(1) YA Levy takes readers back one hundred years to the sleepy town of Dayton, Tennessee, and the historic Scopes trial. At first glance, the time period -- before television, the internet, and other modern sources of infotainment -- seems far removed from our own. But as Levy suggests, and then explains in detail in an insightful epilogue, the issues of the trial -- racism, disinformation, journalistic integrity, a distrust of science, control over school curricula, and the separation of church and state -- remain with us today. She begins with a group of community leaders who want to publicize Dayton and believe a high-profile trial will accomplish the goal. They ask high school teacher John T. Scopes to admit he taught evolution in his biology class and thus violated a recently passed law. And the circus begins. The ACLU challenges the charges, and eminent lawyer Clarence Darrow joins the defense, opposing thrice-unsuccessful presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and the prosecution. Using a breezy, conversational tone laced with subtle humor, Levy discusses the principal players and their motivations, Darwin's findings, the legal arguments of each team, the media frenzy, and the trial itself. Archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons bolster the detailed text. This fine, thoroughly researched book concludes with a timeline, source notes, an extensive bibliography, and an (unseen) index.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) YA Dyson and Favreau (Unequal: A Story of America) explore the history of the right to vote in the United States, presenting the complexity of America's election system in an accessible manner. This approach can inspire readers to dig deeper, see their communities reflected in past struggles, and make connections that help inform current events, finding ways to participate in the electoral process. Organized into three sections -- Promises, Awakening, and Two Roads -- the book features tales of famous and lesser-known voting-rights advocates to explain how countless Americans have been denied the right to vote, in contradiction to the modern understanding of the country's founding vision. The personal stories provide examples of courageous leaders who helped disenfranchised voters have their rightful say in government while also exploring how social justice movements, such as women's suffrage in the late nineteenth century, often left underserved communities behind. The authors avoid a specific partisan lens for their commentary; however, they affirm that for this country to live up to its promise as a democracy "of the people, by the people, for the people," all Americans must protect the right to vote. Black-and-white photographs and archival images ably support the text. Back matter includes suggestions for "What You Can Do," a timeline, further reading, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Nicholas A. Brown | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) YA West Virginia, the Mountain State, is also historically known for both coal mining and Appalachian poverty. Watkins explores the nexus between them in this overlooked chapter in the history of the labor movement. By the early twentieth century, West Virginia had emerged as a cheap source of coal, in large part because capitalism allowed wealthy mine owners to exploit workers. Coal mining was dangerous, the hours were long, the conditions deplorable, and the pay minimal -- often paid in scrip, currency accepted only at the company store. The tension between mine owners and labor unions came to a head in 1920 during the Matewan Massacre and in 1921 during the Battle of Blair Mountain. Watkins introduces the major players and aptly delineates the causes and effects of these bloody and violent events. He reflects on how this history has been erased from books on West Virginia, a history that could have served as a source of pride in resistance. He concludes with a discussion of the current state of coal mining, still a mainstay of the area's economy despite mounting national pressure to move away from fossil fuels. Numerous black-and-white photographs ably support the text, while sources, notes, and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Elmo Cooper. This powerful picture book brings to life the essential research of psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, whose work significantly influenced the fight against segregation, having concluded that "school segregation made Black children feel as if they were not as good as white children." Narrating from the unusual perspective of the dolls in the Clarks' renowned 1939 experiment (which presented schoolchildren with two dolls, one white and one Black, and asked them to choose which one was "bad," among other questions), Weatherford distills a complex moment from the past into an accessible and profound story for young readers. Cooper's digital illustrations in a muted palette make innovative use of off-kilter perspectives reflective of the warped perceptions created by segregation and systemic racism to bring emotional depth. Cooper's visuals enhance Weatherford's assured storytelling, creating a harmonious blend that amplifies the story's impact. Weatherford's elegant and relatable explanation of the significance of the Clarks' work is more than a recounting of facts; this book is a call to action, prompting readers to consider the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice. Back matter includes author and illustrator notes, historical background, and suggestions for further reading.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez. "We know you / fear change / it's something / so strange." Simon Tam, musician and activist, combatted racism against Asian Americans through his music. When he sought to trademark his all-Asian band's name, "The Slants" -- deliberately chosen to reclaim a slur -- so that non-Asians couldn't use the name and profit from it, the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office rejected the application, deeming the name racist. Simon launched a battle that led to the Supreme Court, organizing local Asian American leaders and receiving support from young fans. On the day of the verdict in June 2017, a thousand people stood outside the Supreme Court to hear the unanimous ruling in favor of The Slants. Wenjen layers various voices into the story: song lyric excerpts as provocative taglines, an engaging (if at times fractured) narrative of the band's groundbreaking story, and explanatory blurbs that help young readers understand the historical context. Gómez's illustrations evoke the energy and provocation of political posters, with a muted palette and exaggerated, even grotesquely drawn figures in dramatic poses. Back matter offers supplemental information, including introductions to others who have fought anti-Asian racism.

Reviewer: J. Elizabeth Mills | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Alex Bostic. This highly readable and engaging book tells the story of three six-year-old girls who were the first Black children to integrate a public school in New Orleans following the mandate of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Nelson (Bad News for Outlaws, rev. 11/09; No Crystal Stair, rev. 3/12, and many others) builds an informative and affecting narrative from extensive interviews with the McDonogh Three: Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost (Williams), and Gail Etienne. The text clearly details their experiences as young girls and, importantly, displays their innocence with details about giggling, hair ribbons, and playing hopscotch despite the violent racism targeted at them. Similarly, Bostic's evocative illustrations add tenderness to a narrative of real terror. The soft-edged, at times sepia-toned images have the feel of a family photo album. One of the more touching illustrations depicts the girls' shoes with those of their teacher, Miss Meyers, representing the warmth between this educator and the young students she helped protect. An important addition to civil rights movement literature with which readers can connect on a human level. Back matter (more information about school desegregation and the McDonogh Three, a glossary, a selected bibliography, and photos) provides a wealth of historical context.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) YA In 2015, lawyer Julia Olson filed Juliana v. United States on behalf of twenty-one young plaintiffs from across the country, all of whom were affected in some way by climate change (e.g., health effects, threats to their homes). The suit alleged that the government was violating their constitutional rights by promoting the fossil fuel system that was wreaking havoc on their lives, and that the government had known about these dangers for decades. The still-pending case wound its way through the legal system with dramatic twists and turns; most recently (as of this writing), a judge ruled that the plaintiffs could amend their complaint and go to trial. Rusch does a marvelous job of weaving together multiple strands into a compelling and timely narrative: an inspiring and empowering story of youth activism, a primer on the role of the judicial branch in our democracy, and a cautionary tale about the mounting dangers of climate change. It's no small task to distinguish the twenty-one young people, but Rusch liberally quotes them throughout the book, and an annotated list of characters at the beginning is paired with an update at the end (there are also sixteen pages of black-and-white photographs gathered in the middle). Additional scientific information, websites, a timeline, source notes, a glossary, and an index are also appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) YA Williams and Long provide readers with a complex narrative of the 1963 March on Washington that goes beyond Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech. They begin with the 1962 meeting between Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph, where the two decided the time had come for the march that Randolph had conceived more than twenty years earlier. By starting at this point, Williams and Long are able to highlight the many challenges (governmental resistance; disagreements among the organizers) and triumphs that took place before, during, and (briefly) after the march itself. Photos, newspaper clippings, and other primary-source images bring the history to life for young readers. Throughout the text, sidebars add important historical information and questions to consider. Back matter includes additional interesting facts ("Extra Steps"), discussion questions, extensive source notes, and an index (unseen); an opening note addresses word choice and the use of quotes containing racist language (including the n-word). Pair with Lewis and Aydin's March series (March: Book One, rev. 1/14; and sequels).

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Rockliff and Christie focus their story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on a little-heralded--yet integral--member of the movement, culinary whiz Georgia Gilmore (1920–1990). Once the boycott began, Gilmore and her "Club from Nowhere" (so dubbed to help members avoid retaliatory action) sold baked goods and donated their earnings to the cause. Although Gilmore did, in fact, lose her job after testifying at Dr. King's trial following his arrest for organizing the boycott, she was able to succeed when he encouraged her to start her own catering business. Gilmore's home became a place for members of the movement to gather not just to eat good food but to hash out matters relevant to the boycott. Rockliff repeats certain phrases to great effect ("Summer heated up... The boycotters trudged on. Fall passed... The boycotters plodded on") and nods to Gilmore's mouthwatering menu offerings ("The empty buses made city officials hotter than Georgia's collard greens with pepper sauce"). Christie's vivid, painterly illustrations bring the 1950s setting to life and show Gilmore's importance to the cause; she is pictured in nearly every spread, cooking, baking, bringing money to a boycott strategy meeting, and more. Appended with an "After the Boycott" page, which focuses on Gilmore's later life; an author's note on sources; and a source list. Pair with Romito and Freeman's Pies from Nowhere (rev. 11/18).

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Byron McCray. This necessary backstory of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom illuminates the significant role played by activist Bayard Rustin in that immensely successful event. Born in 1912, Rustin was raised by his grandmother on Quaker values of nonviolence and awareness of injustices suffered by fellow African Americans. In later years, he "put his feelings about equality and pacifism into action." Undeterred in his resolve, he was beaten, arrested, and jailed for refusing to give up his seat on a bus or to fight in World War II. Upon his return from India, where he traveled to learn about nonviolent protest from Gandhi's followers, he introduced the philosophy to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It became the strategy that anchored the civil rights movement. Although rebuked and sidelined because he was gay, Rustin remained committed to his personal cause of equality for all. Weatherford and Sanders's engaging and fluid narrative is accentuated with titles of protest songs, alluding to Rustin's love of music and its importance in the civil rights movement. Acrylics in bold, vibrant colors with collage elements convey the quiet, unassuming demeanor of Rustin as well as the triumphant spirit of the March on Washington. Back matter includes a timeline, information on music and peaceful protests, a copy of the official program, and references.

Reviewer: Pauletta Brown Bracy | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. Before Title IX became law in 1972, girls and women could be excluded from sports programs, fired from jobs, and denied educational opportunities--all "on the basis of sex." In a simple, direct narrative, Becker highlights what life was like pre-Title IX and how the law ushered in opportunities for everyone. Phumiruk's understated digitally created illustrations let the concepts expressed in the text take center stage. Two pages at book's end briefly profile the women (three lawmakers, one academic) who were instrumental in the law's passage. More details on what changed, progress made since, and the work ahead are appended, as is a reading list.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Maya Gonzalez. Brimner (Finding a Way Home, rev. 1/21) narrates the events leading to the first successful school desegregation case, Roberto Alvarez v. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District. In 1931, Mexican American parents in Lemon Grove, near San Diego, California, organized the Comité de Vecinos de Lemon Grove to resist the creation of the Olive Street School, a subpar school for Mexican American children. Brimner documents the machinations of Lemon Grove's white parents, teachers, and school district board members who, through secret meetings held months earlier, "voted to construct a separate school for children like Roberto and his friends." Gonzalez's double-page acrylic paintings enhance the narrative, particularly in this scene. Five primly dressed figures--the illustration shows them cut off at the shoulders to emphasize their ­impersonality--sit behind a table drafting the paperwork that accuses Mexican children of bad hygiene, of lacking English, and of holding back the white students. Gonzalez renders the Mexican American parents and students of the Comité with round brown faces, a signature of her aesthetic (My Colors, My World; Family Poems for Every Day of the Week, rev. 1/18; and others). An author's note, archival photos, and a bibliography append this work, which would pair well with Christy Hale's All Equal: A Ballad of Lemon Grove (rev. 11/19) and Duncan Tonatiuh's book about a similar case, Separate Is Never Equal: ­Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (rev. 7/14).

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Coauthor Leffler (the adult daughter of Cocca-Leffler), who was born with cerebral palsy, describes how she loved attending public school. Sadly, "it hadn't always been that way" for kids with disabilities. In 1971, seven kids (each named in a tidily illustrated vignette portrait) were denied schooling until their families' outcries led to Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia, which secured the right to public education for children with disabilities. The text describes events and facts gently while making a strong case for the ruling; the illustrations showcase people with disabilities on every spread. A wealth of appended contextual material, including a timeline and selected sources, enriches the historical account.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(1) YA Goldstone (Unpunished Murder, rev. 9/18) takes a long view of the historic 1954 civil rights case Brown v. Board of ­Education, starting with the "separate but equal" doctrine established in 1896 with Plessy v. Ferguson. He highlights important legal cases in between that paved the way for that doctrine to be overturned. He also provides context for the ­political mobilization of African Americans and factors leading up to it, including the efforts of Booker T. ­Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois; the rise of the NAACP, its legal strategy, and the work of Thurgood Marshall. Cultural shifts included reaction against the widespread horrors of Jim Crow–era lynching; social mobility of enlisted ­African ­Americans; the race riots of the Red Summer; and Jackie Robinson's integration of baseball. Gradually, these disparate elements coalesce into a ­compelling climax as five separate cases wend their way to the Supreme Court. These ­culminating chapters are filled with suspense as various ­factions make it seem impossible to deliver the unanimous decision the occasion demands, but ultimately new Chief Justice Earl Warren, haunted by his role in Japanese American incarceration, builds the necessary consensus. Pair with Susan Goldman Rubin's Brown v. Board of Education (rev. 11/16), with a narrower focus on the five cases. Black-and-white photos with captions enhance the narrative, and the back matter includes a bibliography, source notes, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(1) YA Who was Vincent Chin? The brutal 1982 killing of the young Chinese American in Detroit by two white men occurred during the U.S.-Japan auto trade wars, a time when anti-Asian hate ran high. Outrage over the killers' sentencing--a $3,000 fine and probation--mobilized Asian Americans into protesting. The subsequent 1984 federal civil rights trial sparked reforms in victims' rights and hate-crime reporting. In this extensively researched account--based on news articles (many reproduced here), court records, documentary films, and her own interviews--Yoo skillfully retells the life story of Vincent Chin, an engineering draftsman who was about to get married; his mother, Lily Chin; and everyone else involved, including the killers, witnesses, police, attorneys, judges, family friends, and community members. Yoo reconstructs the night of June 19th when Chin and his friends went to a strip club for his bachelor party and got into a fight with autoworker Ronald Ebens and his stepson, Michael Nitz, ending with Chin's fatal beating outside a McDonald's restaurant. The narrative follows the aftermath, from the federal trial up to the present day, with updates on the lives of Ebens and others. An afterword observes how anti-Asian discrimination and violence in America continue today with COVID-19–related attacks and racial profiling, but Yoo reminds readers of Chin's legacy "to fight back against hate." Back matter includes a detailed timeline, meticulous source notes, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) YA Multiple legal, social, religious, and medical strands comprise the history of reproductive rights in America. Blumenthal, in her trademark straightforward journalistic style (Tommy: The Gun That Changed America, rev. 7/15; Bonnie and Clyde, rev. 1/19), creates a narrative that not only presents a comprehensible overview of the facts but also establishes the historical culture in which those facts existed. Blumenthal incorporates well-chosen case studies and numerous sidebars (each unfortunately titled a "Pregnant Pause")--such as charts reporting the historic trend of deaths related to abortion or the changing positions of major religious groups. These reveal the misogyny (until the midpoint of the twentieth century, unmarried women could not legally buy contraceptives); racism (women of color were often sterilized without their knowledge); and classism (overwhelmingly white, financially stable women were, and are, able to get abortions) that influenced the issue of unwanted pregnancies for a century and a half. In addition, she outlines the unexpected consequences, including social pressures, mass media coverage, and death, that some women faced when trying to obtain abortions before the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade, as well as the limits that have been imposed on the law since the 1973 decision. Blumenthal's impeccable research is revealed in the extensive back matter (including documentation, a subject bibliography, a timeline, and a glossary) that completes this compelling book.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) YA Brimner (Twelve Days in May, rev. 1/17) presents another compelling story of civil rights history. Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a woman of African and Native ancestry, loved each other and wanted to get married. But that was against the law in Virginia in the 1960s. Brimner weaves together their personal stories--their courtship, marriage, and family life; their arrest in Virginia, subsequent move to Washington, DC, and move back in defiance of parole--with the larger legacy of prejudice and bigotry in the Jim Crow South. He provides a brief primer on the constitutional challenges their case presented, as it wound its way, slowly but surely, through the federal court system, culminating with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Lovings in 1967. The book is enhanced by black-and-white photographs throughout; candid shots of Richard and Mildred are particularly effective, characterizing the couple's relationship as an especially tender and affectionate one. A final chapter explains how this case set the stage for the marriage equality activism at the turn of the twenty-first century that enabled LGBTQ people to marry whom they wish. Recent books about this case include a picture book, The Case for Loving (rev. 5/15) by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls, and a "documentary novel" in verse, Loving vs. Virginia (rev. 1/17) by Patricia Hruby Powell and Shadra Strickland, so this nonfiction account is a welcome addition. A bibliography, source notes, and index are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Brown. Sharing, fairness, choice, respect, ­truthfulness--most young people are well acquainted with these concepts; the Browns (Dinosaurs Divorce; Dinosaurs Go Green!; and many others) use these principles to help deliver an engaging civics lesson. The inviting second-person text speaks directly to "kid citizens," encouraging them to view themselves as participants in our government. The lively panel illustrations, featuring Marc Brown's green cartoon dinosaurs (back after a decade-plus hiatus), expand on Laurie Krasny Brown's text and add levity to the discussion. Each of nine sections focuses on a concept, relating it to daily life and then demonstrating how it manifests in a democracy. "Share Equal Rights" explains equality this way: "You probably know how it feels to be left out or included. Inviting kids into your game is also sharing." This leads to a broader interpretation: "Sharing also takes place in a country. When no one gets left out, then everyone has equal rights." Describing fairness as "a way of showing respect" and stating that "good rules help make fairness possible" lays the groundwork to talk about justice. Sections on how to be a judicious consumer of information ("Look for Truth") and what free speech means (including tips on "How to Have an Argument") should be required reading for all of us--of any age. This optimistic and accessible guide to civic responsibility concludes with the charge to "Stand Up for Democracy"--a message now more important than ever. "Words for Kid Citizens to Know" are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(3) 4-6 Core Library Guide to Racism in Modern America series. Slavery may have officially ended in 1865, but as the authors clearly show in this hi-lo series entry, racism continued to be codified in this country's laws and institutions. After a contemporary example of the criminal justice system's blatantly unfair treatment of Black people, this overview traces the effects of policies and practices in employment, education, and voting laws that negatively affected African Americans--and that continue to have repercussions today. Plenty of sidebars and captioned photos reinforce concepts in the main text. A glossary and index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Adam Rex. "No matter who holds the job right now, the presidents of tomorrow are always out there somewhere." There are picture books aplenty about United States presidents, but make way for this breath of fresh air. Messner presents brief profiles of each one through a particular lens: starting in 1789 with George ­Washington, she makes her way down the timeline to the current day, looking at which future presidents were alive when each predecessor served and what they were doing at the time. For instance, when Washington served, nine future presidents were already alive, though Martin Van Buren, William Henry ­Harrison, and Zachary Taylor were still ­children. We often see more than one president at a time as we move through decades, while text boxes impart relatable or little-known facts about them. Rex breathes life into these illustrations, showing the humanity absent from most official portraits. Each president pictured is tagged with a number on these busy but never cluttered spreads so that we always know who's who. And Messner doesn't sugarcoat or whitewash history: "Most [of America's earliest presidents] were wealthy, white, Protestant men," she states; and she notes that while Thomas Jefferson wrote that "all men are created equal," he himself owned slaves. The mood turns to awe-inspiring at the close, when we read that "at least ten of our future presidents are probably alive today," the art here showing an inclusive group of children and adults at a portrait gallery of presidents, gazing hopefully into the unknown, "getting ready to lead." Back matter includes a substantial bibliography.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020