Review by Booklist Review
This comprehensive overview of Gandhi's childhood, family, career, culture, and activism is perfect for young students looking for well-researched material. The chapters follow Gandhi from his birth, to his studies in England, to his later years when he was often jailed for civil disobedience. Boxed sections tell about Hinduism as well as certain historical events that took place during Gandhi's time, and black-and-white photographs of Gandhi and important people and places in his life complement the text. Well-illustrated instructions on making items important to Gandhi's culture, such as torans and diyas, are provided, as well as instructions for related activities, such as baking cookies, writing, and building a book-exchange bookshelf. Some of Gandhi's shortcomings and mistakes, especially those made in relation to his family when he was a young man, are described, and the final section focuses on people today who are working hard for a peaceful world. A pronunciation guide, glossary, and suggested list of places to visit online and off round out this resource. A great addition to school and public libraries.--Paz, Selenia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-This entry focuses on how Mohandas Gandhi's life-including his childhood in India, Western education, and firsthand experience of racism and injustice-influenced his rejection of material culture and political power and inspired his world-changing idea of nonviolent protest. Mahoney provides some general background to help readers put the man's life into the context of the places he lived and the time period. Since the emphasis is on Gandhi's ideas, there is more coverage of his formative experiences in India, Britain, and South Africa than of his return to India and efforts to make India independent (the book's midsection about the South African years is occasionally dry). Mahoney admires Gandhi and his adherence to his beliefs but also describes his struggles to live up to his ideals, especially in his family life. The text is supplemented with average-quality black-and-white photos and sidebars about people and political movements. The 21 activities are related to Gandhi's culture, work, and ideas, ranging from simple craft projects such as evaporating salt to more complex research and critical thinking projects such as examining the role of consumerism in modern society and becoming an advocate for a cause. This book is a complement to, rather than a replacement for, titles such as Kem Knapp Sawyer's Champion of Freedom: Mohandas Gandhi, which has a fuller discussion of India's colonial history and Gandhi's role in its independence. VERDICT Good supplemental choice for reports and as a classroom resource for student projects.-Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
