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Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells

The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist

Author Philip Dray
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Hardcover
$18.95 US
Holiday House | Peachtree
9.9"W x 12.2"H x 0.4"D   | 21 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Mar 04, 2008 | 48 Pages | 9781561454174
Age 10-14 years | Grades 5-9
Reading Level: Lexile NC950L | Fountas & Pinnell W
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The award-winning picture book tells the inspirational story of journalist Ida B. Wells and her crusade for justice and civil rights. A must-have for American, Black, and women's history collections.

In 1863, when Ida B. Wells was not yet two years old, the Emancipation Proclamation freed her from the bond of slavery. Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a deep belief in America's promise of "freedom and justice for all," young Ida held her family together, defied society's conventions, and used her position as a journalist to speak against injustice.

But Ida's greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong young woman help free America from the looming "shadow of lawlessness"?

Author Philip Dray tells the inspirational story of Ida B. Wells and her lifelong commitment to end injustice. Stephen Alcorn's remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that threatened to upend a nation while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.
"Alcorn's ink-and-watercolor illustrations have a fluid quality, conveying both action within the story and movement from one scene to the next. The use of warm colors and fanciful elements help to mute the harsh realities of lynching and segregation, while still maintaining a respectful tone. Appended with notes on Well's later life, a time line, and bibliography, this makes a good choice for middle-grade readers studying the early period of the civil rights movement." —Booklist

"An excellent picture-book biography. . . Alcorn's inventive, imaginative artwork softens the violence without minimizing it." —School Library Journal

★ "Alcorn's striking, symbol-infused hand-colored prints on creamy vellum get star billing. . . Author notes, a timeline and more enhance this age-appropriate introduction to difficult issues and the woman who educated the world about them." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"In this stirring tribute to an African-American journalist. . . Adding strong notes of reverence to the narrative, Alcorn's big cubist paintings center on Wells. . . Capped by a well-chosen list of additional resources at several levels, this handsomely packaged introduction to one of the most important progenitors of the Civil Rights Movement is just the ticket for young readers not yet ready to tackle the Fradins' definitive profile." —Kirkus Reviews
Philip Dray was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award for At The Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America. It was through his work on this book that he became acquainted with Ida B. Wells and her compelling story. He lives in New York.

Stephen Alcorn was born in the United States and grew up in Italy. A professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, he is an award-winning printmaker, portraitist, and illustrator of over fifty children's books, including Let it Shine, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. He lives in Virginia.
Philip Dray View titles by Philip Dray
Stephen Alcorn View titles by Stephen Alcorn

About

The award-winning picture book tells the inspirational story of journalist Ida B. Wells and her crusade for justice and civil rights. A must-have for American, Black, and women's history collections.

In 1863, when Ida B. Wells was not yet two years old, the Emancipation Proclamation freed her from the bond of slavery. Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a deep belief in America's promise of "freedom and justice for all," young Ida held her family together, defied society's conventions, and used her position as a journalist to speak against injustice.

But Ida's greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong young woman help free America from the looming "shadow of lawlessness"?

Author Philip Dray tells the inspirational story of Ida B. Wells and her lifelong commitment to end injustice. Stephen Alcorn's remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that threatened to upend a nation while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.

Praise

"Alcorn's ink-and-watercolor illustrations have a fluid quality, conveying both action within the story and movement from one scene to the next. The use of warm colors and fanciful elements help to mute the harsh realities of lynching and segregation, while still maintaining a respectful tone. Appended with notes on Well's later life, a time line, and bibliography, this makes a good choice for middle-grade readers studying the early period of the civil rights movement." —Booklist

"An excellent picture-book biography. . . Alcorn's inventive, imaginative artwork softens the violence without minimizing it." —School Library Journal

★ "Alcorn's striking, symbol-infused hand-colored prints on creamy vellum get star billing. . . Author notes, a timeline and more enhance this age-appropriate introduction to difficult issues and the woman who educated the world about them." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"In this stirring tribute to an African-American journalist. . . Adding strong notes of reverence to the narrative, Alcorn's big cubist paintings center on Wells. . . Capped by a well-chosen list of additional resources at several levels, this handsomely packaged introduction to one of the most important progenitors of the Civil Rights Movement is just the ticket for young readers not yet ready to tackle the Fradins' definitive profile." —Kirkus Reviews

Author

Philip Dray was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award for At The Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America. It was through his work on this book that he became acquainted with Ida B. Wells and her compelling story. He lives in New York.

Stephen Alcorn was born in the United States and grew up in Italy. A professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, he is an award-winning printmaker, portraitist, and illustrator of over fifty children's books, including Let it Shine, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. He lives in Virginia.
Philip Dray View titles by Philip Dray
Stephen Alcorn View titles by Stephen Alcorn

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