February 1, 2003
Gr 3-6-Each volume offers a brief look at the lives of two Native people. Since little is known of Sacagawea's entire life, the bulk of this book centers on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Discussion of the controversy of the woman's death is covered, but it is not clearly written. A mistake in the definition of the Continental Divide has rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean rather than the Atlantic. Joseph fares a little better because more is known about him. Quotes are included, but no sources are cited. One caption, under the image of a bronze coin with Chief Joseph's likeness, is misleading for children. It reads, "It is the only known portrait of him that was made while he was alive." Yet there are several photographs of him throughout the text. Each book promises that a list of links can be found at the publisher's site, but none were available. Clear, full-color photographs and reproductions of paintings and drawings add appeal. Additional purchases.-S K Joiner, Brazoria County Library System, Angleton, TX
Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2003
Reviewed with Cynthia Klingel and Robert Noyed's "Susan B. Anthony."
Gr. 3-6. The Our People series is a mixed bag. On one hand, the volumes are quite attractive--plenty of white space, interesting color and black-and-white images, and short enough to be manageable by younger middle-graders. But the compact text also leads to some questions and some information that does not necessarily hang together. For instance, "Susan's father was a Quaker, and he was stern with his children," is a statement that simply isn't clearly linked to the rest of the information about Quakers presented in a two-page insert, "Life of Quakers." In "Joseph," the descriptions of the Nez Perce's last stand against the government are truncated, and it's not clear how the chief's thoughts about fighting evolved. The informational inserts add to the text, but they are somewhat disruptive. Consider these books as introductions, but have other books on hand to answer the questions these raise. A glossary and very brief bibliography (with one Web site) are appended. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)