A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy Duckworth

by Christina Soontornvat (Author) Dow Phumiruk (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Thai American creators portray the inspirational and barrier-breaking life of Senator Tammy Duckworth in a picture-book tribute to an extraordinary woman.

Senator Tammy Duckworth has logged a long list of "firsts" during her tenure as the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, including being the first woman with a disability to serve in the House and Senate. But while she dreamed of serving her country from a young age, Tammy's path was not without its challenges. In this dramatic account, award-winning creators Christina Soontornvat and Dow Phumiruk chronicle Tammy's journey. From her childhood fight to keep her family from homelessness, to her service in the US Army, to her recovery from grievous injuries sustained in the line of duty, Tammy never lost her determination to keep going against staggering odds.

Evoking Tammy Duckworth's spirited nature with sensitivity and joy, this uplifting account of a groundbreaking military veteran and rising political star will inspire readers to dream and achieve. Includes a time line and suggestions for further reading.

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Hardcover
$18.99

ALA/Booklist

Soontornvat's prose is succinct yet clear and excels when she relates personal anecdotes. . . . Details of her 2004 helicopter accident and her painful recovery are also well handled. . . . . An excellent addition to the biography shelf and women's history units.

Kirkus

A comprehensive look at an extraordinary life and continuing legacy.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--This picture book biography chronicles the life of Tammy Duckworth, beginning with her childhood in Thailand and leading to her groundbreaking election as a U.S. Senator. During her childhood, Duckworth spent time traveling all over Southeast Asia, and she knew at an early age she wanted to give back to her community. When her father lost his job, the family moved to Hawaii where they struggled to afford to eat each day, and Duckworth helped provide for her family by selling flowers by the side of the road. After attending college and graduate school, Duckworth joined the ROTC, successfully completed flight school, rose through the ranks of the National Guard, and met and married her husband. When the U.S. invaded Iraq, Duckworth disagreed with the decision, but she continued to serve, leading and planning helicopter missions in Balad, Iraq. In 2004, her helicopter was attacked, and Duckworth was pulled from the wreckage, presumed dead. As she recovered slowly in the hospital, Duckworth relearned how to eat and how to walk using prosthetics. Powerful details about Duckworth's childhood and her experiences in the National Guard impart a sense of the senator's resilient spirit; the book concludes on a hope-filled call to action of more work to be done. Back matter includes a time line of major life events, short summaries of political issues most important to Senator Duckworth, and resources for further reading. VERDICT A worthwhile and empowering biography recommended for large nonfiction collections.--Lauren Younger

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

[Christina Soontornvat] knows how to write a gripping tale. . . one of the more exciting bios I've seen in a long time.
—A Fuse #8 Production
Christina Soontornvat
Christina Soontornvat is a three-time Newbery Honoree, a Sibert Honoree, and a Kirkus Prize winner. Her highly acclaimed backlist includes the middle grade books The Tryout, The Last Mapmaker, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen; the picture book To Change a Planet; and the chapter book series Diary of an Ice Princess and Legends of Lotus Island. Christina lives in Austin, Texas, with her family. You can learn more about her work at soontornvat.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781536222050
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
September 27, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF025130 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Military & Wars
JNF007070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Political
JNF018020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
Library of Congress categories
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