Twelve Rounds to Glory

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali (Smith, Charles R. Jr.;2007;  Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press; ISBN 9780763616922)

Smith’s story told in verse along with bold, colorful illustrations by Bryan Collier combine for a powerful biography of one of the country’s best known athletes.  Smith divides the story into twelve rounds, each of which reads as a chapter explaining an important era of Ali’s life.

Each round begins with a quote pertinent to the upcoming chapter.  The story begins with a lyrical description of the baby Cassius Clay, born in 1942 in racially divided Kentucky.  Smith includes an anecdote in which someone steals Clay’s bicycle.  He wants revenge but a police officer informs him, “First, kid, you hafta learn to fight!”  Clay takes these words to heart, and his career in fighting begins.

Smith includes many of Clay’s boxing highlights, such as his gold medal turn in the 1960 Olympics, and he explains Clay’s conversion to Islam which leads him to change his name to Muhammad Ali, which means “worthy of praise, high-exalted one.”  He also covers Ali’s refusal to  join the Army when drafted because it conflicts with the beliefs of his faith.  This decision costs him his boxing title and, for several years, his ability to compete.

The story also includes some of Ali’s most notable fights, such as those against George Foreman and Joe Frazier, and it concludes with his current and enduring battle, that against Parkinson’s disease.  The portrayal here is one of a tough, disciplined, principled man who influenced his sport perhaps more than anyone else thus far.  Twelve Rounds to Glory was awarded the Coretta Scott King award in 2008.

They Called Themselves the KKK

They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group (Bartoletti, Susan Campbell; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010; 172  p.; ISBN 9780618440337)

Bartoletti documents the beginnings of one of the most feared groups of humans in the history of this country.  She uses clear, concise language to explain how a group of white men in the South hatched a plan in an attempt to quash any upward social movement—and even some basic freedoms—of African Americans.  It is an account of the horrifying potential for man to inflict devastation as a reaction to personal fear.

The author begins with a brief history of the Civil War, using many primary sources to give as thorough a picture of the issues as possible in the limited space of a chapter.  Her accounts are vivid and her own narrative is nonjudgmental.  The real story begins in Pulaski, Tennessee when six officers from the Confederate army decided not to accept their defeat, but rather to gather other white men who feared any gain in power and privileges among black men and women and squash it down.  This secret group grew into the Ku Klux Klan, a name that originally was taken from the Greek “kuklos,” or circle.

Many pictures and illustrations accompany the accessible text, making this an appropriate text for younger readers who may not yet have the attention span for a more advanced text.  The chapter titles alone are enough to pique most readers’ interest, such as “Boys, Let Us Get Up a Club,” “They Say a Man Ought Not to Vote,” and “A Whole Race Trying to Go to School.”  The author includes a time line of Civil Rights, quote attributions, a bibliography and thorough source notes, and an index.

Ages 12 and up

Cesar: Si, se puede! Yes, we can!

 

Cesar: Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! (Bernier-Grand, Carmen T.; 2004; New York: Marshall Cavendish; 48 pages; ISBN 9780761451723)
 

This biography of the influential farm workers’ rights activist Cesar Chavez is told through poems and with vivid illustrations by David Diaz.
 

Ages 9-12

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World (Lester, Julius; 2001; 47 pages; ISBN 0786824050) 

Award-winning author Julius Lester writes this book, highlighting 10 notable blues singers, as a letter to his granddaughter in order to preserve their stories for this younger generation.

(Ages 9-12)

Cool Hip-Hop Music: Create and Appreciate What Makes Music Great!

Cool Hip-Hop Music: Create and Appreciate What Makes Music Great! (Kenney, Karen Latchana; ) 2008; ABDO Publications; ISBN 9781599289717)

This book focuses on hip-hop music and how to create it; it also includes information about hip-hop dancing, with instructions for some fundamental moves.

(Ages 8-12)

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History of Rock

History of Rock (Rosen, Steven; 2009, Crabtree Publications; 32 pages; ISBN 9780778738237)

Short blocks of text and many photos make this an accessible title for a range of readers, from reluctant to eager.  A concise book with relevant information for anyone interested in this genre of music.

(Ages 8-14)

The Girls' Guide to Rocking: How to Start a Band, Book Gigs, and Get Rolling to Rock Stardom

The Girls' Guide to Rocking: How to Start a Band, Book Gigs, and Get Rolling to Rock Stardom (Hopper, Jessica, 2010, 229 pages; ISBN 9780761151418)

Engaging photos, practical information, and user-friendly organization all make this a good choice for budding musicians, or any young people interested in bands for that matter.  Though the title--and many of the photos of female bands and artists--targets a female audience, the content of this book is also relevant for male rockers. 

(Ages 12-18)