Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells

Starred review from February 11, 2008
Dray, a Pulitzer finalist for At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America
, brings his expertise to a younger audience with this eloquent biography of anti-lynching crusader and journalist Ida B. Wells. A narrative peppered with anecdotes guides readers through defining moments of Wells's life, from her 1884 lawsuit against a railroad company whose Jim Crow policies prevented her, a black woman, from riding in the first-class compartment, to her growing career as a newspaper columnist, to the 1892 lynching of her close friend. Alcorn's (Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
) striking, symbol-infused hand-colored prints on creamy vellum get star billing. A large trim size accommodates the stylized illustrations, soaring vignettes in muted hues that portray a statuesque and self-assured Wells. Fluid lines swirl or jut across spreads, establishing a brisk visual pace. In one scene, a hand extended from a fancy sleeve labeled “Whites Only” pushes down an African-American man wearing overalls. In another, Wells the writer drifts from an ink bottle like a genie from a lamp, the spectral-shaped black ink forming her dress. Author notes, a timeline and more enhance this age-appropriate introduction to difficult issues and the woman who educated the world about them. Ages 8-12.

April 1, 2008
Gr 1-5-An excellent picture-book biography. Although Wells is well known for her efforts to end the horrific practice of lynching, here defined as "execution outside the law," the text maintains a child-appropriate approach. Wells's anger and frustration are expressed but the crimes are not described. Background notes go into more detail and outline the journalist's advocacy work for equal rights for blacks and women. Alcorn's outstanding illustrations give readers a sense of the woman. She is depicted as well dressed and elegant, an image borne out by the photographs at the end of the book. Flat, watercolor-tinted drawings of expressionistic scenes sometimes float, sometimes sprawl, across the pages in a boldly flowing manner. The perspective is constantly shifting, even among the elements on a single page. While most of the human figures are rounded, white people who are abusing blacks are shown as caricatured shapes full of sharp lines and angles. Sometimes a large white hand pushes down a black person, again emphasizing a lack of humanity. A noose is incorporated into one illustration but there are no pictures of people being hanged. Alcorn's inventive, imaginative artwork softens the violence without minimizing it. Through words and pictures, the book conveys the story of a woman who exhibited admirable fortitude and bravery."Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2008
Historian Dray introduces this civil rights crusader and journalist who campaigned tirelessly to end the practice of lynching. Born into slavery in Mississippi, Wells became a teacher at the age of 16 in order to support her orphaned siblings. Later, she began writing and speaking out against Jim Crow laws. Dray focuses on Wells childhood and early life, ending with the lynching of her friend Tom Moss and her subsequent move to New York City in 1892. Alcorns ink-and-watercolor illustrations have a fluid quality, conveying both action within the story and movement from one scene to the next. The use of warm colors and fanciful elements helps to mute the harsh realities of lynching and segregation while still maintaining a respectful tone. Appended with notes on Wells later life, a time line, and a bibliography, this makes a good choice for middle-grade readers studying the early period of the civil rights movement. For slightly older readers, suggest Anne Schraffs Ida B. Wells-Barnett (2008).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)