John Lewis: Courage in Action

Gr 4–7—Well-designed biographies of two contemporary figures in U.S. culture. Doeden effectively captures the widespread admiration of John Lewis. The narrative details several stages of the congressman's life with reverence, making for an empowering read. However, there are a number of small but notable errors in the text, the most glaring of which is the statement that Emmett Till was "killed for innocently flirting with a white woman." Gal Gadot chronicles the actress's long path to stardom, laying out the many roles she did and didn't secure on her way to Wonder Woman. Sherman often samples quotes from Gadot's interviews, particularly when it comes to her service in the Israel Defense Forces. There is no mention of Palestine in the book. The popularity of the subjects alone will warrant consideration of these materials; still, librarians may want to wait for more thorough volumes.