Crucial historical information wrapped in well-written, inviting prose.
A comprehensive exploration of one of the most life-changing Supreme Court cases in American history.
In May 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This ruling on a landmark case—Brown v. Board of Education—would be a vital step in the ongoing fight for racial equality. But that victory did not occur in a vacuum. The civil rights movement reached this milestone because several key figures, catalysts, and circumstances culminated in a perfect storm for progress. Goldstone details the harrowing journey toward Brown by providing ample historical and cultural context for the decades preceding the decision: the founding of the NAACP, the racist violence sweeping the nation, and the artistic explosion of the Harlem Renaissance, to name a few. The author takes care to balance depictions of Black oppression with examples of Black triumph and perseverance. Several key characters who influenced the civil rights movement also feature: Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Thurgood Marshall, among others. The prose is engaging and accessible for young readers without being condescending, and intense scenes from history illuminate nearly every chapter. Goldstone underlines the tireless efforts of civil rights activists despite staggering odds, offering hope for a present that is also plagued by racial inequalities and violence.
Crucial historical information wrapped in well-written, inviting prose. (bibliography, source notes, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-17)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-59283-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic Focus
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
Congolese-American Sophie makes a harrowing trek through a war-torn jungle to protect a young bonobo.
On her way to spend the summer at the bonobo sanctuary her mother runs, 14-year-old Sophie rescues a sickly baby bonobo from a trafficker. Though her Congolese mother is not pleased Sophie paid for the ape, she is proud that Sophie works to bond with Otto, the baby. A week before Sophie's to return home to her father in Miami, her mother must take advantage
of a charter flight to relocate some apes, and she leaves Sophie with Otto and the sanctuary workers. War breaks out, and after missing a U.N. flight out, Sophie must hide herself and Otto from violent militants and starving villagers. Unable to take Otto out of the country, she decides finding her mother hundreds of miles to the north is her only choice. Schrefer jumps from his usual teen suspense to craft this well-researched tale of jungle survival set during a fictional conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Realistic characters (ape and human) deal with disturbing situations described in graphic, but never gratuitous detail. The lessons Sophie learns about her childhood home, love and what it means to be endangered will resonate with readers.
Even if some hairbreadth escapes test credulity, this is a great next read for fans of our nearest ape cousins or survival adventure. (map, author's note, author Q&A) (Adventure. 12-16)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-16576-1
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2012
Best for nostalgic Scarry fans.
Culling from vintage Golden Books, this work repurposes Richard Scarry’s illustrations as life lessons.
Standing in for the humans whose roles they embody, genial animals engage in domestic chores, flounder through cheerfully chaotic adventures, and weather comical disasters. Members of a bunny family make breakfast, get dressed, and brush their teeth (“Greet the morning with joy!”), a warthog tackles bedhead, and an earthworm makes a bed. The art lightens the effect of many vague, imperative instructions (“Be helpful!”, “Save your money”), while the ensemble scenes of merrymaking and mayhem show Scarry at his best. Although the animal antics add interest to the bland, greeting-card platitudes (“Discover your own style,” “Appreciate beauty, and fill your life with art!”), some of the messaging feels contradictory. Two impeccably attired bunnies illustrate “Dress to impress!” Meanwhile, on a tropical beach, monkeys, jaguars, a crocodile, a toucan, a sloth, an ostrich, an anteater, and others “dance like no one is watching, even when they are.” Most of the selected art dates from the 1950s to the 1970s, and some of the messaging reflects the era. “Don’t be too hard on yourself” accompanies a dismayed, rotund pig on bathroom scales, bursting out of its pajamas, while slender animals on the facing page embody healthful exercise. (“Keep fit!”, “Have you tried yoga?”). The adult male-presenting figures often appear in active, public, or professional roles, while most of the adult female-presenting characters are caregivers or passive recipients of male attention.
Best for nostalgic Scarry fans. (Self-help. 12-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9798217125319
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Golden Books/Random
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
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