Fails.
Fear of failure keeps many from pursuing challenges in life, but these profiles of successful people from a variety of fields may affirm and inspire the reluctant.
The 22 activists, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, heads of state, and scientists profiled all experienced numerous failures before achieving success. The text is formatted as a game, with readers encouraged to guess from a listing of their failures who the subject is. The following page has a picture of the person, a brief profile of their accomplishments, and a few quotes. Among those profiled are Albert Einstein, who did not learn to read until he was 7; Martin Luther King Jr., who received a C in public speaking at seminary; J.K. Rowling, whose first book was rejected 12 times; Julia Child, whose recipes were rejected for publication in magazines; and Mohandas K. Gandhi, whose law practice failed after two years. At the end of each chapter, activities encourage readers to think about setting goals, anticipating challenges, and overcoming obstacles. Unfortunately, the sketchy profiles offer little insight into how these figures did likewise. Moreover, the framing of disability, cultural difference, and obstacles imposed by societal inequity as “failure” sends a deeply troubling message. Clara Barton “had a lisp”; fluent Hindi speaker Gandhi “couldn’t speak English well”; Serena Williams endured a crowd that “booed and screamed insults” (that these were racist insults goes unmentioned). There are no source notes, bibliography, or suggestions for further reading.
Fails. (Nonfiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-87441-977-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Behrman House Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
In the waning days of 1941, when prospects for victory in either Europe or the Pacific were dismal, the two leaders...
An engaging chronicle of the month that Roosevelt and Churchill spent together at the White House, forging an affectionate friendship as well as a world-changing alliance.
In the waning days of 1941, when prospects for victory in either Europe or the Pacific were dismal, the two leaders optimistically engaged in a marathon series of meetings to plan strategies that ultimately resulted in victory and transformed the world. Wood's narrative effectively captures both the desperation of the times and how much Churchill and Roosevelt genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Moser's detailed watercolor illustrations likewise capture their robust personalities. Despite balanced attention to both men, the eccentric Churchill emerges as more memorable, in both text illustration; most entertaining of the latter is of Churchill, ever-present cigar in mouth, toweling off beside the bathtub. As interesting and insightful as this story is, it may have a hard time finding an audience. Younger readers will not have the background knowledge to understand the historical context of the story, and older readers are unlikely to find the picture-book format appealing.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3383-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s an often-told story, but the author is still in a position to give it a unique perspective.
The author of Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America (2004) tells her father’s tale again, for younger readers.
Though using a less personal tone this time and referring to herself in the third person, Robinson still devotes as much attention to his family life, youth and post-baseball career as she does to his achievements on the field. Writing in short sentences and simple language, she presents a clear picture of the era’s racial attitudes and the pressures he faced both in the military service and in baseball—offering plenty of clear reasons to regard him not just as a champion athlete, but as a hero too. An early remark about how he ran with “a bunch of black, Japanese, and Mexican boys” while growing up in Pasadena is insensitively phrased, and a sweeping claim that by 1949 “[t]he racial tension was broken” in baseball is simplistic. Nevertheless, by and large her account covers the bases adequately. The many photos include an admixture of family snapshots, and a closing Q-and-A allows the author to announce the imminent release of a new feature film about Robinson.
It’s an often-told story, but the author is still in a position to give it a unique perspective. (Biography. 8-10)Pub Date: March 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-54006-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
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