Darkness Everywhere: The Assassination of Mohandas Gandhi

Gr 8 Up—This straightforward narrative opens with an overview of Gandhi's youth, years in South Africa fighting for social justice, use of nonviolent protests, and role in India's independence. The second chapter presents a history of religion and politics in India, detailing why Gandhi's message of tolerance was seen as dangerous by some. Readers with at least a basic knowledge of world religions are the most likely to understand this. The next two sections describe the assassination plot, while the last chapter covers Gandhi's legacy, including how he served as a source of inspiration for other leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. The text is broken up with archival photos, quotes, and sidebars on related topics, such as the Mughal empire and the Hindu caste system. However, the book design lacks pizzazz and is unlikely to attract readers. A time line, who's who list, and glossary are part of the helpful back matter. Kem Knapp Sawyer's Mohandas Gandhi (Morgan Reynolds, 2012) provides a deeper look at Gandhi's life but less detail about the assassination plot.—Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR