by Peter Lourie ; illustrated by Wendell Minor ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2017
A gripping and harrowing true adventure story and a penetrating look into the formative experiences of a writer, one of the...
Jack London went to the Klondike at the age of 21 to find gold but instead found inspiration for stories and novels that made him one of the richest and most famous authors of his time.
In this thoroughly riveting real-life-adventure story, Lourie recounts in visceral detail the frequently treacherous, relentlessly grueling 500-mile traverse along the ruthless Chilkoot Trail and Whitehorse Rapids to the Klondike gold mines. Lourie explains how London’s experiences in the Klondike became the seeds for some of his best-known, most highly regarded works, such as The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and “To Build a Fire.” Minor’s atmospheric sketches are pleasingly decorative, but it is the abundant use of archival photos that offers an insightful perspective of the times and the ordeals experienced. Though obviously deeply researched, this biography is not completely factual. Lourie admits to taking “a few liberties.” “To tell my tale,” he explains in an author’s note, “I have Jack do a few things he may or may not have done.” The unfortunate absence of chapter notes makes it difficult to discern which episodes are imagined. Extensive backmatter includes information on First Nations peoples of the area and additional facts about London’s journey.
A gripping and harrowing true adventure story and a penetrating look into the formative experiences of a writer, one of the first to become a worldwide celebrity. (photos, timeline, glossary, bibliography, index) (Biography. 8-12)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9757-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
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by Tricia Brown ; photographed by Roy Corral ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2019
Readers come away wishing for more of the children’s voices and less of Brown’s.
Twenty-one years after Children of the Midnight Sun, Brown and Corral reteam for a follow-up.
Before one gets to read the stories of the Alaska Native children highlighted in this book, the introduction makes the case that Alaska Native kids are “just like any other kid,” as if to normalize Indigenous children for the evidently non-Native audience that the book seems to imagine. Author Brown and photographer Corral trek across Alaska to a sample selection of children from 10 Indigenous cultures of Alaska. Each chapter looks at the life of one child as representative of their culture. The stories tell of the day-to-day activities of each child, how they engage with their families, their traditional culture, and their aspirations. The overview is in Brown’s voice, and interspersed within that narrative are snippets of quotes from the children. Photographs highlight the children with their family members, engaged in sports, having fun outdoors, or dressed in traditional clothing. Though the book attempts to celebrate these children and their respective cultures, the depictions at times feel objectified, seen through an ethnographic lens. Mention of the harsh colonial impact on their cultures is minimized; for example, readers learn that the missionary William Duncan established a rigidly evangelical Christian community on a Tlingit-populated island with a group of Tsimshian but not that he profited from their labor.
Readers come away wishing for more of the children’s voices and less of Brown’s. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5132-6197-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
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by Tricia Brown ; illustrated by Cary Porter
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by Tricia Brown & photographed by Ken Cardwell
by Chaunté Lowe ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2023
An inspiring read for aspiring athletes and other dreamers.
A young African American girl, inspired by Olympic excellence, propels her way to an Olympic berth and a better life with support from her family and community.
Lowe was 4 when she sat in front of the television and witnessed the greatness of Florence Griffith Joyner at the 1988 Olympics. She decided then and there to become an Olympian despite her family’s socio-economic struggles in small-town Paso Robles, California. She learned team dynamics early from her sisters and managed to hold on to her dream despite periods of instability due to homelessness and her stepfather’s violence. Lowe became a junior leader at the local recreation center and landed her first job at 12, allowing her to develop leadership skills that helped her on and off the field. She was further aided in her pursuits by Granny Booker, who opened her mind to new horizons, and Grandma Bea, who opened her home and heart to her granddaughter. Lowe’s partnership with supportive coaches led her to the 2004 U.S. Olympic high jump team. Now a four-time Olympian and world record–holding female high jumper, Lowe’s indomitable spirit and tenacity will engage and motivate young readers. The topics of diligently working toward long-term goals, familial loyalty, and self-mastery are clearly illustrated in this book. This memoir is organized in a manner that allows readers to experience the internal and external battles many Olympians face along their paths to victory.
An inspiring read for aspiring athletes and other dreamers. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781338741520
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
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