First of all, this cover is AMAZING! It is the kind of cover that made me not even care what the book was about, I knew I wanted to read it. And I lucked out because what was under the cover was good too!
This is a non-fiction account of Olive MacLeod. In 1910, she found out that her fiancé had gone missing while in Africa. So…she packed her bags and went to find him. Olive MacLeod is the kind of woman I would have liked to know. She was fiercely independent, wildly disregarding of the early 1900’s social restrictions, and extremely adventurous!
Can I just talk for a minute about how beautiful this book is?!?!?! Just from the cover, you get a sense of how amazing the artwork is on the inside. It is a feast for the eyes! I loved taking in each lovely page in Four Faces of Femininity.
What I Felt:
Feminism is a weird thing to me. I grew up in a family-owned hardware store, so I learned how to unload a truck, stock shelves, mix paint, and help any plumber or electrician that walked through the door. On the other hand, I learned nothing about being in a kitchen. I have, on multiple occasions, baked a frozen pizza with the cardboard still underneath it. I am also the sole-worker in our household, with my husband being a stay-at-home dad. So, I’ve never really felt stuck in a gender role.
Wow! Can we just talk about the cover for a minute? The illustrated cover of Ruth Objects is a sneak peek of the amazing illustrations inside. This cover is so powerful, the title isn’t even on it! The artwork is doing all the work and it is perfect. What an amazing job illustrator Eric Velasquez did on this book. He doesn’t stop there with many more beautifully created images inside the cover.
How I Felt:
Ruth Objects is a biographical book on Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The story is structured in chronological order of Ruth’s life making it an easy-to-follow story for young readers. The book is filled with quotes from Ruth and more of that amazing artwork by Eric Velasquez.
Doreen Rappaport has done an excellent job of telling Ruth’s story to a young reader. She writes about Ruth’s challenges with the loss of her mother, being a woman in the workforce, equal pay struggles, and so much more. Her achievements are not forgotten either. Becoming the second woman to ever be appointed to the United States Supreme Court is such an inspiring and amazing accomplishment. I appreciate that this book can help a young person read about someone they can look up to.
Overall, this is an impactful story of Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life thus-far. It is filled with wonderful quotes from Ruth and amazing illustrations to make each page worth devouring. You’ll enjoy reading this as much as your little one.
To Read or Not To Read:
This is a great book is targeted for a 6+ audience and I think that is just right. While the pages are not crammed with text, what is on each page is thought-provoking and will lead to a good discussion for a child of this age. An excellent book for schools, libraries, and the home.
Where to Find This Book:
Ruth Objects by Doreen Rappaport published on February 11, 2020. You can find the book at these places.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a trailblazer. A fighter. A public servant who has dedicated her life to the pursuit of equality.
When Ruth was a young girl, her mother encouraged her to read, be independent, and stand up for what she thought was right. Ruth graduated first in her class at Cornell University and tied for top of her graduating class at Columbia Law School. But she faced prejudice as both a woman and a Jew, making it difficult to get a job. Ruth eventually found work as a law clerk, and her determination, diligence, and skill led to a distinguished career as a lawyer.
In 1993, she became the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. As a Supreme Court justice, Ruth has inspired fierce admiration and faced fervent opposition for her judgments in high-profile cases, many of which have involved discrimination. She has been lauded for her sharp wit and boldness, even when her opinions differ from that of the majority.
As a student, teacher, lawyer, and judge, Ruth often experienced unfair treatment. But she persisted, becoming a cultural icon, championing equality in pay and opportunity. Her brilliant mind, compelling arguments, and staunch commitment to truth and justice have convinced many to stand with her, and her fight continues to this day.
This installment of the award-winning Big Words series brings a legendary figure into focus with Doreen Rappaport’s incisive prose combined with Ruth’s own words. Eric Velasquez’s dynamic illustrations infuse every scene with life in a moving tribute that will inspire young justice seekers everywhere.
Ruth Objects by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Series: Big Words
Target Reader: 6+
Page Count: 48 pages
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: February 11, 2020
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I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book for free. I am leaving this honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
The way Candace Fleming tells the story of Charles Lindbergh is amazing. On the surface, I knew who Charles Lindbergh was before I started this book. I was so very mistaken about how much I actually knew about his life though! I was captivated by the details, photos, and stories that helped to make the full picture of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh.
This book had everything that I could have ever wanted out of a biography on Charles Lindbergh, but it also had so much more that I didn’t even know I would want!
The story gives a good background into Charles as a child. We get to know his parents and his lifestyle. Born into a very privileged life, Charles grew up without missing out on anything he wanted. His mother was definitely overly attached, even coming with him to live with him at college.
The biography moves into his exit from college, and his entrance into the world of flying. I really appreciated the details provided for this portion of his life. I had not realized just how famous he really was. As the book spoke of the kidnapping and ultimate murder of his one-year old boy, I was heart-broken. I knew about this portion of his life, but reading it still tore at my heart.
After this part of Lindbergh’s life, Candace Fleming takes the reader deeper into the lifestyle and secrets of Charles. Fleming takes us through Lindbergh’s attachment to the Nazi’s and his belief in America First. There were some great insights into Lindbergh’s beliefs and celebrity status and today’s political landscape.
Overall, I found this book to be well-researched and written in such a story-telling way that I was captivated and submerged into the story. I loved the addition of photographs to help visualize Charles and his life. This was such a strong 5-star for me!
Content Warnings:
This book does discuss the kidnapping and death of Charles Lindbergh’s one year old child, as well his Nazi-sympathizing and antisemitism.
To Read or Not To Read:
If you are looking for an amazing biography to read this year, pick up this book!
Discover the dark side of Charles Lindbergh–one of America’s most celebrated heroes and complicated men–in this riveting biography from the acclaimed author of The Family Romanov.
First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. In this time where values Lindbergh held, like white Nationalism and America First, are once again on the rise, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is essential reading for teens and history fanatics alike.
The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming
Genre: Biography / Nonfiction
Page Count: 384 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pub Date: February 11, 2020
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Candace Fleming awarded herself the Newbery Medal in fifth grade after scraping the gold sticker off the class copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and pasting it onto her first novel—a ten-page, ten-chapter mystery called Who Done It? She’s been collecting awards (her own, not Elizabeth George Speare’s) ever since.
Today, Candace is the versatile and acclaimed author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize honored The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns; the bestselling picture book, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!; the Sibert-Award-winning Giant Squid; and the beloved Boxes for Katje. She contributed the chapter on Katharine of Aragon to Fatal Throne. Photo credit: Michael Lionstar.
What I Loved: Jeannette’s strong, smart personality. She is able to overcome so much and she was so amazing at such a young age! How I Felt: I couldn’t help but to love Jeannette and her siblings. You want to help them and give them a better life. To Read or Not To Read: This is a must read. Her story is well-written and just grabs you.
What’s This Book About Anyway?
Jeannette Walls shares her story of love, sadness, and strength. She, her 4 siblings, and parents constantly move from town to town. Her father drinks, but she shows us his good side when he’s sober. Her mom was more interested in her paintings than being a mother.
As things got worse for the family, the children must rely on each other to make a path forward for their lives.
She Just Loves Books 