Review by Booklist Review
This picture-book biography tells the story of Myrlie Evers-Williams, a tireless crusader for human rights, chairperson of the NAACP, Carnegie Hall concert pianist, and prayer leader at Barack Obama's second inauguration. Some other sources reduce her contributions to a footnote, identifying her solely as the widow of the assassinated civil rights icon Medgar Evers. This account fills in details that will resonate with young readers: growing up poor, dealing with bullies, facing discrimination, and being told her dreams were impossible. Evers-Williams had her music, her mother, and her grandmother to sustain her, and after she married Evers, she dedicated herself to raising their family and supporting her husband, marching, picketing, and orchestrating sit-ins. The text concentrates on Evers-Williams' quiet strength, whether rallying her childhood friends or persevering for 31 years to get a guilty verdict against the person who murdered her husband. The full-page illustrations effectively depict strong emotions, ranging across hope, anger, sadness, and quiet dignity. A concluding time line summarizes Evers-Williams' many contributions and awards. This is a fitting and long-overdue tribute.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Working in flashback, Salomon chronicles the life and developing voice of civil rights champion Myrlie Evers-Williams (b. 1933). Born into Jim Crow Mississippi, Evers-Williams grew up in a place where "hate ran as deep as the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers" and "love flowed stronger than hate and river currents." The quiet girl finds her purpose at the piano, and dreams of performing at Carnegie Hall. When Jim Crow laws make it illegal for her to attend a private university, pivoting to a state school leads to her meeting WWII vet Medgar Evers (1925--1963). Together, they "created harmony and fought against injustice" until Evers's assassination sees her working for justice in his honor and, eventually, becoming the first full-time woman chair of the NAACP. Ladd's distinctive collage bursts with life and color in this homage to a once-shy figure who fought for justice, along the way cultivating skills that would see her playing Carnegie Hall and offering a prayer at President Obama's second inauguration. Includes a timeline and author's note. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--In 2013, Myrlie Evers-Williams stands on the steps of the Capitol prepared to give a prayer at the second inauguration of President Obama. The narrative moves back to her childhood in Mississippi, where she dreamed of being a concert pianist and playing Carnegie Hall, but "Jim Crow laws made it illegal for her to attend a private university and pursue a music major." In college she met and married Medgar Evers, who shared her belief in standing up for civil rights. Marriage and motherhood did not stop her from joining Evers in the fight until his murder in 1963; she carried on her work while seeking justice for him. She remarried and later became the first woman chair of the NAACP. Over time, she returned to her piano and was invited by a friend to play at Carnegie Hall, followed by her prayer at the inauguration. Deeply hued illustrations in a combination of acrylic and paper collage cover scene after scene of Evers-Williams and her profoundly engaged life. The people in the forefront of the illustrations are drawn with detail, with those in background less defined, implying a life set against--and influencing--epic events. Musical terms are woven throughout, referencing her love of music. A time line of Evers-Williams's life appears in the book, and the end pages include an author's note. VERDICT An utterly compelling narrative of a woman who was integral to the fight for Civil Rights and mostly overlooked by history. Colorful and engaging, it is a reminder of how much women sacrificed to fight for equality. Strong first buy.--Tamara Saarinen
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Review by Horn Book Review
This picture-book biography begins with Evers-Williams (b. 1933), the first woman to chair the NAACP full time, speaking at President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. "Her voice -- strong yet gentle. Soft -- but powerful." But in flashbacks, readers learn that she didn't always feel comfortable speaking up. Evers-Williams was born and raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi, when "whites only" signs proliferated and "hate ran as deep as the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers." Salomon's lyrical prose makes some of the hard parts of Evers-Williams's story easier to digest, such as when the future civil rights activist realizes that her dreams of becoming a concert pianist are unlikely to come true due to discrimination. Salomon shows restraint while discussing the assassination of Evers-Williams's husband, civil rights icon Medgar Evers, but still effectively conveys the racism she lived with daily, in spare, straightforward language. Ladd's illustrations, created with acrylic paint, cut paper, tissue paper, and colored pencils, capture the despair and determination of Evers-Williams in confronting racist bullies as a child and in the aftermath of her husband's murder. Following his death, Evers-Williams finds her voice in working to bring his killer to justice and in continuing to fight for civil rights. Appended with an author's note and a timeline. Marva Anne HintonNovember/December 2024 p.121 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A stirring introduction to Myrlie Evers-Williams, a significant figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Writing in oratorical language, Salomon begins with her subject's childhood in Mississippi, where "hate ran as deep as the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers," but the love she received from her aunt and grandmother "flowed stronger than hate and river currents." Young Myrlie showed the strength of character necessary to confront white bullies and later to keep marching for both racial and personal justice when her first husband, Medgar Evers, was killed; ultimately she achieved the latter in court in 1994, when Medgar's killer was found guilty. Myrlie went on to become the first woman to chair the NAACP full time. Along with receiving many honors, she also finally realized a lifelong dream when, having had to put musical aspirations inspired by the example of biracial pianist Philippa Schuyler on hold for many years, she played Carnegie Hall in 2012. In realistic but lush, painterly freeze frames, Ladd depicts Myrlie from childhood on--standing up to a cluster of cowed-looking white bullies, raising her fists in celebration of that guilty verdict, and looking on with determination throughout, including on celebratory occasions such as President Obama's second inauguration, when her voice "rang out like a symphony-- / Strong. Soft. Soaring. / And her words echoed hope." Definitely strong and soaring. (timeline, author's note) (Picture-book biography. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
