Unsung Heroes of Social Justice

April 1, 2017
Gr 4-7-What do Chien-Shiung Wu, Lupe Anguiano, Jagadish Chandra Bose, and Robert Smalls have in common? They are all lesser-known heroes in their respective fields of science, social justice, technology, and U.S. history. Readers are introduced to these figures and others in brief spreads that tell of their specific accomplishments. The writing is direct and to the point; however, overall, the brevity is a detriment to the series. Only the basics are presented, leaving more questions than answers. VERDICT Though students are introduced to lesser-known significant figures, the dearth of information makes these volumes of limited use.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
Grades 3-6 Women and minority groups get their due in the concise collective biographies of the Unsung Heroes series. Each themed volume presents 12 individuals who made important contributions to history or science that went largely unrecognized due to their race or gender. Rather than offering full biographies, the text highlights each person's contribution, its impact, and the obstacles that impeded his or her wider success. Social Justice introduces Felicitas Mendez's efforts to end segregation and deaf activist Frank Bowe's work to protect rights for the disabled. Each individual is given a two-page spread with one to two photos and a quick-fact box recapping key points from the main text; occasionally, another colored box will contain a relevant historical tidbit or a critical-thinking question. The direct sentences and clean layout make these good picks for struggling readers, though all will benefit from learning about the figures being profiled. A concluding Fact Sheet offers added historical context.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)