Resist

August 6, 2018
In a foreword to this eclectic roundup of biographical sketches, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker underscores the importance of “pay back the blessings we have inherited from those who have resisted with our own continued struggle, service, and resistance.” Chambers’s snapshots focus on such familiar historical change-makers as Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Nelson Mandela, and Rachel Carson. Among contemporary activists are Malala Yousafzai and the million participants in the 2017 Women’s March; lesser-known crusaders include Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese man stationed in Lithuania during WWII, who fabricated visas for Jewish refugees. Chambers writes in a clear narrative style that briefly explores each individual’s drive to bring about change and their resulting accomplishments. Each profile opens with a quote (the wittiest is the Dalai Lama’s: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito”) and concludes with an often cogent “#Resist Lesson.” Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8–12.

Narrator Almarie Guerra chronicles the lives of important historical figures with the same passion the advocates used to fight injustice and stand up for their beliefs. Offering listeners a diverse look at protesting through the ages, this account spans several centuries, beginning with Joan on Arc in 1429 and ending with the Women's March of 2017. An afterword by Samantha Fuentes, a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, brings listeners to the present, describing the power and importance of resilience. After each story, a lesson about the subject's unique experience is shared, inspiring listeners to find ways to champion causes in their own communities. M.D. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-Thirty-five short stories about people who fought to make a difference locally and globally. The individuals profiled represent an inclusive mix of genders, races, nationalities, sexualities, and abilities. They span nearly 600 years, from Joan of Arc to the millions who marched in 2017 in the worldwide Women's March. The goal of the book, as expressed in the inspirational introduction by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, is to encourage young people to learn from history and continue to struggle against injustice, and the text emphasizes that small actions can have a lasting future impact. Chambers and her clear, direct writing are most successful when highlighting specific actions, such as Chiune Sugihara issuing thousands of travel visas to Jewish people fleeing Europe during World War II. Some of the stories are told successfully in two to four pages; but for others, the brevity is limiting, and the result is confusing and often lacking key background information. Chambers paints a false and rosy picture in some cases, either not including the violent ending of a life (Harvey Milk and Sitting Bull) or failing to mention well-documented issues of racism (Susan B. Anthony). Additionally, the recommended reading list is very sparse and includes texts that are inappropriate for the age group. VERDICT While the informal tone and inspiring message may appeal to readers, they would be better served elsewhere with more complete and accurate portrayals of the lives of these important individuals.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 15, 2018
From Joan of Arc in 1429 to the Movement for Black Lives and the Women's March in 2017, profiles of ordinary people resisting the status quo on principle lead to lessons for young people.Throughout the ages and spanning the globe, people have needed to raise their voices and wield pens, swords, or nonviolent bodies to call attention to societal wrongs. In this collective biography, readers meet 35 such change-makers from history distant and recent. Martin Luther and Galileo openly challenged major institutions. Sitting Bull, Queen Liliuokalani, and Mohandas Gandhi resisted the colonialists who took over their land and oppressed their people. Some inspired through art or environmentalism, and many fought for the right to be treated equally regardless of gender, race, color, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Most readers will find stories they haven't heard before in this volume and will discover new inspiration from the familiar. Each brief profile begins with a quote and ends with a "resist lesson" such as "One voice can shake the earth" or "Oppression isolates us. Resistance unites us." They are written in an engaging third-person narrative style highlighting what distinguishes their subjects and occasionally what we can learn from their examples ("Not all powerful people shout"). Despite their subjects' renown, they are presented so that their strength is inspiring rather than overwhelming or distancing, often a result of personal growth, key moments, and intentional networking. A resource to enrich the shelves of every home and library. (suggested reading, viewing, listening) (Collective biography. 9-16)

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