Martin Luther King

December 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-This biography of Martin Luther King Jr. was originally published in 1964, and has undergone a textual update fitting for the events that transpired in the years after its initial publication. The life of Dr. King is told through simple, easy-to-read text and full-color illustrations of pivotal moments in his life. The biography spends a good amount of time on King's early years, with the latter half of the book focusing on key moments of the civil rights movement, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. However, the book's short length doesn't allow for much in-depth education of the subject matter. In fact, many of the events that are included aren't mentioned by name. Since it is an updated text, events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 16th Street Church Bombing are sorely missed. The book doesn't shy away from slurs encountered by King during his youth and adulthood. VERDICT Good for younger students wanting an easy-to-read introduction on Martin Luther King Jr., but older readers may wish for a more substantial work.-Paige Garrison, The Davis Academy, Sandy Springs, GA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
Foreword by Xernona Clayton. This biography provides an excellent overview of the iconic civil rights leader's life, particularly his childhood and early days as an inspirational pastor and a catalyst for change. New material referencing Dr. King's assassination is necessarily darker than the rest of the book, although Clayton does not shy away from the realities of Jim Crow America throughout. Frequent new illustrations, though static, add accessibility. Bib.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)