The Voice that Challenged a Nation

This scholarly biography, aimed at middle school students, puts Marian Anderson's story in the context of the Civil Rights movement. Sharon Washington reads about Anderson's accomplishments as a Civil Rights pioneer in a flat voice that will not keep the interest of young students. Most disappointing is that, in spite of the audio format, listeners do not get to experience much of Anderson's beautiful contralto voice. Although Washington sings "America," from the 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert, it does not come near to letting listeners experience Anderson's powerful "voice of the century." References to the extensive bibliography and discography that are part of the book are also lacking. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine