People Who Said No

September 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-Seven profiles of people (Rosa Parks, Andrei Sakharov, etc.) who spoke out against oppression and injustice. Each one highlights a particular period, including the Nazi and apartheid eras. Photographs, graphics, and headings are clear and interesting, and each section contains a brief summary of the period or event. While most will be excellent supplements to history texts, the chapters on Aung San Suu Kyi and on the uprising in Egypt are already out-of-date. Without the benefit of time and some closure, they feel unfinished and will frustrate readers. Given Scandiffio's writing style, sometimes the book reads like good historical fiction. For older readers, however, the imagined dialogue may seem unsophisticated and off-putting; for reluctant readers, it can be a useful introduction to nonfiction works.-Caroline Hanson, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Washington, DC

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
Grades 8-11 Rebellion, rules, authority, and conformity are all abstract issues that teens deal with every day in a myriad of real-world situations. The seven biographies found in this book, from Rosa Parks to scar Romero to Aung San Suu Kyi, will resonate with readers in a pragmatic but nuanced way. Many different approaches to rebellion against injustice are illustrated, including passive resistance, covert propaganda, and political activism. Context for each of the chapters is achieved in part by brief historical sidebars as well as relevant and engaging photographs. The Uprising in Egypt chapter is especially timely and makes complex political issues in the volatile region relatable to students. Some recreated conversations in the narratives have been obviously dramatized, but most information is culled from primary and secondary resources, as described in the bibliography. Themes described here are universal but especially relevant to the intended audience, with highly engaging and up-to-date exemplars of the right ways to say no.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Seven chapters profile people who fought against injustice. Individuals include Sophie and Hans Scholl (anti-Nazi activists), Oscar Romero (advocate for the poor in El Salvador), and Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese human rights activist). The final chapter focuses on the "Arab spring" protests in Egypt. Some of the accounts seem overly fictionalized, but this is an adequate introduction to some less-well-known activists. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 15, 2012
An inspiring, informative collection of profiles of people who sacrificed freedom and life to take stands against oppression and to champion human rights. Sophie and Hans Scholl, leaders of a secret student movement opposing the Nazi regime, were executed for treason. Andrei Sakharov helped develop the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb but later became an outspoken critic of nuclear proliferation and was effectively kept under house arrest for years. Aung San Suu Kyi also spent years under house arrest for protesting Burma's dictatorship. For decades, Helen Suzman was the sole member of the South African parliament to fight against apartheid. Rosa Parks' refusal to relinquish her seat prompted the Montgomery bus boycott, one of the first major triumphs of the civil rights movement. Archbishop Oscar Romero challenged El Salvador's oppressive regime and was assassinated. The last and weakest chapter discusses the popular uprising in Egypt that brought down Hosni Mubarak's government. Scandiffio's concise, engaging profiles offer readers an informative overview of these heroes and their accomplishments, and occasional sidebars provide background information. These inspiring stories of people who challenged the status quo make for riveting reading, as well as excellent starting points for research and discussions about civil disobedience, ethics and morality. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 11 & up)

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