People Who Said No

September 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-Seven profiles of people (Rosa Parks, Andrei Sakharov, etc.) who spoke out against oppression and injustice. Each one highlights a particular period, including the Nazi and apartheid eras. Photographs, graphics, and headings are clear and interesting, and each section contains a brief summary of the period or event. While most will be excellent supplements to history texts, the chapters on Aung San Suu Kyi and on the uprising in Egypt are already out-of-date. Without the benefit of time and some closure, they feel unfinished and will frustrate readers. Given Scandiffio's writing style, sometimes the book reads like good historical fiction. For older readers, however, the imagined dialogue may seem unsophisticated and off-putting; for reluctant readers, it can be a useful introduction to nonfiction works.-Caroline Hanson, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Washington, DC

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
Grades 8-11 Rebellion, rules, authority, and conformity are all abstract issues that teens deal with every day in a myriad of real-world situations. The seven biographies found in this book, from Rosa Parks to scar Romero to Aung San Suu Kyi, will resonate with readers in a pragmatic but nuanced way. Many different approaches to rebellion against injustice are illustrated, including passive resistance, covert propaganda, and political activism. Context for each of the chapters is achieved in part by brief historical sidebars as well as relevant and engaging photographs. The Uprising in Egypt chapter is especially timely and makes complex political issues in the volatile region relatable to students. Some recreated conversations in the narratives have been obviously dramatized, but most information is culled from primary and secondary resources, as described in the bibliography. Themes described here are universal but especially relevant to the intended audience, with highly engaging and up-to-date exemplars of the right ways to say no.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)