Social Studies

First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Bloomsbury 

Summary: In 1847, at the age of four, Sarah Roberts started at the Otis School in Boston, just a few blocks from her home. Soon, though, she was told by the police that she had to leave. The Otis was for white children, and Sarah was African American.  The school she could attend was further from her house, had no place to play, and owned a single book.  Sarah’s parents decided to fight the decision.  They took their case to the Massachusetts Supreme Court, where it became the first case in the nation in which a white lawyer and an African American lawyer worked together, and the first in which an African American lawyer argued a case in a supreme court.  They lost the case, but Sarah’s father didn’t give up.  He traveled around the state to gain support, and in 1855, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw school segregation.  Goodman writes that the fight for justice is often like that, a few steps backward, then a few more forward. She concludes with the story of Linda Brown and how her experience with segregated schools, similar to Sarah Roberts’, led to the 1954 Supreme Court decision banning all segregated schools in the U.S.  Back matter includes a timeline, a follow-up on some of the people in the story, resources, and how a nonfiction book is researched and written.  40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  This little-known story is an important and inspirational part of American history.  It’s told well, with beautiful illustrations.  The last two pages do a fabulous job of outlining the work and research that go into the creation of a nonfiction book.

Cons:  The coloring in the illustrations sometimes make it difficult to differentiate skin tones.  Maybe that was intentional, but I found it a little confusing.

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie

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Published by little bee books

Summary:  Both slaves and free gathered each Sunday in Congo Square, the only place in New Orleans where slaves were allowed to meet.  After working all week, Sunday afternoons were a celebration, with music and dance that reflected the participants’ African heritage.  The story of Congo Square is told in rhyming couplets, illustrated with folk art style paintings.  A foreword by historian and Congo Square expert Freddi Williams Evans and an author’s note both explain the history behind this book.  40 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  The grueling work of slavery is depicted in both the text and the illustrations, with allusions to beatings and escape attempts.  In contrast, the Congo Square scenes radiate joy and celebration.

Cons:  The foreword and author’s note seem somewhat redundant.

Nice Work, Franklin! by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, illustrations by Larry Day

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 Published by Dial Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  Some presidents have faced personal challenges, some have faced national challenges, and some, as the author describes on the first page, have faced both.  She then goes on to a light-hearted introduction to Franklin Roosevelt, and how he aspired to be like his famous cousin Theodore.  He got off to a good start—young Franklin was rich, smart, and determined.  He soon was making a name for himself in the New York legislature and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.  But shortly after his 39th birthday, he was struck with polio and paralyzed from the waist down.  Although he never recovered use of his legs, he learned to stand with braces and went on to become NY governor, then President of the United States.  And there he was faced with a national challenge, the Great Depression.  Using the same determination that helped him overcome polio, he worked hard to improve Americans’ lives.  The book ends with Roosevelt’s second term inauguration.  An author’s note gives more information about Roosevelt’s life and some of the programs he started during the Great Depression.  32 pages; ages 6-10.

Pros: This is the third book of U.S. history by this author-illustrator team (George Did It and The Worst of Friends are their other two).  Although the subject matter is serious, both the text and the illustrations are upbeat and humorous.  While Franklin Roosevelt comes off in a positive light, there is some balance in describing why some Americans didn’t like him as President.

Cons:  The book begins when Roosevelt is a young man and ends in early 1937, so this is not a complete biography.

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal, illustrated by Jess Golden

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Beach Lane Books

 

Summary:  The familiar “Wheels on the Bus” gets an Indian spin as a somewhat wild and crazy tuk tuk driver (wala) weaves his way through a busy Indian town, transporting all kinds of people in his three-wheeled vehicle.  Readers (and singers) are introduced to Indian rupees, poppa-doppa-doms, chai tea, Diwali, and elephants and cows in the streets.  The authors’ note relates their own experiences on a tuk tuk, and a glossary explains some of the unfamiliar words from the song.  40 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  A familiar song is used as a vehicle (pardon the pun) for a fun introduction to the sights and sounds of India.  The busy illustrations give kids plenty to look at, and everyone on and around the tuk tuk seems to be having a wonderful time.

Cons:  Tuk tuk seatbelt laws seem a bit lax.

Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetery by Lois Miner Huey

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Millbrook Press

 

Summary: When construction workers near Albany, New York, dug up a human skull, police, town officials, and archaeologists were all called in. The skull was determined to be over a century old.  Construction was halted, and an archaeological site was set up.  More skeletons were found, indicating a cemetery had been there.  Since there were no markers and it was far away from the main house of the farm that had been there in the 1800’s, the archaeologists were fairly certain it had been a slave cemetery.  This book looks at how scientists, historians, and artists worked together to learn the history of the people who had been buried there, as well as in two other slave cemeteries in New York City and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Using clues from the bones, DNA, and artifacts found on or near the bodies, much could be learned about the people, where they came from, what their lives were like, and even what their faces looked like.  Back matter includes an author’s note, glossary, bibliography, and places to visit to learn more.  112 pages; grades 5-7. 

Pros:  A fascinating blend of science and history, covering both the history of slavery in the northern United States, and the science of how the skeletons contributed to this knowledge.

Cons: A picture of a slave being burned alive near the end of the book could be disturbing to some readers.

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Roaring Brook Press 

Summary:  Many strands of U.S. history from the 1960’s and 1970’s are woven together here.  The main focus is Daniel Ellsburg, who started working at the Pentagon the same day as the Gulf of Tonkin incident that escalated the Vietnam War.  The history of Vietnam is detailed, starting from the country’s last days as a French colony, to the division of North Vietnam and South Vietnam and the Cold War struggle over Communism in each part of the country.  As Ellsburg learned more about this history and the lies told to the American people about it by each U.S. President going back to Eisenhower, he became more disillusioned with the United States government.  This culminated in his theft of the Pentagon Papers, a report prepared by former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara documenting the secret history of the Vietnam War.  McNamara was hoping to use this report to help future politicians avoid the mistakes of the past; instead, it was leaked by Ellsburg to the press.  An infuriated Richard Nixon tried to destroy Ellsburg’s credibility by arranging a break-in at his psychiatrist’s office.  The team in charge bungled the job, then tried to make up for it a few weeks later with a covert operation at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel.  The book ends with Nixon’s resignation; an epilogue includes Daniel Ellsburg’s positive commentary on a contemporary case: Edward Snowden’s leaks about the NSA’s domestic spying.  Back matter includes extensive works cited, source notes, and an index.  360 pages; grades 6-9.

Pros: Liberally interspersed with black and white photos, this book lays out an incredibly complex web of events in an understandable and engaging manner. Although I lived through this period of history, I wasn’t aware of many of the events and how they all fit together, connecting the Vietnam War, the Pentagon Papers, Watergate, and Nixon’s resignation.

Cons:  This will not be of interest to every middle school reader.  Get it into the hands of the history buffs.

 

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall

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Published by Harry N. Abrams 

Summary:  11-year-old Jimmy gets teased at his reservation school for having light skin and blue eyes, not looking like a real Lakota.  His grandfather decides to help him one summer by taking him on a journey through Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana to learn about the famous Lakota warrior Crazy Horse.  Through the places they visit and his grandfather’s stories, Jimmy learns about Crazy Horse’s life, his courage in battle, and his wisdom in knowing when not to fight.  Grandpa’s stories, in italics, make up the majority of the narrative.  When Jimmy returns to school and faces the boys who have bullied him, it’s clear he has absorbed the lessons Grandpa was trying to teach him.  176 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  History buffs will enjoy this recounting of various battles between Native Americans and the “Long Knives” who gradually took over their lands in the nineteenth century.  The stories are told from the Lakota perspective, undoubtedly a bit different from what appears in a lot of history textbooks.  Ultimately, there’s no getting around the sadness of this part of American history, but the courage and strength of the Native Americans are what is emphasized.

Cons:  Jimmy seemed a little young for an 11-year-old, hanging on his grandfather’s every word, and frequently asking, “For reals?”.  It would have been interesting to get a more detailed look at his life on the reservation.

The 50 States written and researched by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sol Linero

~ Janet Dawson ~ 8 Comments

Published by Wide Eyed Editions

Summary: Each two-page spread in this oversized book is teeming with information about one of the fifty states. A large map is covered with small illustrations showing interesting, occasionally offbeat, places to visit.  Sidebars give introductory information, key facts such as state symbols and where the state name comes from, and moments to remember in the state’s history.  Famous people from the state are given head shots around the map, with women and minorities well-represented.  Back matter includes state flags; pictures of all the U.S. Presidents with the years of their terms, birthplaces, and wives’ names; and an enormous index.  112 pages; ages 8 and up.

Pros:  Great fun for browsing, this book offers much standard state information, as well as unique trivia.  Readers will be ready to set off on a cross-country trip.

Cons:  It’s a difficult book to put down…or to wrest from your teenager when you’re ready to write a review of it.

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick 

Summary:  Fannie Lou Hamer’s story is told in her own poetic voice, illustrated with collage renderings of events throughout her life.  Born in the Mississippi delta, the youngest of 20 children, Fannie Lou had to drop out of school after sixth grade to work in the cotton fields.  She married Perry Hamer and adopted two daughters after being tricked into having an operation to prevent her from being able to have children.  In 1962, she attended her first voter registration meeting, unaware that blacks even had the right to vote.  Within the year she was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, losing her job and her home as a result.  Imprisoned and badly beaten, she refused to give up her work, eventually becoming a national spokesperson for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and addressing the 1964 Democratic National Convention about voter discrimination.  Fannie Lou also worked to improve conditions in Mississippi, organizing cotton pickers and starting a Head Start program.  She died in 1977.  An author’s note, timeline, and bibliography are included.  56 pages; grades 5-8.

 

Pros:  A powerful story about a poor, uneducated woman who was able to make a difference on a national level.  The poetic text perfectly captures Hamer’s voice, and is complemented by the large, colorful illustrations.

 

Cons:  There’s a lot of information here, and even older students may need some historical context to understand all of Hamer’s contributions.

Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slave to Artist by Barbara Herkert, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

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Published by Alfred A. Knopf 

Summary:  Harriet Powers was born into slavery in Athens, Georgia.  She grew up on a cotton plantation, watching women spin, dye, and weave cloth.  She participated in quilting bees, where slave women were given a few hours to sew their own creations instead of having to follow directions of the mistress of the house.  At one of those bees, she met the man who would become her husband.  They married and had five children; when the children were still young, the family received word of the Emancipation Proclamation and were free.  Harriet and her husband worked hard and saved enough money to buy a small farm.  When the price of cotton dropped, Harriet was forced to sell two of her beautiful story quilts.  One of them was purchased by an art teacher who wrote down the stories pictured in the different quilt panels.  An author’s note explains that those two quilts still exist today, in the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Other back matter includes a bibliography, photos of the two quilts with a list of the stories portrayed on each, and the only known photograph of Harriet in existence.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  The beautiful quilts are evidence that art can flourish in any environment.  The illustrations capture Harriet’s spirit as well as her works of art.

Cons:  I hesitate to enter into the controversy over the depiction of slavery in A Fine Dessert, but two of the criticisms I have seen—that the portrayal of a slave girl living with her mother is unrealistic, and that the slave girl shouldn’t be pictured with a smile—are present in this book as well.  So far, I’m not aware of similar criticisms for Sewing Stories.