(3) 4-6 "Men their rights, nothing more; women their rights, nothing less," was the rallying cry of radical suffragist and abolitionist Anthony, whose observations inspired her fight against injustice and inequality. Kanefield brings Anthony's day-to-day work to vivid life, writing about the issues in a relatable way for young readers. The volume includes well-captioned photos, drawings, and documents throughout; appended with extensive notes and excerpts of Anthony's writings. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Kanefield offers a thoroughly researched and often moving introduction to President Lincoln's life and family. She also succinctly clarifies convoluted nineteenth-century politics and the historical importance of complex, contentious issues (e.g., the Missouri Compromise; the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision) that divided Americans and resulted in the Civil War. Numerous primary source quotes and well-captioned photos, drawings, and documents aid the narrative. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 This biography critically examines one of America's most polarizing presidents. Jackson's backwoodsy lifestyle and fierce determination positioned him as a political outsider and voice of the people. The narrative highlights Jackson's public service, military leadership, and two-term presidency. His successes and failures, as well as his controversial treatment of Native Americans, are objectively portrayed. Drawings and inserts enhance the text. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Kanefield's thoroughly researched but tamped down biography of the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury offers a simplified introduction to his life and times. Direct quotes and letters appear throughout, offering great insight into Hamilton's complicated character and his interactions with other founding fathers. Paintings, documents, and occasional sidebars provide additional context. Samples of his writing are appended. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Kanefield's detailed account explains how one unmarried frontierswoman, poet and activist Suzy Wright, led political efforts that benefited Native Americans and others. Many images of documents and quotes from primary sources are worked into an illuminating narrative in which colonial Pennsylvania history frames Wright's story of fighting for human rights and justice. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 4-6 A heartfelt tribute to Barbara Rose Johns, a lesser-known heroine of the early civil rights movement. In 1951 Virginia, black Robert R. Moton High School and white Farmville High were separate but definitely not equal, and quiet Barbara and her classmates decided to strike. Profuse details, some extraneous, threaten to overtake the inspiring story of bravery. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith

(2) 4-6 A series of case studies, the book's first section, about deciding what behavior to criminalize, is most successful; the second and third--on punishment and due process--are also provocative. Kanefield allows readers to understand how notions of right and wrong change over time and across cultures, helping them begin to understand the complexities of crime and punishment. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(3) 4-6 In eighteenth-century Prague, fifteen-year-old Rivka is about to be betrothed, but she is frustrated by the strict parameters of life in the centuries-old Jewish ghetto. She disguises herself as a boy and leaves the enclave, reveling in the attendant freedom of movement and becoming friends with a Christian boy. The novel's strengths lie in the strong, sympathetic protagonist and the intriguing setting.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn