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YOURS FOR JUSTICE, IDA B. WELLS
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Written by
Philip Dray
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Illustrated by
Stephen Alcorn
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Hardcover: $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-56145-417-4
Total Pages: 48
Size: 9 5/8 x 12
Full color throughout
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Picture books, ages 8-12/Nonfiction/History
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Philip Dray was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award for At The Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America. It was through his work on this book that he became acquainted with Ida B. Wells and her compelling story. He lives in New York. This is his first book for children.
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Stephen Alcorn has illustrated numerous books for young people, including Lincoln: In His Own Words and Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters. He lives in New York.You can visit Stephen Alcorn's website at: www.alcorngallery.com
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THE DARING LIFE OF A CRUSADING JOURNALIST
Journalist Ida B. Wells, a tireless crusader for justice and civil rights, faced her greatest challenge when she confronted the heinous practice of lynching.
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Accelerated Reader & Reading Counts Tests:
Reading Counts Level: 7.4
AR Quiz#: 122344
AR Reading Level: 6.3
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In 1863, when Ida B. Wells was not yet two years old, the Emancipation Proclamation freed her from the bond of slavery. For her family and others like them, it was a time of renewed faith in America’s promise of “freedom and justice for all.” Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a deep belief in this promise, young Ida never turned away from the challenges she faced. She insisted on holding her family together after the death of her parents. She defied convention and went to court when a railroad company infringed on her rights. And she used her position as a journalist to speak out about injustice. But Ida’s greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong young woman help free America from the “shadow of lawlessness” that loomed over the country?
Author Philip Dray tells the inspirational story of Ida B. Wells, from her birth into a slave family in Mississippi and her early encounters with racism to her lifelong commitment to end injustice. Award-winning illustrator Stephen Alcorn’s remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that threatened to upend a nation a century ago while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.
"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." – Ida B. Wells
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Reviews
* STARRED REVIEW *
"Alcorn’s striking, symbol-infused hand-colored prints on creamy vellum get star billing...Author notes, a timeline and more enhance this age-appropriate introduction to difficult issues and the woman who educated the world about them." Publishers Weekly "Alcorn’s 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 help to mute the harsh realities of lynching and segregation, while still maintaining a respectful tone. Appended with notes on Well’s later life, a time line, and bibliography, this makes a good choice for middle-grade readers studying the early period of the civil rights movement." Booklist "...in this stirring tribute to an African-American journalist...Adding strong notes of reverence to the narrative, Alcorn’s big cubist paintings center on Wells... Capped by a well-chosen list of additional resources at several levels, this handsomely packaged introduction to one of the most important progenitors of the Civil Rights Movement is just the ticket for young readers not yet ready to tackle the Fradins’ definitive profile." Kirkus Reviews “It's quite an accomplishment to find the right words to explain this bitter and complex history to children. And Stephen Acorn's stunning, stylized illustrations in warm pastel hues sweep the reader into the action.”San Francisco Chronicle “...an enlightening story beautifully illustrated in a fluid style that reflects Wells' journey”Detroit Free Press “…eloquently written text combined with whimsical illustrations, is sure to be a valuable addition to any biographical collection.”Library Media Connection “An excellent picture-book biography…Alcorn’s inventive, imaginative artwork softens the violence without minimizing it.”School Library Journal “…an excellent example of an effective picture book biography…amazing visual power…”The Open Book “Picture book biographies often err on the side of too much text, but Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells by Phillip Dray, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn, balances illustrations and information in a way that really works for the picture book format.”Children’s Literature Network "The highly stylized cubist-inspired illustrations form a sophisticated counterpoint to the matter-of-fact text adding drama and emphasis to every page."Parents' Choice Website "Sweeping and imaginative illustrations..."Baltimore’s Child "...Dray does an outstanding job chronicling the life of Ida B. Wells..."New York Amsterdam News
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Awards
* 2008 Parents’ Choice Recommended Award
* 2008 Children’s Books, 2008: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
(New York Public Library)
* 2008 Society of School Librarians International Book Awards
(honor book, Social Studies K-6)
* 2009 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (intermediate)
* 2009 Amelia Bloomer Project List (Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association)
*2009 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
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