Turning Pages

July 16, 2018
Writing in eloquent first-person prose, Sotomayor relays her upbringing and path to the Supreme Court, emphasizing how reading books, “written both in Spanish and in English,” has remained at the center of her personal development. She begins her story as a child in the Bronx. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Sotomayor found strength in comic books; following her father’s death, her local library became a refuge. Sotomayor offers variations on this theme, describing books as “lenses,” “teachers,” a “life preserver,” and “mirrors of my own universe.” Finally, Sotomayor finds her way to law books, and to one of the most meaningful texts of her lifetime—the Constitution. Delacre’s work shows earnest admiration for the subject, and compositions make intriguing use of angle, shadow, and collage detail. A Spanish-language version will also be available. Ages 4–8.

August 15, 2018
The Supreme Court justice shares how books, reading, and words have shaped her life."My story is a story about books--of poems and comics, of law and mystery, of science and science fiction--written both in Spanish and in English." So starts this book written with Justice Sonia Sotomayor's voice clearly felt yet also very accessible to her target audience. The author recalls her first encounter with the power of words, hearing her abuelita recite poems about Puerto Rico, her island home. Comic books about people with superpowers fueled her bravery as she coped with diabetes. After the death of her father when she was 9, books and the library helped her escape sadness at home. Her mother's purchase of an encyclopedia set unveiled the secrets of the world. Sotomayor describes books as companions, launchpads, lenses that brought focus to the world around her and helped her sort out right from wrong. Delacre's mixed-media illustrations contribute to the child-friendly feel of the book and neatly extend the metaphors the text spins. Without context provided, the initial illustrations depicting a child and an older woman going food shopping might be puzzling to readers not familiar with the close connection between Sotomayor and her grandmother. Otherwise the illustrations go hand in hand with the narration.A thoughtful introduction to both the power of reading and an inspiring role model. (timeline, photographs) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

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Starred review from August 1, 2018
Grades K-2 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor tells her story to a YA audience in this year's The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor?, which itself is a pared down version of her 2013 biography, My Beloved World. Here she uses books to center her story and show how reading was the gateway?and getaway?that allowed her to pursue her dreams. A child of Puetro Rican immigrants, Sotomayor's childhood was marked by hardship: poverty, diabetes, and the death of her father. Despite the odds, Sotomayor was able to pursue a legal career. She had a mother who worked hard to take care of her children and provide educational opportunities, and an island family who showed her a different way of life, but mostly there were libraries and books, from her neighborhood branch to the impressive Firestone Library at Princeton. The endpapers are decorated with photos of Sotomayor at different times of her life, which complement the collage-touched watercolors. The kid-friendly drawings are occasionally awkward but can also be inventive. A personal and appealing book made to inspire.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
The Associate Justice accessibly narrates her own story, highlighting the power of books and reading throughout her life. Mixed-media illustrations enhance Sotomayor's metaphorical approach ("I felt like a deep-sea diver... Books were my snorkel and flippers") and her emphasis on the written word by incorporating text into the art. Timeline.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-Readers will get to know U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor in this stunning picture book autobiography. The photographs of Sotomayor, found on the end pages, provide a glimpse into her life. The first line of the book sets the scene: "My story is a story about books..." From this page onward, Sotomayor takes readers along on a journey, continually reflecting on how a particular title or genre struck her at that time in her life. For example, when she is diagnosed with diabetes, she finds solace in the superheroes of her comic books. When she experiences her Papi's death at the age of nine, she takes comfort among the stacks in the neighborhood library. Not only did she read "Nancy Drew" mysteries and science fiction, Sotomayor also basked in the pages of a 24-volume encyclopedia set, a gift from her mother. During college and law school, books continued to be her companion. Readers will enjoy the illustrations done in mixed media of oil washes with collage elements that distinctly accompany the text. VERDICT A sincere and insightful autobiography that also demonstrates the power of the written word. A winning addition to libraries that serve young readers.-Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX

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