later that year on June 28, 1778, the American soldiers caught up with the British near Monmouth County Courthouse, New Jersey. It was during this battle that Molly is credited with delivering water to her husband and other soldiers, thus earning her the name Pitcher. It was also here that she was thought to have taken over the firing of her husband’s cannon after he collapsed (probably from heat exhaustion). These bare facts are the basis of the legend that grew around the name Molly Pitcher, but they were probably enhanced with the deeds of many other brave women who helped to secure freedom for the colonies. The historical facts in the back matter are accompanied by a glossary, useful Internet sites found through FactHound, a “Read More” section, a bibliography, and an index. For both its generalized terms and specific details, this is an extremely satisfactory look at the American Revolution for students who wish to expand their knowledge of a seminal time in the development of U.S. history. Part of the “Graphic Library” series, this book’s reading level is rated as 4th grade with an interest level range from 3rd to 9th. 2006, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5486-3
ISBN: 0-7368-5486-X
Mother Jones
Kathlyn Gay
The strict work standards enforced today were bought at a high price by thousands of workers before those standards were put into place. Without the organization of labor by unions and union agitators, those standards would never have been created. Mary Jones, better known as Mother Jones, was one of the more popular and successful agitators in the early history of organized labor. Mother Jones’ early life is uncertain and difficult to determine, due to Jones’ embellishment of her life story in order to gain additional sympathy for her cause. Her later life, however, and especially her work for unions across the country, is very well known and offers a fascinating look into early labor organizations. Gay offers in-depth looks at the strikes and situations that Mother Jones had direct dealings in, often focusing for several pages on the conditions of the strike itself before mentioning that Jones was a participant in the negotiations. Less a biography of Mother Jones and more a look at specific events that shaped the labor debate, the text offers a detailed look into turn of the century labor disputes. This text is part of the “American Workers” series. 2006, Morgan Reynolds Publishing, $26.95. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
Mother Jones was an activist from the 1880s until her death in 1930. She fought for the rights of American workers in all lines of work and helped labor unions gain strength. At one point, Mother Jones was recognized as the “most dangerous woman in America.” Born Mary Harris in Ireland, she immigrated to North America with her family during the Irish potato famine. The family settled in Canada, where she stayed until she came to the United States in 1859. As a woman in her twenties, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she met and married George Jones. Six years later, her husband and four children all died of yellow fever. Jones then relocated to Chicago and opened a dressmaking shop. Three years later, the shop was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Jones spent the next sixty years fighting for worker’s rights, including coal miners, seamstresses, and railway workers. She started working with the United Mine Workers in 1891 and continued until 1904, when she moved on to help other industries. The forty-four-page biography includes many photos. A time line, bibliography, and a list of pertinent web sites are in the book’s appendix. 2006, Morgan Reynolds Publishing, $26.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Lynn O’Connell (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-5993-5016-5
ISBN: 1-5993-5016-5
Mother Jones: Labor Leader
Connie Colwell Miller
Illustrated by Steve Erwin and Charles Barnett III
As Mary, a young girl living in Ireland the year the potato crop was destroyed, the future Mother Jones learned first-hand about unfairness. Her family immigrated to Canada in the 1850s, where she was able to attend teachers’ college. A teaching job then took her to Tennessee, where she married an iron molder and had four children. Her husband, George Jones, urged his fellow workers to join the union, but in 1867 he and all of their children died from yellow fever (a tragedy glossed over in the text). Deciding to carry on her husband’s work, Mary became a passionate advocate for workers’ rights. For over sixty years, she lobbied throughout the United States, even landing in jail several times. Her unorthodox approaches (arming women with brooms and mops to fight off scabs; marching children to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home) made her all the more loved by workers…and feared by those in power. Her unflagging determination to see workers of all ages (especially children) treated fairly, paved the way for minimum wage and the outlawing of child labor. This entry in the “Graphic Library Biographies” series is a well-researched effort documenting a worthy heroine and includes the helpful feature of highlighting direct quotations in yellow. Unfortunately, the unflattering illustrations have far less appeal than the subject herself. Furthermore, this heroic woman deserves a more thorough exploration than this format inherently allows; but if this book generates further interest in Mother Jones, it has served its purpose well. 2007, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: Naomi Milliner (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5487-0
ISBN: 0-7368-5487-8
My Childhood Under Fire: A Sarajevo Diary
Nadja Halilbergovich
Nadja is your typical twelve-year-old doing your typical twelve-year-old things. Then something horrific and unimaginable happens to her city of Sarajevo. In the spring of 1992 she had to go into hiding because of the siege of Sarajevo. While in hiding, Nadja kept a diary of the events. There were 270 tenants living in her apartment and they all had to go into hiding into three tiny rooms. After a few weeks, she started her diary. There she reported what it was like to live in Sarajevo under fire. She had to worry as her mother went to work and nearly died. She told of the masses of people who lost their lives, including many innocent children. Her reports came from the paper and from the television. The entries are vivid and she later provides an analysis section called "looking back." Young Nadja submitted a poem to the radio and was able to have it read on-air as a form of inspiration to survivors. Food and water were scarce and she lived and wrote similar to that of Anne Frank. In the end, her mother risked her life to take her through the tunnel to get to America. Later, her older brother came too. The trials of war and suffering are descriptively written in each of her entries. She and her family, along with Sarajevo residents, endure what no person should. 2006, Kids Can Press, $14.95. Ages 10 to Adult. Reviewer: Kelly Grebinoski (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction Honour Book 2006 Canada
ISBN: 1-55337-797-4
ISBN: 978-1-55337-797-9
My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier
Lynda Durrant
Jennie Hodgers put on boy’s clothes to herd sheep as a girl in Ireland, continued to dress and work as a boy when she immigrated to the United States, enlisted in the Union Army as Albert Cashier, fought in the siege of Vicksburg, and retired with a pension before being revealed as a woman shortly before the end of her long life. This engaging first-person re-creation of her story believably explains the need for such a deception and its physical and emotional difficulties. Living a lie sets her apart from others, keeps her a private person, and, at the end, one who has to live behind physical locks as well. The book boasts a gentle, unfulfilled love story in Jennie’s friendship with fellow soldier Frank Moore, who is also based on a real person. There is also an interesting inclusion of the then, new ideas of Charles Darwin, pointing out that while animals adapt over time, people can decide to adapt overnight, if necessary. This different perspective on a soldier’s life includes the hard physical labor, the endless uncertainty, and a gripping battle scene, as well as sympathetic reminders of the suffering of women and children caught up in the Civil War. Carefully researched and clearly told, this book would be solid supplemental reading for middle school history students. An afterword describes the known facts behind this story and a selected bibliography includes Internet sources. 2006, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Kathleen Isaacs (Children's Literature).
In the annals of Civil War soldiers, perhaps no single person presents a more unique life story than Albert D. J. Cashier. Born in Ireland, Albert Cashier migrated to the United States shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1862 Albert joined Company G, 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Cashier then fought during the final three years of the war, seeing action at places such as Vicksburg, Bryce’s Crossroads, and Mansfield. What makes Albert Cashier’s story so interesting is that nearly fifty years after the end of the war, he was discovered to be a woman named Jennie Hodgers. In this title author Lynda Durrant presents the story of this plucky soldier and daring woman. This is a fascinating story told with some skill in this novel. Durrant is at her best when she attempts to delve into the psychology of Jennie/Albert. However, a careful reader with an eye for detail will also discover the sad fact that Durrant has not taken sufficient time to understand the nature of life in a Civil War regiment. Frequent oversights and errors related to weaponry, tactics, equipment, the sequence of historical events, and speech patterns are troublesome. Also, keynote elements of Albert Cashier’s service that could have augmented both the narrative and the impact of the novel are left out. For example, historical records indicate that Albert was taken prisoner and subsequently escaped during the Vicksburg campaign, but this potentially exciting plot element is mysteriously left out. Further, at times Albert, who was reported to be illiterate and uneducated, comes across in an unrealistic fashion. Therefore, while the story of Albert Cashier is a fascinating one, this particular fictional rendition of it is at best adequate. 2006, Clarion Books, $16.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, February 1, 2006; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2006; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Parents' Choice Award Recommended 2006 Fiction United States
ISBN: 978-0-618-57490-2
ISBN: 0-618-57490-5
Nellie Bly
Shannon Knudsen
Nellie Bly made her name as a reporter at a time when few newspapers would hire a woman. She asked bold questions and wrote important, exciting stories. Bly is best known for her 1889 thrilling race to be the first to travel around the world faster than anyone ever had. That feat made her the most famous woman in the world. This is a great biography aimed at the middle to upper elementary grades. The reader of this book can learn a great deal about early newspapers. Its large print gives just enough information on each page, leaving room for illustrations, photographs, and a few items from newspapers and flyers. There is a time line, “The Nellie Bly Guessing Match,” further reading, websites, a select bibliography and an index included. A well-illustrated and colorful front cover will attract readers. There is a little synopsis on the back cover and a listing of the History Maker Bios which includes all kinds of famous persons and will help a middle reader find another biography for pleasure and/or for assigned reading. 2006, Learner Publications Company, $25.26. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Naomi Butler (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-2943-9
ISBN: 0-8225-2943-2
Rosa Parks
Erinn Banting
This book is from the “Great African-American Women” series. It provides an over view of Rosa Parks’ life. Rosa Parks grew up in Alabama where she worked very hard on her grandparent’s farm. Her grandparents taught her the importance of education and to stand up for her rights. Rosa’s parents, and later her husband, encouraged Rosa to further her education. Rosa’s education instilled in her a belief that she could change the world by being an active citizen. She worked hard during the civil rights movement to change unfair laws. Throughout her life, Rosa stood up for her beliefs and fought for the equality of all people. Rosa has been given many awards and recognition for the differences she has made in the world. This biography would be useful when teaching about segregation, civil rights, citizenship, law making, and education. There are great photographs that accompany the text. The back of the book includes a time line of Rosa Parks’ life, an activity for making a bill, and resources for further research. 2006, Weigl Publishers, $6.95. Ages 8 to 16. Reviewer: Mandy Wollenzien (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-590-36336-1
ISBN: 1-590-36342-6
ISBN: 978-1-590-36336-2
Rosa Parks: una vida de valentía
Ann-Marie Kishel
This book is from “Pull Ahead Books-Biographies” series. Emerging Spanish readers will learn about Rosa Parks and the important role she played in the United States during segregation. The vocabulary is in bold type for readers, and at the end of the book a glossary is provided with the definitions. The actual photographs of these American historical events lend to the credibility of this book. A chronological timeline on Rosa Parks’ life is provided for readers at the end of the book, as well as additional information, Web sites, and an index. This text is an excellent introduction to segregation and Civil Rights in the United States for young readers. Educators can use the vocabulary prior to reading the book to help introduce and activate background knowledge of the historical events. Moreover, Rosa Parks’s life is simply told from the unfolding of events in which she refused to give up her seat after a long day at work to the Supreme Court’s ruling on segregation. 2006, Lerner, $22.60. Ages 7 to 9. Reviewer: Rosa Roberts (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-6239-9
ISBN: 0-8225-6239-1
Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium
Carla Killough McClafferty
Biographer Carla Killough McClafferty takes a fresh look at Marie Curie, who with two Nobel prizes, might well be called the mother of female scientists. Something Out of Nothing takes young readers into the life and lab of Curie as she discovers the elements radium and polonium. Science was a family affair for the Curies. Marie’s partner and staunch supporter until his tragic death was husband Pierre; and her scientist daughter, Irene, also won a Nobel. As the biography makes clear, Curie shrank from fame and was happiest working in her lab or spending time with immediate family. The book is rich in primary source material (period photos, copies of pages of her lab notebooks and excerpts from personal letters) and in details fascinating to kids. Young people will relish learning what happened in 1921 when Curie arrived in the United States to accept the gift of a gram of radium. So many people shook her hand that her arm was injured and had to be protected by a sling! 2006, Farrar Straus Giroux, $18.00. Ages 9 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
From the author of The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone (McClafferty’s titles certainly pack a punch) comes a biography of Manya Sklodowska, known to the world as Marie Curie. Her story is traced chronologically from her humble beginnings in Russian-occupied Poland, to her death from overexposure to radium. The focus on the historic scientific work of Marie and her husband Pierre is combined with the very human struggles of a life spun out in a time of great change. The early years, Marie’s struggle to get an education, her marriage to and work with Pierre, the immersion in the laboratory, the notoriety that followed the Nobel prize--the author conveys the events of Marie Curie’s life in a way that goes beyond its chronology. Almost as interesting is the deconstruction of the Curie legacy. McClafferty weaves the story of how radium changed the lives of the couple in ways both glorious and tragic. The passion with which the element was greeted seemed symptomatic of a society greedy for the magic seemingly wrought by science. Additionally, Curie is revealed as an all too human figure. She raised children whom others perceived as rude, and was undemonstrative to the extreme. Back matter includes detailed chapter source notes, a bibliography, a list of recommended web sites, and an index. This is a carefully constructed biography, offering young readers both information and context. 2006, Farrar Straus Giroux, $18.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-374-38036-8
ISBN: 978-0-374-38036-6
Susan B. Anthony: a Life of Fairness
Jennifer Boothroyd
A “Pull Ahead Book Biography,” this title introduces the reader to the life and goals of one of the most important woman in the history of 20th Century America. It also introduces broader concepts such as human rights and the U.S. Constitution. The book positions Anthony’s dreams and actions as a result of her childhood and education, which could be an interesting discussion point for home or school reading. Without using the word “feminist,” Boothroyd introduces the fundamental issues of early feminism, making clear Anthony’s emphasis on fairness for all people. She follows Anthony’s path toward fighting for equal suffrage, demonstrates the ardor of the work, and ties it into today’s world. The time line provides a stark illustration of the length of the struggle--it took more than sixty years for Anthony’s dream to become the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The history is beautifully enhanced by well-chosen photographs, etchings, political cartoons, and documents. Additionally, an index, a glossary, a time line, and a “more about” page teach the reader about using non-fiction books for reference or as a starting point for further inquiry. Anthony is little studied by today’s schoolchildren--hopefully this biography will begin to change that. 2006, Lerner Publications Company, $22.60. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Ilene S. Goldman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-3479-2
ISBN: 0-8225-3479-7
Tía Clara Brown
Linda Lowery
Ilustraciones por Janice Lee Porter
What is an official pioneer? Who was Tía Clara Brown? Those are the first questions you ask when you look at the cover of this book. This biography is a journey, much like the journeys the pioneers took in the United States during the19th century. Janice Lee Porter’s illustrations evoke the hot dusty trails with the tans and browns she uses in each picture. When Clara Brown became a freed slave, she traveled west. She joined a wagon train, cooking the meals and washing the clothes of the men in the group. These men were traveling west to find gold. Clara was going west to look for something more valuable. When Clara was a slave, her master sold Clara’s daughter, Eliza Jane. When Clara bought her freedom, she began looking for Eliza Jane. That journey included business growth and prosperity for Clara, which she shared with others. The epilogue tells about how special August 1885 was for Clara. There is a photo of her and a description of the celebration for her when she became an official pioneer. This book ends with the page “Important Dates,” which marks special times in Clara’s life. Teachers can include this book as a supplement to history lessons, and students who read Spanish can use it for reports. 2006, Carolrhoda Books/ediciones Lerner, $23.93. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Liz Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-3128-9
ISBN: 0-8225-3128-3
Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Track Star
Lee Engfer
Illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Anne Timmons
Wilma Rudolph is in one defining word, inspiring. Born a month early to a large family of hard workers, she contracted many illnesses as a child, including polio. Despite her physical challenges, late entry into formal schooling, and a segregated community, Wilma blossomed into an excellent basketball player and runner. She became a two time Olympic medalist and was considered the fastest woman in the world. Written at a third grade readability level, this graphic book from the “Nonfiction Graphic History and Biography Books” series is meant to hold the interest of third through ninth grade readers. It would prove to be an excellent supplemental text for history units that include topics, such as segregation, polio, Olympic medalists, racism, inspiring stories, influential women, and more. The graphic qualities of the book piqué the interest of middle grade readers while still informing the reader of social and personal issues relevant to the life of a famous American woman. 2006, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 9 up. Reviewer: Kimberly O’Meara (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5489-4
ISBN: 0-7368-5489-4
Women of the Confederacy
Barbara A. Somervill
While the Civil War raged all around them, women in the Confederacy became nurses, spies, and soldiers. The war ravaged their homeland and left most women without a home or the means to buy food; marauding armies stole crops and livestock and anything else that was not nailed down. Yet women in the Confederacy fought hard to retain their way of life, and later to survive the war itself. The Civil War completely altered their outlook on life, yet presented the opportunity to prove their fierceness, intelligence, and their desire to live and prosper while the men of the South waged war. While at least half of the book is taken up with a brief account of the war, several stories of individual women’s actions are included and make for lively reading. Colorful illustrations add insight to the text and interesting glimpses into the personal lives of women who lived in the south during the Civil War. This title is part of the “We the People” series. 2007, Compass Point Books, $25.26. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7565-2033-5
ISBN: 0-7565-2033-9
Women of the Union
Alice K. Flanagan
The American Civil War was one of the most turbulent wars in American history. The last war fought on American soil, it encompassed nearly all of the nation and changed the lives of everyone in the country. In a time when it was expected that women would be in charge of running the household and raising the children, women suddenly found themselves running businesses and caring for sick and wounded soldiers; it was her work during the Civil War that inspired Clara Barton to create the Red Cross. Women also acted as spies and it is estimated that hundreds of women disguised themselves as men and joined the army as well. This very brief look at how women responded to the Civil War provides numerous examples of how women did what was necessary during war time, but also serves to illustrate how dangerous the war was even for the civilian population. This title is part of the “We the People” series. 2007, Compass Point Books, $25.26. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7565-2035-9
ISBN: 0-7565-2035-5
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