Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America

Ten influential black men--including Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King Jr.--are profiled in this husband-and-wife team's vibrant collaboration. Andrea Davis Pinkney introduces her subjects with powerful poems, before moving into image-rich, introspective, and candid descriptions of each man's influence on civil rights, culture, art, or politics: " thought carefully about some of the beliefs he'd held in the past, and how they supported the idea that he'd been brainwashed by whites. For example, straightening his hair was Malcolm's attempt to deny his black heritage by trying to look 'more white.' " Brian Pinkney's portraits of each man echo the multidimensional prose with their bold strokes and dynamic swirls of color. An examination of Barack Obama's life and presidential election carries readers into the present day, placing the achievements of those who came before him into perspective. Though the text-heavy format may initially daunt some readers, the inviting narrative voice and eloquent portrayal of these iconic men and the times in which they lived make for memorable reading. Ages 9-12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Oct.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5-8--This book is similar in scope to the author's Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters (Harcourt, 2000. The subjects here include Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama, all introduced in the author's characteristically lively prose ("Black students kept on keeping on with dog-eared textbooks and dog-tired feet"; Malcolm Little's hair was transformed from "pretty-boy cotton-kink to slick-daddy bone-straight"). The distinct experiences that shaped each man are ably delineated-the childhood events, the hardships faced, the richly deserved victories won-and the results are, without exception, compelling. The large font size is perfect for the middle-grade audience, but too many blocks of unbroken text may turn away less-confident readers. Thankfully, Brian Pinkney's magnificent portraits and spot art throughout each profile help to amplify each man's story. A must-have for all libraries serving young people.Sam Bloom, Blue Ash Library, Cincinnati, OH

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In Hand in Hand, Pinkney presents profiles of ten very different African American men who have had a profound impact on American society and culture. She outlines the backgrounds and achievements of each man in ten chapters, complete with beautiful illustrations by Brian Pinkney and descriptive poetry to introduce each chapter. We learn about astronomer Benjamin Banneker, who corresponded frequently with Thomas Jefferson, arguing his case against slavery and the unfair treatment of black people. We are given a peek into W. E. B. Dubois's struggle to be accepted as a black man into the prestigious Harvard University and go on to form the NAACP. We gain insight into Barack Obama's roots as the son of a black man and white woman. Pinkney does an exceptional job of detailing the lives of minorities who struggled to be accepted in American society and succeeded in making a difference for minorities everywhere. She describes in the introduction how she selected the people to write about and that she kept it down to just ten so she could provide the reader with sufficient information and background. She begins each chapter with a description of the person's childhood and how he or she was raised. Writing the chapters this way provides a nice segue from each person's struggles to their eventual successes. Brian Pinkney's illustrations are beautifully rendered and add color and whimsy to a wonderful historical tribute. This is a must-have for every library and classroom.-Lindsay Grattan. VOYA"